air force nursing questions

jeanette21 · Apr 10, 2009

Spencer, it appears that we're trying to do the exact same thing, and similar timelines (my appointment at MEPS is a week from today). Want to be buddies?

Spencer2002 · Apr 24, 2009

How was MEPS Jeanette21. I'm still waiting to hear back from my recruiter about going to MEPS and my nursing interviews. I'm getting frustrated now! I have emailed him twice with no response. I don't want to bother him but it's hard to make future plans. Everyone at work keeps asking me about joining the AF and when I'm going to quit? Any advice?

jeanette21 · Apr 24, 2009

hey spencer,

meps was....interesting lol. i really wasn't sure what to expect, because i've never done anything with the military before. my recruiter led me to believe that officers got a "red carpet treatment," which wasn't true at all. there were about 150 people, probably 145 were enlisted army, and you just moved through the line...they did vision, hearing, and a lot of paperwork. after that i had to pee in a cup in front of four people (NO ONE told me that was gonna happen, lol i was kind of horrified), and then stripped down to my bra and underwear for height and weight, and random things like duck walking.

it wasn't awful though, i got there at 5:45 and was out by like noon.

as for your recruiter situation...thats awful. as i understand it, they only make money if they put us all the way through. i've heard horror stories on here about people getting medically disqualified or something and their recruiter just stops talking to them, but you haven't done meps yet. also, the board doesn't meet until october, and it is only april, so its possible that he isn't feeling much urgency yet (my recruiter's a bit of a psycho, he wants things done super early, but i really don't think that's necessary). also, they seem to vacation a lot, so it's possible that he's out of the office...if i were you, i would keep emailing, and throw in a couple phone calls. good luck and keep me posted.

jeckrn, BSN, RN · Apr 25, 2009

Hello everyone and thanks for the information. I have been a nurse for six years and now pursuing active duty in the Air Force. I have submitted my paperwork and waiting for everything to come back OK. My recruiter has been really upfront with me and gave me an expected time line for everything to happen. I'm just working on my PT so I can make weight The recruiter wants me to be 5 lbs under.
1. I'm nervous about the Chief Nurse interview, MEPS, OTS and all the unknowns of being in the military?
I have read tons online but looking for answers/advice from nurses who have "Been there, done that"

and a lot who have not but have "heard what has been done" and do not know what they are talking about. Your best bet is talk with the recruiter and ask for some contact information of AF nurses so you can talk to them directly!

jeckrn, BSN, RN · Apr 25, 2009

the health professions recruiter i'm working with told me, "it's not if if you get deployed, it's when." my wife and i are planning that in the next three years, six months will be spent being deployed some where........of course that is when i actually get into the air force......i'm still waiting on paperwork approval and going to meps.

you have the right attitude, will you get deployed only time will tell but it is best to plan on it.

allnurses Guide · Apr 25, 2009

and a lot who have not but have "heard what has been done" and do not know what they are talking about. Your best bet is talk with the recruiter and ask for some contact information of AF nurses so you can talk to them directly!

Actually that is what your Chief Nurse interview is for.....In general you meet with the chief nurse and then he/she takes you around to different departments to meet nurses of similar rank so you can ask questions, if the Chief Nurse doesn't offer to do introduce to some company grade officers you should ask about it...

There is actually quite a few AD AF nursing officers on here and there are also quite a few that have just recently went through accessions in the AF, so I would say two things: Utilize these peoples willing to share their experience online in non-retribution envirnoment and if a person isn't forthcoming online with their experience....ask what their background is! It is usually pretty easy to tell who is AD and who is not on here.

jeckrn, BSN, RN · Apr 26, 2009

Actually that is what your Chief Nurse interview is for.....In general you meet with the chief nurse and then he/she takes you around to different departments to meet nurses of similar rank so you can ask questions, if the Chief Nurse doesn't offer to do introduce to some company grade officers you should ask about it...
There is actually quite a few AD AF nursing officers on here and there are also quite a few that have just recently went through accessions in the AF, so I would say two things: Utilize these peoples willing to share their experience online in non-retribution envirnoment and if a person isn't forthcoming online with their experience....ask what their background is! It is usually pretty easy to tell who is AD and who is not on here.

Agree with what you say here, ask the questions to find the right answers so you are not steered wrong. There would be nothing worse then making a decison on incorrect info that you recieved no matter if you join or not. You need to be assured that you made the right one. I can not answer your questions about the AF, but I can give you ideas of where to look. Most of the post are straight fwd and legit, but there are some who are just blowing smoke.

PNP09 · Apr 30, 2009

I can tell you that my recruiter stated "We do deploy." He said approx every 15 months several job areas are selected with certain numbers for each position (hope you can understand what I mean), for example, I will be a Pediatric NP, so they may need 5 of them (just an example, I have no idea), and if they get 5 volunteers right away, then the slots are full, but if they don't and its my turn, I go. That being said, I know that there are probably different areas that you would deploy to depending on your specialty (critical care, pediatrics, OB, etc). But I have very little information as I am still trying to decide. So, to those of you who have more experience... does that sound accurate?

Spencer2002 · May 4, 2009

My recruiter told me a similar thing. AF takes voluntaries for deployment first. He told me about a nurse in Mt. Home that has worked for 15 years and never deployed. It my be hard to believe, but at this point I don’t have a reason not to.

**Can anyone tell me the type of hours I would work as a floor nurse in a ten bed hospital or in a clinic setting? Is it like civilian nursing, where you work 36hrs in a week? Day shift or night shift?

Aaron86 · May 6, 2009

I'm in the same boat at the original poster, except only I just now heard back from an USAF recruiter after months of waiting. I wasn't home when he called, but I plan on returning the call after school is out on Thursday.

I was just wondering if anyone has any idea for what I need to ask the recruiter and what sorts of things should I look out for. (as far as deployments signing bonuses, etc.)

I would love an overseas deployment in Germany or Japan, however, I am an unmarried male so I hope that doesn't mean I automatically get shipped off to Iraq or Afghanistan with only cursory training.

Anyone have suggestions on things I should ask about / ask for?

Aaron86 · May 6, 2009

I guess I should add, I really am eager to join the USAF (especially considering the lack of oher job prospects around my area) but I am afraid tha if I don't ask questions or seem too eager I won't be offered everything possible.

I would love to get stationed overseas, especially to be in Germany at some point. But I am afraid that would tell the recruiter "Overseas? Great, Lets send him to iraq!"

I wouldn't mind that eventually but certainly not on the first deployment.

My second main concern would be how nurses gt placed into their specialties in the Air Force. Do they get chose or at least rank their options? Or do they just get placed where they are needed?

My main interests from nursing school have been emergency and peds.

I also spent my senior preceptorship in an Army hospital PACU. While I enjoyed the PACU, it doesn't seem like the sort of environment that would help me develop my skills and knowledge. So I am afraid of mentioning it for fear that I get placed there right off the bat.

I know I definately do not want to do Med/Surg however (unless I got to do it in a Pediatric setting which seems somewhat unlikely in the military) does anyone think this is a deal breaker for me?

allnurses Guide · May 6, 2009

I guess I should add, I really am eager to join the USAF (especially considering the lack of oher job prospects around my area) but I am afraid tha if I don't ask questions or seem too eager I won't be offered everything possible.
I would love to get stationed overseas, especially to be in Germany at some point. But I am afraid that would tell the recruiter "Overseas? Great, Lets send him to iraq!"
I wouldn't mind that eventually but certainly not on the first deployment.
My second main concern would be how nurses gt placed into their specialties in the Air Force. Do they get chose or at least rank their options? Or do they just get placed where they are needed?
My main interests from nursing school have been emergency and peds.
I also spent my senior preceptorship in an Army hospital PACU. While I enjoyed the PACU, it doesn't seem like the sort of environment that would help me develop my skills and knowledge. So I am afraid of mentioning it for fear that I get placed there right off the bat.
I know I definately do not want to do Med/Surg however (unless I got to do it in a Pediatric setting which seems somewhat unlikely in the military) does anyone think this is a deal breaker for me?

First of all your recruiter has no say so in deployments whatsoever...your recruiter can give general ideas, but they will not have idea/control over when and if you will be deployed. As a new grad joining the AF you will have to go through COT, NTP, and new base orientation before even thinking about deploying to Iraq etc. You can usually plan on 6-12mo before even considering deployment. Iraq is short term deployment and not an assignment so again your recruiter has absolutely no control over going to Iraq at all. Now saying all that most single nurses really like to be deployed to pre-standing bases (non-austere bases).

New nurses to the AF usually do not get stationed overseas. It can happen, but in general there are very few slots for new nurses overseas. If you want an overseas assignment you should only put those assignments on your wish list, and don't let the recruiter force you into putting any CONUS bases on there. The assignments officer may still tell you there is no openings overseas, but at least you will know up front.

New nurses in the AF have few options as to what specialities are open to them. I believe there are only 3 options general nursing (med-surg/clinic etc.), pediatrics (I am not sure about this one), and OB. New nurses do not get assigned to ER/ICU etc. Later in your AF career you can put in for additional training to become specialized in ER or ICU, but you will have to wait a couple of years and the training is 12mo long and requires and additional committment. Your recruiter also has absolutely no say so where you will work once get to your base. Your nursing speciality code and your chief nurse have the ultimate say so in where you will at that base.

More than likely if you decide to come in the AF as new nurse you will be assigned 46N1 (general nursing) and will work in a clinic or med-surg. Med-surg in the AF will be probably be much different than what you have seen in civilian settings. In general the patient load is 4-5 and you will have med tech assigned to help with your patients also. Med-techs can do just about everything but assessments and passing meds on the floor.

If your recruiter tells they can guarantee that you will or won't work somewhere once you get to a base they are lying. They have absolutely no say so in where you work once you get to your base.