AF: Advice on which area to choose...ICU or L&D? Help!

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So, I'm graduating in May as an ADN and will immediately transfer into a BSN program after passing boards (God-willing!). I am prior service AF (4 yrs active, non-medical) and my hub has 4 years left til retirement. We are transferring to Langley AFB in the near future which I am excited about, been at Offutt (Nebraska) WAY TOO LONG. Anywho...I've been bit by the ICU bug big time, but have always had a love for OB/GYN (Women's health overall). I've heard Langley is a great place to go for OB (L&D/NICU) (I prefer to stay on East Coast).

I know how competitive it is right now, so which field would help my chances for acceptance? Also, what advancement opps does the AF offer for OB identifier and if I choose OB, how the H can I be effective in deployments without OB type situations? :thankya:

I know it's up to me to decide on my future...but I could REALLY use some advise (Air Force related). Would like to start gaining experience in the field of choice ASAP to help with my application.

Thank you so much! :)

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Specializes in ED. ICU, PICU, infection prevention, aeromedical e.

As a new grad, you can't go into the ICU in the Air Force. You choose either the med/surg or ob routes only. Don't be discouraged by that though. Those med/surg NTP nurses got a lot of great opportunities to see a lot of different areas. They also got dispersed to the hospital at large, from PACU, to pads, to tele, etc. After at least a year on that area, you apply for the ICU fellowship. One fellowship is at San Antonio where I work ICU. They have a year long program to learn ICU. The fellowship students think it's a bit of overkill, but I can't think of better way to be learn it.

Good luck.

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Thank you for your reply. I will not be applying as a new grad. Trying to figure out which field to gain experience in while obtaining my BSN. I'm leaning more toward ICU.

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Specializes in ED. ICU, PICU, infection prevention, aeromedical e.

I didn't realize that the ADN RN part of your experience counted towards the nursing experience when commissioning. That's great.

I started as a new grad ( civilian ) in ER. I did ER for 9 years, then took a class to go up to ICU. I've done ICU for 7 years now. I love both areas. They are vastly different. If you do go ICU route, I suggest you get your CCRN before you apply for your commission as it makes you that much more competitive since it is so much harder to get in right now with so few slots.

I think a lot of nurses get pigeon-holed in an area of expertise. I don't think I could get out of ICU if I wanted to in the AF. lol. That said, the way out is up and over with education. there are amazing opportunities in the AF for AFIT programs for masters degrees. With ICU many people set their sights on going CRNA. If accepted by the AF to do that, you go to school while being paid as active duty. I think many of the L+D people end up going the NP route as a way up.

Basically, I was surprised to find that my BSN and my MBA are not considered the end game of education while in the military. I feel pushed to keep going. I still get asked by others what I want to be when I grow up. Well, for me, this was it! lol

I love ICU. I always encourage anyone interested to go for it. It does feel like ICU get deployed a lot more, since there are fewer of us. L+D nurses get deployed as med/surg nurses, I think.

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Thank you so much for the info. Yes, ADN RN experience DOES count, thank God! What has your experience as a CRNA ben like? Not sure if I want to go that route or NP. Ugh, decisions decisions.

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Specializes in ED. ICU, PICU, infection prevention, aeromedical e.

I'm not an CRNA. I'm an ICU nurse. Many ICU nurses who want more in the military go CRNA is what I was getting at.

I do have my master's - in business. lol. I was choosing between an MBA/healthcare admin vs NP at the time. I didn't and don't want to be a NP. My MBA does not help me in my day to day job as a nurse, but it has helped me in my personal life. It also meets the requirement of having that degree for moving up in rank. I'm a captain. To make major one needs national certification (CCRN), Squadron Officer School (I did it on-line), and it helps to have that master's. All I need now is the time. I'm not looking forward to gaining rank (other than the money), because then we get moved away from bedside. After 16 years of being a nurse, I still want to stay bedside. I love what I do. :)

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Ok, new question...bear with me. I'm in the middle of ICU clinicals right now and am wondering if I should start out with Med-Surg instead. Don't get me wrong, I still love ICU..I'm just not confident enough in my skills. I have spoken to some ICU nurses who were hired on as new grads and they told me that the orientation/training is great and they don't throw you out entirely on your own until they feel you're ready. On one hand, I want to do ICU bc that's what I think I want to do in the Air Force (God-willing I get accepted). Knowing what you know...what is your advice?

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Specializes in ED. ICU, PICU, infection prevention, aeromedical e.

I personally don't think it's wrong to start in the ICU as a new grad - highly dependent on the person though. A lot of nurses will argue that you need med/surg to learn skills. I don't agree. The skill set and organization that is needed in med/surg is really its own specialty. I can't manage 5 pts! lol. ICU nurses are more assertive/aggressive in general, and have a larger capacity to eat their young. So if you are a sharp cookie and top of your class, stay positive, motivated, and have a good mentor to help, I see nothing wrong with it. Always, in any new job, be aware and prepared to admit it isn't for you after giving it a fair trial. That first year after nursing school is difficult no matter what area you work. I walked out so many days trying to figure out what I did right that day, while learning from all my missteps.

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Mid,

There are many 04's still working bedside....

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Specializes in None.

Midi,

I am AD AF currently in NECP (grad May 12, 12) I will be headed to San Antonio for NTP and my first duty station as a nurse after COT. Would it be alright for me to PM you with questions about the area and working at SAMMC. I know I will be med-surg but am not sure what area yet.

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Specializes in ED. ICU, PICU, infection prevention, aeromedical e.

Sure. I don't know much about the med/surg areas. I didn't do NTP, but have friends who did it here. But I'm happy to answer what I can.

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Hey everyone!

I'm in AFROTC and I graduate this May (35 days to be exact). I'm going to NTP in Cincinnati July 2nd, and I'm going to be stationed at Keesler on a med/surg floor.

I have majorly caught the ICU bug (especially cardiac patients) through my clinicals in nursing school. I know that I have to do an ICU fellowship to be able to be an ICU nurse in the AF, and that it will be at least a year before I can do this.

Could someone explain to me what requirements are needed for the fellowship, and why it is a year long? Do you come out of the fellowship with CCRN? Also, what type of patients do you see in the ICU at a military hospital? I know that this will vary depending on the services the hospital provides, but I guess I've always had it in my head that if patients are really sick that they would be transferred to a civilian hospital. I have tried researching this information, but as I'm sure you could of guessed its not something that just pops up on Google!

I really appreciate ANY information/advice you all can give me. Thanks!

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