Air Force October 2010

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Just wondering who all has/is submitting their application for the October due date for the AF for the up and coming boards?

Specializes in ICU/CCU.

I think that means they hired no one for ER, but if someone leaves, or a spot opens up, he's in.

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, Pediatrics.
I think that means they hired no one for ER, but if someone leaves, or a spot opens up, he's in.

What I don't understand though is if this is the case when it comes to alternates, then why weren't all of us selected as alternates in case a position does become available at a later date instead of saying that we are non-selects. Someone mentioned previously that non-selects couldn't re-apply. I was told that we can only re-apply in 6 months after being a non-select. So that would mean that we can't reapply in January. I am not saying that your recruiter is wrong, but I have a hard time believing anything that he would say because he lied to me for months and messed up my chances for last years board!

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According to my husband's recruiter, there was 1 person hired for an ER spot + however many were selected as alternates. That's why I was wondering about new grads/fully qualified-- we've seen Danegerous quote 11 hires, most people quote 16 hires, and Tina quote 27... since 11 + 16 is 27, I'm thinking maybe there are two groups?

I'm guessing the reason for some non-select and some alternates is that they have a good idea, based on past years, of how many additional people they will need and how many spots they are likely to have before the next board. We were also told that the alternates are ranked, so they will get spots in a certain order (1st alternate gets the first available spot, 2nd alternate gets the second, etc).

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, Pediatrics.

Still would have been nice to place all of us as alternates instead of making us re-apply and force us to compete with all of the nurses that will be applying in the near future!

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Still would have been nice to place all of us as alternates instead of making us re-apply and force us to compete with all of the nurses that will be applying in the near future!

Absolutely, but they are coming at it from a different perspective. All corporations want the best candidates possible, so competition benefits them. (And I absolutely do not mean that as any kind of statement about you personally or your personal experience-- I was with my husband while he was in nursing school, and I have the utmost respect for ANYONE who survives it... I sure couldn't have! :))

I hate that the job market is what it is right now, and I wish everyone the best in either waiting on the Air Force or pursuing other options. I really can't believe the board situation this year. It's insane.

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, Pediatrics.
Absolutely, but they are coming at it from a different perspective. All corporations want the best candidates possible, so competition benefits them. (And I absolutely do not mean that as any kind of statement about you personally or your personal experience-- I was with my husband while he was in nursing school, and I have the utmost respect for ANYONE who survives it... I sure couldn't have! :))

I hate that the job market is what it is right now, and I wish everyone the best in either waiting on the Air Force or pursuing other options. I really can't believe the board situation this year. It's insane.

But in past, they had taken all candidates, whether they were the best or not because they didn't get very many applicants. Because of this god-forsaken economy, we have to compete with those that wouldn't have normally considered being a nurse in the military and are now applying because they don't know what else to do. Overall, the whole situation just sucks.

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Specializes in OR/Trauma/Surgery/CriticalCare.

This sucks. I'm sorry for everyone not selected.... I'm still waiting to hear myself and considering the odds, I'm more than likely a non select myself. I know I'm probably going to have to wait and see but I'm psyching myself for some bad news.

Rnpic, I hope I didn't come off the wrong way and I sincerely am hoping this profession starts to show some light your direction.

Stupid question, but, prior to submitting your packets did you all sign something with an idea of where your going, your salary, rank etc... It's been so long now, all the forms I submitted/ resubmitted I don't remember what's been signed.

I think everyone on this thread would make one hell of a COT class in my opinion!! Good luck to all of us on our future endeavors!

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Specializes in ER, ICU, Med/Surg.

I am so sorry to all of you out there. I had no idea that it would be this difficult. My recruiter also told me that this is the first time he has not had a 100% selection rate. He told me I was lucky to be an alternate. I did not get a COT date either, and he said without a crystal ball that I should be OK with COT in 2012, although it could be earlier than that. I was originally under the impression that I would have to compete again at the next board as an alternate but my recruiter told me that would not be the case. He had originally told me that if I was a non select that I would not be able to apply again, however with so few people selected and such a high quantity of well qualified people, I don't see how they would not let you all apply again. Again, I know how challenging it was to apply and how long the process was. I wish all of you the best.

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It's definitely frustrating when people who really want to serve their country in this way are unable to. I'm very sorry for every one.

w2cross2blue, I was trying to figure out how to send you a private message and couldn't figure it out... we are also from Arkansas and my husband is an ER nurse. :)

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, Pediatrics.
Rnpic, I hope I didn't come off the wrong way and I sincerely am hoping this profession starts to show some light your direction.

Stupid question, but, prior to submitting your packets did you all sign something with an idea of where your going, your salary, rank etc... It's been so long now, all the forms I submitted/ resubmitted I don't remember what's been signed.

I think everyone on this thread would make one hell of a COT class in my opinion!! Good luck to all of us on our future endeavors!

Not at all. And I am sorry if I came off the wrong way. I am just so frustrated with everything :no:. Throughout my whole life I have had nothing but bad luck with everything. When I decided to go to school to become a Nurse instead of an Engineer, my intentions were always to become a NICU nurse. This is the only area I have ever wanted a career in and the reason why I became a nurse in the first place. I graduated at the beginning of this economy's collapse and never thought that it would hit nursing as hard as it has. We were always told in school that there is this huge nursing shortage and that we would never have any problems getting and being employed, no matter what area we wanted to specialize in. I have found this to be untrue from the beginning. I didn't even have a job offer by the time I graduated and I had started applying to jobs the summer before I graduated. So, being that I was the non-traditional student with a family to support, I took what I could get. Then, I was offered my "dream job" in the northern part of this horrible state and packed up and moved my family there. However, this specific facility was not where I belonged. I have had so much bad luck since becoming a nurse I often wonder why I did it in the first place. Thing is, I love:heartbeat being a nurse:nurse: and am very passionate about Neonatal Care. I have tried every other area of nursing and know that this is the area for me and where I belong. Now days, you can't accept a job to get your foot in the door expecting that you will eventually be able to transfer to where you want because it doesn't work that way (at least here it doesn't). I have tried that. Everyone tells me to not be picky about positions, but how can I or any other nurse not be. Most of us know what we want to do, where we belong, and where we are happy. I hope that all of this changes soon. I have been a nurse for over 3 years and this economy hasn't changed for the better as of yet.

Also, just so everyone here knows, prior service must not count for anything in this selection.

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, Pediatrics.
It's definitely frustrating when people who really want to serve their country in this way are unable to. I'm very sorry for every one.

w2cross2blue, I was trying to figure out how to send you a private message and couldn't figure it out... we are also from Arkansas and my husband is an ER nurse. :)

You can't send a PM until you have more than 15 posts.

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Specializes in ICU/CCU.

Well, I don't know about you guys, but hearing a "no" was at least better than this crazy waiting game. I think I heard an audible sigh of relief when he told me it wasn't happening. Of course I will keep trying, since this is my main goal, but until then I need to keep on keeping on.

Today, after getting the news, I applied to six positions that I've been waiting for a while to apply for but waited...because of the USAF. The funny thing is, I never saw ANY of these positions actually available until today. All ICU, all about 75% closer to home with about 10%+ higher pay.

There are silver linings, but I think sometimes we need to wipe the tears from our eyes to see 'em.

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