Air Force FY 2019

Specialties Government

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I'm just curious if anyone else is applying for the Air Force FY 2019 boards as FQ that start Oct 8th? I am going in as clinical nurse but have ER experience.

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Hi Jessica, I'm interested in this subject. I'm also applying for October's board FY19. How are things going? Are you done with your interviews?

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Yes, I did my interview a couple weeks ago. What specialty are you?

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If you have at least a full year of trauma ER, you qualify for ER specialty. Unless you have other plans.

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I work at a level 4 Trauma, you have to be in a level 1 or 2 to qualify as ER experience.

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Oh, that stinks! You can always cross train later on, they say after a year or two.

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Ya, I had planned on it. I have been ER for over a year and Med-surg a year before that. I still see Trauma, doesn't make a lot of sense.

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Hmm! I know. I hope you got accurate information. I can see how the chances of a candidate with level I or II. Maybe you have better chances with your experience getting into clinical. They have more spots, correct?

i have done level II trauma ER for 1 year and ICU for 3. My heart is fully in intensive care. I love it!

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I'm not too worried about it, I have just missed the AF ever since I left. Hopeful to get selected but I know it's highly competitive.

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Yes. My husband has been in 10 years and I have been a part of it for 9. I have always loved it and it's the only branch I applied. I really hope you get selected as well. I really hope to get selected as well. I don't even mind how far away COT would be as long as I'm selected. I agree, it is tough. Pray for the best!

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Specializes in Adult Critical Care.

The need for level I or II ER experience is based on the needs of the Air Force. Most stateside AF ERs see little to no trauma, which means there's no opportunity for on-the-job trauma training once you join. However, when you deploy, you are expected to be already competent in caring for high level trauma (gunshots and stabbings within 'the box,' extensive burns, and major neuro trauma).

There's also an expectation that ER nurses in the AF have ability to back-fill for ICU. You need to be competent with vents, arterial lines, and vasoactive drips at a minimum as an ER nurse in the AF.

You may have some of these skills. However, most smaller community hospital ER nurses in the civilian world don't have all those skills.

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Makes sense Jfratian, I have seen and done all of the above but it is definitely not on a every day basis. I would have to brush up on vents for sure. Our RT teams handle all vents. We barely mess with them.

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