Air force nursing cot august 2014

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Not sure if someone has started a thread for this Class. If there is one already, please send me a link for it. I thought we should have a threat to prepare people who made it to this class. Any input from the other guys that we started this long journey with would be appreciated. Thank you.

Specializes in Cardiac.

Congratulations for finishing COT! And thank you very much for sharing. I had a feeling 5 wks is just pushing it too much. I think I will have to work on my running. I can run 3-5 miles 2 to 3 times a week and try working on weights other days of the week and normally off on weekends. I plan to do this until May and then raise the bar thereafter. What was the most challenging thing to you at COT? How about sleeping hours? Would u advice night RNs to shift to days to prepare for COT? I worry about being sleepy during the day just bc that is how I am at the moment.

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Specializes in Adult Critical Care.

I didn't work nights in my last job, therefore I don't know what to say about that. You get about 5 hrs of sleep per night for the first 2 weeks. Technically, you can go to bed whenever you want to after dinner. However, I think it would be hard to get everything done if you didn't stay up until lights-out at 2300. By the end of week 3, you may be getting a bit more than that.

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Hello everyone, just started reading this thread and noticed many posted about a recent board and being accepted. I was told by my recruiter that there wasn't going to be another board till OCT. I'm applying for the critical care position with 2 years of experience...im thinking maybe for critical care nurses its OCT...or at least I hope so. Any info you guys might be able to provide would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

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Specializes in Cardiac.

jmj...I think your recruiter is right. I know of someone else that was told the same thing by my recruiter. I might be wrong but I think they will probably use the alternates to fill any spaces that might come up. 2 years of experience in critical care is a good plus. I would start filling those forms and preparing for the process if I were you. It took almost 2 years to some of us. All the best!

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Specializes in Cardiac.

Regarding regression...I always struggle on mondays with running. I feel like it takes me like 5 mins before I get in the mood of it and I rarely finish 30 mins. I know that is bc I dont work out on weekends. So I try to do intervals-treadmill on mondays.

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Specializes in Cardiac.

jfra...do you get some free time to go to the gym at cot?

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Seriously, COT does not push anyone physically! Pass a PT test, march a little, learn a song or two and take easy tests. It is cake!! It is like a vacation! Just one with rules that make no sense.

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Specializes in Adult Critical Care.

There is time on the weekends to work out. On most weekdays, there is also time after dinner (during the final few weeks) to work out.

I wouldn't go so far as to call COT vacation. Maybe compared to BMT it's vacation. However, if you've never experienced military training before, then COT will probably mentally tax you at certain points. Most days, you have scheduled events for 13 hrs. Then, you have flight meetings, squadron meetings, flight/squadron marching practice (because overachievers want to get honor flight or squadron).

How hard COT is really depends on what your position is within your flight. If you are the flight officer in charge, then your workload will be significantly greater early-on; social officers don't do very much. Although people will volunteer, usually people are forced to take positions commiserate with their rank: Captains will likely do more than 2nd lieutenants.

The tests aren't bad (except for that first test on the OTS manual---the book with all the dumb COT rules), but most people have required memorandums to write in order update the OTS staff. How many you have to write depends on your position within the flight or squadron or group. There are also short essays as well as a power-point presentation.

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Specializes in Medical Surgical.

Hey guys!

Just wanted to drop a line its been a while since I posted. I still don't think it has completely sunk in that I am in the Air Force and leaving for COT in August. Does anyone have any tips on the moving process? I currently live in TN and will be going to Andrews in MD after training. I have a son that is 11 and schools up there start the same week I leave for COT. Right now I am planning on moving early august and getting him settled for school then drive down to Maxwell. Just wonder how the move went for others and if starting the move first of August will allow ample time and no rush right before COT starts on the 18th. Also is there anyone that has been to Andrews? What is the area like? Any advice on areas to look for housing and areas to avoid? Schools to avoid? I have been doing research on school grades and realized Prince George County Schools is one to avoid. I appreciate everyone that has posted their experiences and tips. Its nice to have an idea of what to expect.

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Specializes in NICU.

Hi everyone! I just met with a recruiter a couple weeks ago and am slowly getting all my things done for the selection board in October, hopefully to be at COT by January 2015. I'm a NICU nurse right now and that's the job I'm going for! Anyone on here get selected for NICU? My recruiter told me they need NICU nurses and they didn't even meet their quota for last selection board, so I will probably have no problem getting picked because I have experience and have all my NICU certifications such as NRP. Anyone know if what my recruiter said is true?

Also, any advice for the Chief Nursing Officer interview and answering the 9 questions? There's only one I'm having a problem with and its the "List any research, publications, or teaching you have done"....I'm a brand new nurse, with my 1 year mark in August. I have not done any research, heck no have never been published, and here in Delaware you need a masters to teach. Any advice on how to answer that one?

Any advice you have for the application process would be greatly appreciated!

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Specializes in Adult Critical Care.

The best way to answer that teach question is to talk about patient education, which I'm sure you do every day. You could also use mentoring/training of new staff or students. If you did an honors thesis as a part of your undergraduate BSN, then I would include that.

I'm a current AF nurse, and my opinion is that certain specialties are overstaffed while some are understaffed. I'm med surg and my particular unit is overstaffed. The nurse corps as whole is overstaffed; a lot of our Captains (O3s) are meeting force management boards to potentially be cut.

We don't have a NICU, and most AF bases don't have NICUs. I myself don't really know anything about AF NICU nursing. The best person to answer that 'staffing' question is the chief nurse that you'll interview with. For some reason, different recruiters have different levels of info. I would be wary of any "you're a shoo-in" comments with the current budget climate. Granted my specialty is more common than yours, but I had to apply twice and I had a 3.7 and a bunch of certifications.

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Specializes in Cardiac.

Morgan...I agree with jfratian. Most of the people heading to COT this year are not first-time applicants. But your speciality is "special". I am sure there are NICU nurses around here that might respond specifically to your question regarding to how long it took them from application to acceptance. I know for sure NICU nurses are needed bc the AF has NICU nurses as part of the military medical career section. About Edu...I would suggest you do what jfratian said. My chief nurse must have been sensible enough or she just assumed...rightly so...that I have no published a paper....so, she did not ask me that question as it is written but asked if I have mentored etc....

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