Air Force FY2016

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Hi! This will be my second time applying as a NICU RN for the Air Force. I'm applying to the September boards. It would be great to hear from anyone applying to these boards as well! I posted a different thread a while back about this same thing, but it got no responses. Figured i would try again!

:)

What I learned about the ISP is you have to be certified in the same specialty that you are working in. Also it only applies to certain specialties. It is something that is applied for once you get to your duty station. There is fine print about not qualifying depending on what type of bonuses and loan repayment that you are already getting. I am inquiring more into it myself. Either way, I think it's great that we even get an accession bonus this year. It was a nice surprise. :)

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My recruiter told me today that the reason they don't mention the ISP is because that is something that is covered by someone at our first base... not sure what to think about that response.

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Specializes in Adult Critical Care.

A 46N functional manager has to certify your eligibility for the ISP (O-5 or O-6 chief nurse). It's over your recruiter's head. Unfortunately, you won't qualify without a qualified board cert (CCRN, CEN, CNOR, etc), a qualifying course (NRP, CSTARS, NTP, NSM, etc), and a qualified position (a clinical role). You also can't have a conflicting commitment, such as a sign-on bonus or loan repayment. All of those factors change year to year. Direct accession nurses (you) won't be immediately eligible due to #2 (no course). You'll likely take a qualifying course within your first 2 years.

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Well that clarifies things. I have a question regarding the loan repayment. If signing on for the 6 years for the cash bonus plus loan repayment, is that only one year of loan repayment (max of $40k)? I'm assuming it is because for one year you incur a two year obligation in addition to whatever you incur for the cash bonus. Just trying to figure out if it is worth giving up GI Bill for some loan repayment that won't even knock everything out.

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I know that some of us will have to take a course as part of specialty training before they start their nurse work.

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Specializes in NICU.

My recruiter told me there is no bonus and loan repayment. How did you guys get offered both??

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Specializes in Adult Critical Care.

The loan repayment is a one time payment.

You're not giving up the GI bill with the loan repayment. You still earn it at the completion of your first contract. You can't use it to retroactively pay off old student loans.

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I received an email today from my recruiter that as of today the only specialty elligible for a bonus is OR nurses due to budget issues. Therefore, there is now only the option for loan repayment.

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Hi all!

I will be joining everyone at COT in May, and then will be working as a Critical Care RN at Walter Reed. If there is a May COT FB group, I would love to be added. I look forward to meeting everyone!

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Specializes in Adult Critical Care.

Board certification retention bonuses (see above) of up to 20K per year still exist for most specialties. You generally need to wait until you take a qualifying course first. It's a balancing act, because loan repayment makes you ineligible for them.

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Did you find out if an accession bonus is okay with the ISP?

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Specializes in Adult Critical Care.

The accession bonus makes you ineligible for the ISP.

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