Air Force COT May 2014

tinap311 · Feb 28, 2014

Thanks for the insight midinphx. I expected longer hours. I currently work four 12s a week so I can get use to working that much. I'm assuming it's a rotating schedule and that's something I'm not too happy about.

How was your nursing experience during deployment, since you are critical care?

tinap311 · Feb 28, 2014

Congrats and welcome to SAMMC. There are 6 ICU units, 1 burn ICU (army run), 1 Peds ICU, and 1 NICU. We AF are all spread out. We have really good new leadership that looks really promising.

Who manages ECMOs at SAMMC? I'm newly certified and I haven't had much experience and was wondering should I try to focus on that patient population until I leave for COT.

I've been in cardiac pretty much my whole nursing experience. I've take care of pre/post open hearts, lung transplants, heart transplants, etc. I was a float nurse at one point so I have worked in the MICU and neuro ICU. Will I have to do NICU or Peds? Sorry that I'm asking so many questions. I'm coming from the Cleveland Clinic so I'm not worried about working in a big facility. I just find myself in the waiting process and getting nervous.

midinphx, BSN · Mar 9, 2014

ECMO is not something I am involved in. I know we flew someone out of Afghanistan on it 1 time on my deployment, and there are specialized ECMO teams. NICU does ECMO, but NICU is not an ICU identifier, so we don't have to go there. SAMMC does not do organ transplants. We do CABG's. My last unit was the Cardiothoracic unit which made sense, since I've been a CABG nurse for years. But now I'm on the Peds ICU. No, we have little say in where we go. The good news is: we move. :) When you get here, they will ask your experience and try to match you the best they can. But we are all slaves to "the needs of the Air Force".

As far as talking about experiences on deployment, most of us tend to be pretty private about the deeper stuff. We talk about the superficial stuff living conditions a lot, but don't really share with those who haven't been about our feelings. Our experiences are often pretty personal and hard to share. It'll be interesting to see how deployments go with IRaq down and Afghanistan supposed to be fully out by the end of the year. I have a love/hate relationship with deploying. It's really hard, really awful, really fun, really boring, really worth it.

nicolelindseyj · Mar 12, 2014

Congrats on all going to COT! I am starting my application process and praying! I have 8 years of critical care experience. How were your interviews?

Yammar · Mar 12, 2014

Mid, I agree with you about deployments. You really can't explain it to people who have never been. There are moments from my deployment that are burned in my brain forever. You just do not get use to seeing all these young soldiers coming through all mangled and disfigured for life and the moment you start feeling all safe here comes an IED that shakes the ground and makes you very aware where the hell you are.

Deployment life is so much like groundhog day and you do the same thing day in day out and the people you are with become family. If you are lucky, you deploy with stupid-silly-funny-crazy people & if you are not you are trapped with a bunch of well...hopefully you don't meet those folks.

I also get a bit of a hoot out of al these people still stressing out about COT. It seems like a 100 years ago. I know it has changed a bit since I went, but if I had to give any advice...I would tell people to get fit before you show up and have fun while you are there!! Make it fun - its worth it.

Also, sometimes we work much more than 7 shifts a week! Sometimes much more! I starting to wish for a deployment so I can take a break. LOL

Aimee14 · Apr 14, 2014

Hi! I'll be attending COT in may as well. I'm really nervous about the change. I have 11 years RN experience, but no prior military experience. My husband is active duty and has been giving me tips lol.