I'm in the application process for USAFR flight nursing. I am prior service active duty AF and my spouse just retired from AD as a flyer, so I'm not new to the military, however, am for reserve nursing. Anyone have any insight on this field? I have spoken to some and know things change. As of current, I was told that they now require ALL flyers, reserve/guard/active, to complete the full SERE now instead of non-capture/water survival. COT 5.5 wks, 30 days Flight School at Wright-Patt, 19 days I believe of SERE, and I forget what else. Anyone been to non-combat survival school? My hub went YEARS ago. Experiences? More Like This Career Path to Flight Nursing by Kgrady Flight Nurse by Aswanb, BSN, RN, EMT-B AF or Navy Flight Nursing? by Aswanb, BSN, RN, EMT-B Navy Nurse ED/Flight Nursing by hehrhardt11, RN Flight nursing in Wyoming and or panhandle of Nebraska by WYRN
Wolf at the Door, BSN 1,045 Posts Specializes in ICU. Has 12 years experience. Feb 8, 2017 what is your nursing background.
Wolf at the Door, BSN 1,045 Posts Specializes in ICU. Has 12 years experience. Feb 9, 2017 5 years in acute care, transferring to ED next week. Why?Flight nursing requires ICU exp and trauma. It is important. Maybe different from the military.
JerseyGirl1213 17 Posts Feb 9, 2017 It is different for military because you are on a huge plane, not a helo or private. You take care of patients that are not critical, there's a separate critical care team (CCAT) who comes on board during the transfer. A military flight nurse ensures the plane is set up to care for all patients. You take care of the non-critical and assist the CCAT team. Th CCAT team are not flyers like FN's because they are solely caring for the patient before during and after transport. I am prior service and have fellow FN friends. Only one year of acute care required and they will send you to training that equals 6 mos sporadically or consecutively, depending on timing. Anyone who works in a plane is considered a flyer, all flyers have to go through survival school where you are trained to be in a capture situation if you were to survive a plane crash. Water survival is included. My spouse went through it. Pretty cool. So yes, the military FN is much different than civilian.
softenny 64 Posts Feb 12, 2017 I am doing the same thing right now, I have almost 3 years of acute care experience and my recruiter said I can apply. I just completed my paperwork and just waiting on my Army commander to send my 368
Wolf at the Door, BSN 1,045 Posts Specializes in ICU. Has 12 years experience. Feb 13, 2017 It is different for military because you are on a huge plane, not a helo or private. You take care of patients that are not critical, there's a separate critical care team (CCAT) who comes on board during the transfer. A military flight nurse ensures the plane is set up to care for all patients. You take care of the non-critical and assist the CCAT team. Th CCAT team are not flyers like FN's because they are solely caring for the patient before during and after transport. I am prior service and have fellow FN friends. Only one year of acute care required and they will send you to training that equals 6 mos sporadically or consecutively, depending on timing. Anyone who works in a plane is considered a flyer, all flyers have to go through survival school where you are trained to be in a capture situation if you were to survive a plane crash. Water survival is included. My spouse went through it. Pretty cool. So yes, the military FN is much different than civilian.Oh thanks for the breakdown. That would not be my cup of tea. I only want to transport ground or flight. Then I want to get the next person not continue the care.
JerseyGirl1213 17 Posts Feb 13, 2017 You would only be caring for non critical patients while they are on the plane. CCAT is separate and they care for critical patients before, during, and after.
Devo19, BSN 169 Posts Specializes in Surgical Intensive Care. Has 9 years experience. Feb 14, 2017 5 Weeks of COT = Maxwell AFB, AL3 weeks of SERE = Spokane, WA2 days of water survival = Spokane, WA1 month of flight school = WP AFB, OHFYI/AEIQ (Ground Training= either Weight Patterson or at your base..Not sure how longFYI: Security Clearance's might take a little bit (6 months to a year)
JerseyGirl1213 17 Posts Feb 14, 2017 Yep. Could you describe SERE for me in a nutshell? Do you stay overnight outside and/or inside when "captured"? How many days classroom vs exercise?
nurse2033, MSN, RN 3 Articles; 2,133 Posts Specializes in ER, ICU. Feb 14, 2017 You have an excellent picture of the training. You sound nervous about SERE. Virtually no one fails. Just do what they tell you and you will be fine. It is... uncomfortable, but the best training I've ever had, in any field. There is a variety of indoor and outdoor training (including overnights), and a fair amount of classroom. They give you all the gear you need, and keep you safe. If you know what SERE stands for, it follows the continuum of each letter. You left out FTU which is your flying internship that follows flight school. It is a few weeks and returns you to your unit as Basic Air Qualified.
JerseyGirl1213 17 Posts Feb 14, 2017 My main concern is that there's a daily med I take, which I have a waiver for, and was concerned about having access to it or how many days I would have to go without it if not in a dorm or other room. I'm not scared, pretty excited. My spouse went years ago but unable to tell me that part as he didn't take any mess back then and he thinks some things changed. I didn't ask the recruiter and sometimes they don't know all the details. That's the only reason I am concerned. Also, can we bring Motrin/Tylenol with us and keep in our bags most of the time? I know it's silly, but that is it. If not, no worries, just curious.
