I'm Sergeant Josh Hopper and I work with the Air Force Nursing Corps for Ohio and Indiana. If any of you have ever had any questions feel free to post them. One question I get alot is about our MSN scholarships. We pay 100% of school for you to become an CRNA, Mid Wife, or most Practitioners. You continue to recieve your full time pay check while going to school. If you have more questions about this or any other Air Force Nurse Corps Questions feel free to ask.
People with 3.5 would make you competitive. Grades aren't the only thing they consider; the app has 9 short essays and 3-5 recommendation letters. Enlisted time helps. ACLS, NIHSS, PALS, TNCC would help if you could get those before you graduate. You need 6-7mo of prep time to apply effectively.
I haven't been in long enough to give you a good read on the difference. The being a staff/floor nurse in the hospital part is similar, but I haven't deployed yet. You make more money, but you work 20-25% more (especially once you make O3 in 4 years). There is also no salary compression in the military like there is in the civilian world; I remember in my last civilian job nurses who had been around for 20 years were only making a few dollars an hour more than me
They've raised the bar for applicants since you were commissioned. At least they will still accept new grads, but it looks like I'll have better odds waiting until I have at least 1 year of RN experience. Will update this thread when I learn more about what makes for a competitive applicant.
Honestly, there is no downside to applying now and applying again later. If anything, you learn how to put a better application together. The process of applying to the nurse transition program and applying as a fully qualified applicant are very similar. I had to apply twice to get in. In the meantime, you just get more certifications and more work experience.
Just know that when you step across that 6 months of experience threshold, you'll be competing against nurses with 10+ years of experience.
This question may have been answered already but, I am about to start my BSN program and will be done 12/2015. What is the process to get the ball rolling with becoming a AF nurse. There is so little information about it online and the recruiter in Tucson acted like he did not have a clue what I was talking about.
If you could point me in the right direction I would greatly appreciate it.
I just want to know how to get started so I can be prepared. :-)
Go to the Air Force website and look for Commissioned Officer Training. There is a contact link that will get you in touch with a healthcare recruiter in your area. Your run of the mill recruiter in a strip mall won't know much about officer recruiting in general.
You need to start applying in the next couple of months, because the only board each year for new grads is in July-ish (so July 2015 for you). It will take 4+ months and you want some wiggle room. There are dozens of forms, 9 short essays, 3-5 letters of recommendation, interview, background, and physical. Your GPA better be a 3.5 or so to apply as a new grad.
Yeah, so they'll want to meet you or at least talk to you on the phone if they're any good at all. They pour many hours into getting each application ready. They'll want to make sure you're serious before they invest in you. The best thing is to come up with a long list of questions to ask.
Hello and good tiding to you sir... I am Ryan Viernes a graduate of BSN from a foriegn country... i know that the military will not accept me... what about if possible if i take my MSN online in the United States.. because i am a Dual Citizenhip or Fil-Am.. will the U.S willing to help me be able to take my MSN and also i want to preform active duty.. i am physically fit... and also i want to be able to join the NP or CRNA.... or Physician... i am willing to sacrifice and take time for the military...i was hoping better that i can ask you sir than anybody else sir
Refer to my earlier post on this thread for contacting a recruiter. I think obtaining an MSN from a U.S. school might be enough to make you eligible to do bedside nursing. Know that an MSN is no longer enough to become an NP or CRNA in the military; you need a DNP.
Being prior enlisted may give you a small advantage, but not in a way that makes you more likely to be selected as a nurse. It's more like, you understand the military and system already. They do consider past experience on your CV, so having military experience will look good but at the same time they take a LOT of things into consideration, like GPA, leadership skills, experience, education, drive, etc etc. Once in as a nurse, yes you can change specialties but it's not as easy as asking. New grads with little experience can only be OB or medsurg nurses to start. After a few years, you can request to switch but it depends on what the Air force needs. So if what they need is a medsurg nurse, not an ICU, then that's what you'll be. Also depends where you'd be stationed. Not all hospitals have each specialty unit, so transferring would be more difficult.
Yes being prior helps, not only does it mean you are familiar with the military, but it speaks to your character. It is hard to switch specialties, especially if your assigned unit needs you. If you come in as a Med-Surg (new grad) you will most likely be stuck there for 4yrs. However if you are interested in a specialty work in it for a year as a civilian and then apply to the Air Force. You can skip Med-Surg altogether coming in fully qualified in a speciality (critical care, OR, L&D). It all depends on what you are passionate about.
Capsaicin`
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They've raised the bar for applicants since you were commissioned. At least they will still accept new grads, but it looks like I'll have better odds waiting until I have at least 1 year of RN experience. Will update this thread when I learn more about what makes for a competitive applicant.