Air Force Nursing | Pathway to Flight Nurse

[jlsigh]

Hi everyone,

I was recently accepted into the Air Force ROTC as a nursing student. Therefore, when I graduate I will be a licensed RN and an officer approved to work in the USAF.

I was wondering if anybody could give me some insight into how an incoming nurse in the AF works her way up to becoming a flight nurse? Including criteria, experience, applying, and likelihood of receiving the position.

Also, if anybody could give me general insight on what nursing on a military base is like that would be greatly appreciated! I currently have no family in the military, so any thoughts on the general lifestyle would be great. I am still making my decision to accept the invitation to the ROTC or not because I would like to get a general gist of what my life for the following 4 years would be like!

[jfratian, DNP, RN, CRNA]

The path to flight nursing depends on what kind of flight nursing you want to do. The airforce has at least 3 distinct positions in this area: flight nursing, critical care air transport team (CCATT), and TACIT. Flight nursing focuses more on mission planning, the plane's safety, managing the clinical crew on the back of the plane; the patients are stable, med-surg patients. CCATT is completely focused on patient care; these are ICU nurses, critical care physicians, and RTs. TACIT is focused on rotary wing aircraft (helicopters) and also is heavily patient care focused; the team is often some combo of a CRNA, ER nurse, and some sort of paramedic/PJ/RT.

It's kind of a crap shoot what you're life will be like to be honest. Some people serve 3-4 years, never deploy and never get to do one of the manning assist or training trips. Other people deploy and are constantly traveling. Most fall somewhere in between. Being motivated and seeking out opportunities does help a lot of course.

As a new nurse, you will be in a larger stateside hospital for the most part. You have to start in med-surg or L&D/PNU for the first 1-2 years. Then, you'll be able to apply for various retraining programs: flight, ICU, OR, ER, etc.

[cg2961]

jfratian, I'm looking into flight nursing as well. Do you think you could elaborate on what TACIT is? Please

[cg2961]

jfratian, I'm looking into flight nursing as well. Do you think you could elaborate on what TACIT is? Please

[jfratian, DNP, RN, CRNA]

I can't really elaborate on TACIT much, since I've never done it. I don't get the sense that they do a ton of volume; I've only met one person, a CRNA, that's done it.

If you are really interested in short distance, point of injury, rotary wing patient transport, then I suggest you consider enlisting as a Pararescueman (PJ). They handle most of that stuff.

[jfratian, DNP, RN, CRNA]

I should also point out that they just recently started letting new grads begin in OR. So your options are med/surg, OB, and OR when you finish ROTC. The problem with OR is that you can never leave (big shortage in this area), and the career broadening opportunities are pretty much management or CNS/master clinician.

Also, on the TACIT discussion, a lot people become an RN or PA on the civilian side and do enlisted guard/reserves PJ part-time. That way, they can do the GI Joe stuff and still make a good paycheck.