I just recently started the process to apply to be an Air Force nurse. I'm trying to complete my packet for the January 2013 (Feb 19-Board, Mar 08-Decision). Anyone else currently starting or in the process? Any advice with gathering my information?
Any current Air Force Nurses that could give me insight about their experience, especially regarding their first assignment?
My husband is about to separate from the Army and we are used to that way of thinking and doing things (i.e. lots of misleading information, less family oriented, less options regarding career). My recruiter had mentioned that everyone goes into a general clinical nurse slot, but is given the opportunity to specialize into a department of their choice after one year. My initial response was "Yeah... riiighhhttt." I don't actually believe that I would be given such a choice so soon, but I'm not sure if that is only because of our experience with the Army. Can anyone enlighten me??
hi, were you doing a different job in the AF before becoming a nurse? how has your experience been in the AF? hopefully not like the one that mobostark is having. it really sucks to hear that but I cant imagine that every base is like that or at least i hope not. LOL. if thats the case, then count me out. LOL.
I was Security Forces but a couple of my friends are AF nurses, in different locations. Not every base is the same, each base as well as each squadron gets their own pot of money so how they spend it affects the outcome so I guess at Travis AFB they may not be spending wisely. I've never been to Travis but the bases I have been too had good hospitals and clinics. Not all bases have inpatient hospitals fyi. I would not recommend basing your decision on someone else's gripe, it is what you make of it. I would not trade my experience for the world but unfortunately had to get out to actually finish nursing school due to all the deployments delaying my schooling(Nurses do not deploy nearly as much as security forces..don't want to scare anybody!). I am in the process of putting my package together for the nurse transition program for new grads.
I am glad to hear that someone likes the AF. I definitely am not going to base my decision on what someone else says but it is assuring to hear that you have had no regrets. since you have been in the AF before, you should have no problem getting picked back up i would think. i bet security forces was neat. I am waiting to hear if i got selected next month. good luck with NTP. have you ever been to eglin, nellis, robins or shaw. those were some of my picks. LOL. talk to you soon.
Specializes in ED. ICU, PICU, infection prevention, aeromedical e.
I'm an active duty AF nurse. I did 14 years of civilian nursing before coming back in to the service. I was army enlisted - used GI Bill and college fund to get my BSN.
I'm deployed in Afghanistan right now. I've been in 2.5 years and this is my 2nd deployment. This has been a very busy couple of years. I've moved multiple times and have been as flexible as can be. I have no live plants at home and I had to find a new home for my dog because I'm not home enough to take of him the way he needs to be. I enjoy the deployment because this is what I came in to do. I get to take care of American heroes. However! We also do humanitarian work here and take care of local nationals, contractors, other nations military, and bad guys. I'm taking care of Peds ICU pts too. I'm glad I knew that before I got here. The living conditions are fine if you stay at an AF base - but we are moving towards joint forces and many get sent with army units. So don't expect nice things. And it is always dirty here, no matter what you do. Some said that we aren't fighting a war on terror, but a war on dirt. lol. We have good equipment here and enough supplies.
At home I've always had enough supplies as well. I've never had too many patients. I've never been overwhelmed with the patient care Ive been assigned to. I worked with harder and more patients as a civilian nurse. At home base I take care of a lot of retirees and some take care of civilians. Not alot of active duty folks on my unit. I have been overwhelmed with the amount of time the AF expects of me. We work at least 7 shifts every 2 weeks (at home - on deployment we get 1 day "off" a week). Then you need to add in your extra duties and meetings on top of that. Meetings not conducive to sleep when working night shift. Getting geared up for deployment is a lot of extra training and computer based training that is meant to drive you insane I think. Actually, once you get on the plane to leave there is a sense of relief - because you don't have anymore stuff to do!! lol. Expect a ton of scavenger hunt checklists anywhere you go. The paperwork of getting in is just an appetizer.
I encourage people to come in. Try it out for a few years and serve your country. If you don't like it - serve your time and leave after your commitment - commitment is based on what bonus you choose only. I can get out today if I didn't take a 4 year bonus - next year I can resign my commission and leave. I will not. I'm here for the long hall and this crazy adventure! I only ask that if you come in - set your mind that this is your lifestyle and don't bring the rest of us down because you don't like it. Give your patients your best care regardless of who they are.
I'm currently active duty enlisted, trying to get into the Nurse enlisted commissioning program, and had a couple questions for midinphx, what are your deployments like? Do you work in-patient, clinical, trauma, ambulatory? Is the flight nurse program competitive, do you have to be a nurse for a few years before being allowed to try to compete? As far as the working hours, when you say 7 shifts in 2 weeks, is it like a 12/14 hour shift for three days, then you have two days off, two days on, three days off? (3-2-2-3 aka panama schedule?) so when I said "a couple", I meant like 20 : )
I just started speaking to a recruiter, I was sent a packet of paperwork and references to fill out. I told him I've been a nurse for 4 years with a BSN but he wasnt able to disclose any sign on bonuses or how much time in grade I would receive until after I finished the application. He did mention there was around 30 ER/ICU openings for 2013.
Is this usually the process? Do the ground work first, show them your qualifcations and then they will offer you the nurse incentives and rank? Or is my recruiter just different?
I really want to join and I intend to complete all the required papework , just wanted to get some input from those out there who have or are going through the commissioning process - thanks alot!
I'm not sure why your recruiter wouldn't be able to tell you about time in grade. If i'm not mistaken they take your time and do some calculation (generally split your tiime in half or something like you get 6 months for every one year) and that's how much time in grade you get up to a certain amount. Someone else may chime in on here who knows for sure!
Not sure why he/she wouldn't mention sign on bonuses either. That's strange they usually do unless there are specific bonuses for certain specialties but still.
Did the recruiter say you would be applying to the nursing board in April? Generally, you do submit the paperwork but you also get sent to MEPS for your physical to make sure you are even medically qualified. What is your experience in? Let me know if you have any other questions and i will be looking out for your posts. I will try to help out.
Specializes in Clinic Nursing, Family Planning, OR.
Hi Ray,
My recruiter approached it the same way. I wasn't able to meet with him until I filled out the preliminary paper work (questionnaire and resume). After he approved that stuff, I met with him to get more information on how to compete the application packet. He did discuss the sign on bonuses and tuition reimbursement. Time in grade took a while I find out cause they had to review my résumé and let me know how much work experience counted. It then needed to be approved at a higher level from my understanding. I know others on this board could probably clarify.
Maybe your recruiter was just trying to be cautious in not giving any misinformation. I know there are different incentives for different specialities, so maybe that has something to do with it? I applied for med/surg so it would be 30K sign on for 4 years with no tuition reimbursement. Good luck in the application process! It can be quite frustrating.
I am applying for a medsurg slot and waiting results. my recruiter told me from the get go that since I was a nurse for 4 years then i would go in as a 1st lt and I signed up for a 6 year committment so they could pay my college loans off and a 6 year is 20K sign on bonus. the 3 and 4 year are 30k sign on bonus. hope this helps.
Are you currently in ICU or CCU? For flight nurse they like for you to have at least 6 months in that field. It could be different now but the last time i checked that's what they were looking for. Have you spoken to a recruiter? From what i understand there are not a lot of slots for flight nursing in the reserves generally. You could try to get in the reserves and then try to get into the flight aspect of it later.
Specializes in ED. ICU, PICU, infection prevention, aeromedical e.
I'm an ICU nurse. My deployments have been in hardened facilities in bigger locations. I stay in the ICU. Med surg nurses work in the ward here, Outpt clinic,different duties, etc. Almost anything is possible. I've had friends who deploy with the Army and go to FOBs.
When I get back from this deployment, I intend to put my package in for AE flight nurse. Flight nurse is for stable patients - ambulatory, psych, smaller injuries that are stable. It's more like a paper pusher job, passing meds in flight, easier stuff. I think they need people with experience. New grad go into NTP for a couple of months and learn how to put all that education into real world arena. You will be expected to stay in your initial unit a couple of years before applying for fellowship programs and the like. I hear that there is a need for flight nurses, but that need is rather fluid and changes regularly.
As far as shifts and hours that varies by the unit. Some do panama schedules. My unit doesn't have any real rhyme or reason to the schedule. I usually only work 3 in a row before a 2 day break though. I'm pretty flexible about my hours and they have repaid that in kind; I usually get off when I ask for a specific day off.
Bonuses have said the same the last few years. $20k for 3 year commitment, $30k for 4yr. 6 years will buy you $20K+$20K loan repayment - be aware that is all BEFRORe taxes.
It's hard to get in, and it's alot of waiting and paperwork. Recruiters don't want to waste time on someone not fully committed. There are more nurses trying to get in than there is availability for, it's very competitive.
kdazzle
116 Posts
hey dreaming1007,
hi, were you doing a different job in the AF before becoming a nurse? how has your experience been in the AF? hopefully not like the one that mobostark is having. it really sucks to hear that but I cant imagine that every base is like that or at least i hope not. LOL. if thats the case, then count me out. LOL.