AF Reserve Med surg RN

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Specializes in ER/PACU/APRN.

Hello,

I was wondering if anyone will have an idea about my question. I work as a PACU RN and have experience in ER (quit 2021). I am in the process of joining AF Reserve but the position they have is a med surg clinical nurse. I was informed that I have to have a civilian job as med surg RN, Would the PACU department count or it has to be med surg?

We still do a little bedside with this department?

 

Thank you so much

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Specializes in RETIRED Cath Lab/Cardiology/Radiology.

Moved to Government/Military Nursing area: Government/Military Nursing is the place for those nurses and personnel who provide care in a military or government healthcare setting, often to a unique population: those who serve our nation, or who have served in the past. This is a great place to share your journey in becoming a military nurse, to find out how to join or to share common issues or concerns related to this singular specialty. As always, OPSEC is a factor. Welcome!

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Specializes in Adult Critical Care.

Generally, Air Force Reservist RNs are required to maintain an RN job that provides a minimum of 180 clinical hours of patient care per year.  Your reserves unit will require your civilian hospital to sign a form/letter each year attesting to this. 

The rules seem very vague otherwise.  In practice, it seems like it's up to each unit's chief nurse to set the requirements of what constitutes an 'acceptable civilian job' in terms of meeting deployment readiness requirements.  There are nurses in my unit that work admin-type quality assurance jobs but deploy as 46N3s (clinical nurses).  Other units require that your civilian job involves direct patient care related to your military role.

Bottom line: Ask your chief nurse.

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Specializes in ER/PACU/APRN.

Thank you @jfratian

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Specializes in ICU CCRN.

On another theme, advise please; I am a CCR N RN MSN very interested in the AF Reserve age 46 with over 10 years experience in the ICU.  I have a 10 year old son and great husband.  I live in North San Diego.  What is the likelihood I'll be deployed?  I will go in a happy heart beat, however my husband not so happy about any of this sadly.  Thanks ?

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Specializes in Adult Critical Care.

The chances of getting deployed as a reservist are nearly impossible to predict.  Currently, the vast majority of Air Force reservists are subject to a 4 year schedule; you potentially deploy for 6 months every 4 years.  That schedule is always in flux, and it varies widely based on job, location, and world events.  There are certain factors that make it more and less likely.  

Nursing jobs with a high degree of training and specialization are almost always more likely to deploy: ICU, ER, OR, flight nurses, CCATT nurses.  It doesn't matter what your civilian job is.  It only matters what military job you choose to take.  An ER nurse (46N3J) or an ICU nurse (46N3E) who accepted a med-surg job (46N3) will only deploy as med-surg. 

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