Air Force Nursing Corps

[aura_of_laura]

One of the things that they won't tell you, too, is that your ability to go to school is entirely dependent on your Squadron Commander's policy. My current hospital isn't allowing anyone to PCS (move), including for school, until they have four years here. So you may find yourself putting 10 years in until you get those benefits. And if you are lucky enough to snag an AFIT spot (and the odds are very, very slim for that), it can still be taken away if they have different needs. Same thing goes with flight nursing, or any other special role.

After a year in the Air Force, I'm paying my own way through my MSN in Clinical Trials Research in my own time. This isn't a sure thing, either - even if you become a CRNA or NP in your own time, if your commander needs you as an RN, you're staying an RN. And there's no magic promotion.

I'd be glad to answer any AF nursing questions for you by PM! My specialty is mental health, but I've got a lot of good friends in other specialties... My number one piece of advice is to talk to a nurse in the specialty you want to get in - the recruiters' knowledge is often VERY different than the real world of AF nursing.

[Psyc_Guy]

Hi Aura,

I am currently a counselor and am expecting to start nursing school this summer. I understand that the AF generally puts new, inexperienced nurses in med/surg or L&D, but do think they would make an exception in my case if I applied to be a psych nurse? Thank you.

[aura_of_laura]

To commission as an AF psych nurse, you typically have to have psych nursing experience (I say "typically" because there are very few of us,

One of the big things to consider is as a psych nurse you can only go to two bases (we only work inpatient), Travis AFB in Fairfield, CA, and Lackland, near Austin, TX. As a regular nurse, you can go pretty much anywhere because you are also used in the clinics. I didn't find that out until I was already done with COT, which was quite the shock for someone who joined to travel.

[wtbcrna, MSN, DNP, CRNA]

One of the things that they won't tell you, too, is that your ability to go to school is entirely dependent on your Squadron Commander's policy. My current hospital isn't allowing anyone to PCS (move), including for school, until they have four years here. So you may find yourself putting 10 years in until you get those benefits. And if you are lucky enough to snag an AFIT spot (and the odds are very, very slim for that), it can still be taken away if they have different needs. Same thing goes with flight nursing, or any other special role.

After a year in the Air Force, I'm paying my own way through my MSN in Clinical Trials Research in my own time. This isn't a sure thing, either - even if you become a CRNA or NP in your own time, if your commander needs you as an RN, you're staying an RN. And there's no magic promotion.

I'd be glad to answer any AF nursing questions for you by PM! My specialty is mental health, but I've got a lot of good friends in other specialties... My number one piece of advice is to talk to a nurse in the specialty you want to get in - the recruiters' knowledge is often VERY different than the real world of AF nursing.

Aura,

I don't think the Squadron or Group CC has any say so on applying to AFIT or going to AFIT sponsored slot for school other than giving a recommendation, if they are telling nurses they cannot apply then those individuals need to notify AFIT and possibly file an IG complaint. AFIT slots are on the AF level, and as far as I know your squadron or individual command cannot stop you from applying once you meet the requirements.

AFIT slots are not that hard to get as long as you meet the requirements. The application process is a pain in the butt. There aren't that many slots for some AFIT speciality areas, but overall it isn't that hard to get one of slots in one of the well funded areas.

You cannot do CRNA on your own time while AD in the AF. Once you become a CRNA or an NP through AFIT your AFSC changes to that of an APN. You will be PCS'd after school into that APN role. Your squadron/group has very little say so in having you do other duties for that 1st assignment out of school for NPs. CRNAs are totally different. Once you are a CRNA you will stay a CRNA. It is actually very hard to get out of being CRNA once you become one in the military. You won't be doing other duties outside of being a nurse anesthetist unless you get special permission on the AF level or gain enough rank to become CC.

[aura_of_laura]

Aura,

I don't think the Squadron or Group CC has any say so on applying to AFIT or going to AFIT sponsored slot for school other than giving a recommendation, if they are telling nurses they cannot apply then those individuals need to notify AFIT and possibly file an IG complaint. AFIT slots are on the AF level, and as far as I know your squadron or individual command cannot stop you from applying once you meet the requirements.

I had a Sq CC pull someone back from AFIT the week before they were supposed to start (after the almost two year application and waiting process). There were people that outranked the Sq CC advocating for that person, but the Sq CC had the final decision. It would be awfully hard to get into AFIT without your CC's support.

[wtbcrna, MSN, DNP, CRNA]

I had a Sq CC pull someone back from AFIT the week before they were supposed to start (after the almost two year application and waiting process). There were people that outranked the Sq CC advocating for that person, but the Sq CC had the final decision. It would be awfully hard to get into AFIT without your CC's support.

I am sure there is more to that story. AFIT (Sandra Bruce) needs to know these things and there is nothing wrong with filing an IG complaint!

The decision shouldn't even involve the Squadron or Group CC. This should go through the CN and AFIT HQ. You don't even route the application through the Squadron CC. That whole situation doesn't make sense.

I did my MSN through AFIT. What you are describing is very unusual.

[kayt]

hello sergeant hopper,

i am interested in doing af rotc and then doing a crna program. how much of my initial commitment from rotc will i have to serve before being eligible to enter a graduate program.

thanks

[wtbcrna, MSN, DNP, CRNA]

hello sergeant hopper,

i am interested in doing af rotc and then doing a crna program. how much of my initial commitment from rotc will i have to serve before being eligible to enter a graduate program.

thanks

the time requirement doesn't change for rotc nurses. it is still two years time on station before you are eligible for afit.

[kdazzle]

HELLO SSGT Hopper,

when going to school and working on base. what happens to the schooling if you get deployed? do most people just do their MSN online that way they can still do it overseas, or do you put school on hold till you get back to the states-how does that work?

[Murze]

Hello sir,.im a new grad nurse with only a little experience and i am interested in joining AF, but im not yet a US citizen, my question is:confused::

1.will i be able to commissioned as an officer?

2.what are the learning opportunities in joining AF?

3.what are nurse transition program all about?

I would really appreciate if you can answer my questions. Thank you in Advance

[UConnNurse]

Hi Josh,

I just turned 22 and am in my Junior year in Nursing school at the University of Connecticut. Is there a way I can get started on applying for commission, as to expedite the process of applying and earning direct commission? I am an alumna of the US Senate Youth Program and have intended to commit to the Armed Forces since my experience there 4 years ago. As class president I have a former nurse corps member as a nursing professor and class adviser, and she said that she committed during her Senior year of undergrad.

My other question is regarding the Nurse Transition Program. Does this apply to civilian nursing students in BSN programs, or only current active duty AF nurses?

Thank you kindly,

KNA

[JugglesLife247]

Josh,

I will be graduating from a BSN program in California in May 2013. I found out about my school's Air Force ROTC program too late and wasn't able to take advantage. When would be a good time for be to start getting things going if I have a little over a year to go before graduating?

Thanks,

Kat