Airforce October 2020

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Specializes in Neuro ICU.

Hi everyone! I'm currently starting/going through the application process for the October boards for nursing for the Airforce and I was wondering if anyone else is going through the process or has gone through MEPS yet? I have read a lot of the old blogs from previous years on what its like and how the interview process goes with the Chief Nursing Officer, but still super. nervous!

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Following! I would love to get more current information, have you spoke to a recruiter?

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spoken with* LOL its my 4th/ 12 night shift I'm losing it!

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Specializes in Neuro ICU.

Hey! I have spoken with a recruiter, but I ended up reaching out to another recruiter from my home state, because he mislead me with information and now I'm pretty hesitant in trusting what he has to say. I have been trying to get a good idea on what its like and if its the right move for me. He was telling me at least for critical care there are only certain bases you can work at and you would have to stay there for three years which is a big committment in my eyes.

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Specializes in Dialysis,Stepdown, Cardiothoracic ICU.

I am planning to join the AF too. But haven't started the process yet.

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Specializes in Neuro ICU.
4 minutes ago, ExploringRN said:

I am planning to join the AF too. But haven't started the process yet.

What makes you want to join? What kind of nurse are you currently?

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Specializes in Dialysis,Stepdown, Cardiothoracic ICU.
3 minutes ago, 1425oes said:

What makes you want to join? What kind of nurse are you currently?

Currently, working at Cardiothoracic surgical ICU. Just looking for a place where I could be more useful.

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Specializes in Adult Critical Care.

Would just recommend you talk to a few Air Force nurses first to make sure you understand what you're getting into. People who join the military for the bang-bang shoot-em-up trauma are generally disappointed. Nursing in a military MTF is like traveling back in time about 10 years. Everything in the military is just slower to change and adapt. That's very frustrating for civilians coming from a big university medical center.

Example: I've never pushed lytics for an MI prior to joining the military. We just didn't have prompt access to a cath lab...and presto!

You would certainly take a step back in terms of average patient acuity joining any military branch. You get a lot of military specific training and travel in exchange for that loss. I know more than a few nurses that thought they would get all this awesome trauma experience...only to realize you get that very rarely and only on deployments. Even on deployments, there's lots of waiting around for something to happen.

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Specializes in Cardiothoracic and Transplant ICU.

I am contemplating on applying to the October boards. I just went through the process with the Army and submitted a packet to the April boards but was placed on the OML. If I don’t get pulled from the OML before the new fiscal year in October, I’ll have to reboard...

I am a RN at a large Medical Center in a Cardiothoracic and Transplant ICU with 1.5 years of experience. I am also an eight year prior enlisted applicant. Thankfully I’ll be able to use my Army commissioning physical for the Air Force so I wouldn’t have to go through that mess again haha.

Anyone else applying for ICU and/or Flight nurse?

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Specializes in Neuro ICU.
10 hours ago, jfratian said:

Would just recommend you talk to a few Air Force nurses first to make sure you understand what you're getting into. People who join the military for the bang-bang shoot-em-up trauma are generally disappointed. Nursing in a military MTF is like traveling back in time about 10 years. Everything in the military is just slower to change and adapt. That's very frustrating for civilians coming from a big university medical center.

Example: I've never pushed lytics for an MI prior to joining the military. We just didn't have prompt access to a cath lab...and presto!

You would certainly take a step back in terms of average patient acuity joining any military branch. You get a lot of military specific training and travel in exchange for that loss. I know more than a few nurses that thought they would get all this awesome trauma experience...only to realize you get that very rarely and only on deployments. Even on deployments, there's lots of waiting around for something to happen.

Thank you so much for this information as this is super helpful. That definitely makes me nervous in deciding to join as I am coming from a level one teaching hospital. Thank you so much for taking the time to give me this information.

51 minutes ago, ReconMedic said:

I am contemplating on applying to the October boards. I just went through the process with the Army and submitted a packet to the April boards but was placed on the OML. If I don’t get pulled from the OML before the new fiscal year in October, I’ll have to reboard...

I am a RN at a large Medical Center in a Cardiothoracic and Transplant ICU with 1.5 years of experience. I am also an eight year prior enlisted applicant. Thankfully I’ll be able to use my Army commissioning physical for the Air Force so I wouldn’t have to go through that mess again haha.

Anyone else applying for ICU and/or Flight nurse?

Hey I have a year experience in a level one neuro ICU. I talked to my recruiter and initially he said you only need a year of acute experience for flight nursing, then he tells me you actually need two years of experience so I was extremely annoyed that he told me one thing and got my hopes up.

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Specializes in Dialysis,Stepdown, Cardiothoracic ICU.
10 hours ago, jfratian said:

Would just recommend you talk to a few Air Force nurses first to make sure you understand what you're getting into. People who join the military for the bang-bang shoot-em-up trauma are generally disappointed. Nursing in a military MTF is like traveling back in time about 10 years. Everything in the military is just slower to change and adapt. That's very frustrating for civilians coming from a big university medical center.

Example: I've never pushed lytics for an MI prior to joining the military. We just didn't have prompt access to a cath lab...and presto!

You would certainly take a step back in terms of average patient acuity joining any military branch. You get a lot of military specific training and travel in exchange for that loss. I know more than a few nurses that thought they would get all this awesome trauma experience...only to realize you get that very rarely and only on deployments. Even on deployments, there's lots of waiting around for something to happen.

Thank you for this advice. I am weighing the pros and cons. Considering my husband's job too, he is currently working as a GS12 in one of the naval bases in Norfolk.

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Specializes in Cardiothoracic and Transplant ICU.
22 hours ago, 1425oes said:

Hey I have a year experience in a level one neuro ICU. I talked to my recruiter and initially he said you only need a year of acute experience for flight nursing, then he tells me you actually need two years of experience so I was extremely annoyed that he told me one thing and got my hopes up.

You only need a year to apply, but 2 years will make you competitive. By the time the board meets I will have about 1 year and 10 months of experience and will have just over 2 years when I would leave for training. Apparently the board will weigh in the time you'll have before shipping off.

You can apply to both ICU and Flight at the same time and the board will choose which position you fit best.

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