Air Force Nursing Selection Boards Nov 2016

Specialties Government

Published

Did anyone else apply for the November 2016 USAF Nurse boards? I am applying as a fully qualified ER Nurse (46N3J). Today (Dec 2) was the earliest day the board may have released results, but nothing has been released as of now (5pm PST), so I'm guessing we won't hear anything until next week.

Just looking to network with other potential USAF RNs!

Specializes in Adult Critical Care.

Eglin AFB (Destin area) is the main OR location in FL. Hurlburt Field (the other one) is extremely small in comparison.

JBER (Anchorage, AK) is an overseas location that they send a fair number of OR nurse to as well (it's similar in size to Kessler, Langley, and Eglin).

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Does anyone know how difficult it would be to change from clinical nurse to OR nurse? I know that OR nurses are undermanned on active duty and they need them more than other nurses.

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Specializes in Adult Critical Care.

It's not that difficult. Right now, they seem to require 1 year of time on station and a desire to be in the OR (which is basically some shadowing time). Everyone that applies gets it (unless you've failed a PT test or gotten in trouble some other way). Then, they send you to a 3 month training program...and BAM you're an OR nurse. You return to your old base after the 3 month program by the way.

Just be wary of doing OR early in your career. You'll never get out of OR once you're in the OR. All you can do is do the OR CNS route or do the flight commander (of the OR) thing.

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Thanks for the information and advice. I am going to be stationed at Charleston and I believe they only have a clinic, so I don't think that is even an option for me. I was thinking of about doing routes as a nurse for later maybe 2nd duty assignment. Can I ask you another question? I was wondering about how much say you have with 2nd duty assignment and ones after that. How much say to you really have in it. Thanks. I have read some of your previous posts you are very helpful.

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Specializes in Adult Critical Care.

You are correct that Charleston has no OR. You should still be eligible to apply to OR with 2 years of time on station, with the understanding that you will be forced to move afterwards.

You fill out an Airman Development Plan (ADP) to communicate your base and career preferences on the Air Force online portal. You have some say, but it depends on your reason for the choice.

The hierarchy goes: needs of the Air Force, career needs, and then personal desires last. If you have a career advancement reason why you need a certain base (only certain bases have an operating room), then you have a much higher chance. For personal desires, it's kind of a mixed bag whether you get it something on your list.

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Thanks for the info. Makes a lot of sense. I was enlisted and it worked a lot different 10 years ago. It was nothing to be stationed at a base for 6 to 8 years. One more question for you. Have you done SOS yet? Someone was saying that it needs to be done in residence now, but almost all nurses I know did it by correspondence.

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Hey guys, congrats to all that got accepted and my deepest sympathy to those that didn't. I was notified by my recruiter today that I was selected for the PMHNP HPSP!! Now off to MEPS sometime next week.

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Going to ft Sam Houston for critical care, May 22 COT

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Specializes in Adult Critical Care.

I have not done SOS yet. For the last year or so, they have gotten rid of SOS correspondence. Everyone now has to do in-residence. Most units can only afford to send one nurse at a time, and therefore the captains who have more time in grade (years in their current rank) go first. Nurses typically spend 5-6 years as a captain, so I've got a while to go.

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Talked to my recruiter today and will be reporting to COT on May 22. Got my 4th choice of duty stations, Wright-Patterson. Looking forward to the new opportunity. Pretty sad to be leaving aviation. I am pretty excited to meet you folks in the May 22nd COT class.

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Great information, wife going to MacDill for her three month OR training but as I research the Base it seems they have no surgical unit or any type critical care. My question now is where on or around the base will she get her three months of training? And since she is new (in AF) does this mean her duty station will be somewhere else? She swears he said this was going to be the duty station. Appreciate all the insight everyone, all these unknowns are killing me, wife taking it in stride. BTW, Recruiter on vacation right now so we are trying to not bug him.

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Specializes in Adult Critical Care.

My guess is that your wife is only attached to MacDill (Tampa) for Air Force personnel reasons. Your wife must be a fairly new nurse with

If your wife is going to OR school afterwards, then it will be at either Wright Patterson (Dayton, Ohio) or San Antonio Military Medical Center (SAMMC). It is also 3 months.

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