Changing specialties as an experienced RN joining AF

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Specializes in L&D, Nursery, Postpartum, Pediatrics.

So not sure if anyone can answer this... but here's the deal.

I graduated in Dec. '09 with my BSN and considered AF at the time, but timing wasn't right for my life. (Had a baby after graduation, etc.) Now I'm about to start working as a civilian RN on a Women's and Children's floor. My passion is L&D, but didn't have any luck getting a job there in this job market. I know (correct me if I'm wrong) that to skip NTP you have to have > or = 6 mos experience. I also know that as a new grad going through NTP you can choose the OB track or the Med-Surg track. Is there such an option for experienced RN's? Or if you join AF with one type of experience are you doomed to stay in that area since you skipped NTP? If I decide after a year at this job that I want to do AF but haven't gotten any L&D experience, will I be able to transition to and get training in L&D or an "OB track" once in the AF? Or if I really want to do L&D do I need to try to get civilian L&D experience first and then apply for AF?

Thanks for any expertise :)

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Talk to your recruiter. I know they were doing it this way at one time, because I got offered L&D; you pick a "track" - but was told that once you're L&D, you pretty much STAY L&D, so be sure that's what you want. I don't know that I want to stay that, so I went the med-surg route.

Also keep in mind it will limit you as to your assignment choices, since there are only a few big delivery hospitals in the AF (Wilford Hall here in TX is one, Langley's one in VA, and I think Travis is another - it's in CA).

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Specializes in L&D,Wound Care, SNC.

L&D nurse and Air Force spouse here. I worked at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany for 1 1/2 yrs as a civilian RN. I took time off to have a baby and we leave in a few months, didn't really see the point in going back to work for a few months. Anyway there are a few more assignment options for L&D. Keesler, AFB MS delivered babies a few years ago before Katrina, not sure if they still do. Overseas you have Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany, it's an Army hospital but there are Air Force nurses and med techs there. Elmendorf, Alaska is considered overseas. There is also Yakota Japan, and I think Misawa Japan too. There may be one or two other choices out there but I am not sure.

Our unit ended up "hiring" a new grad Air Force nurse into L&D. I believe her recruiter worked it for her or it was the nurse manager. I am not 100% sure how that went down. It is certainly possible to go straight to L&D, but probably not very likely.

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Specializes in L&D, Nursery, Postpartum, Pediatrics.

Thanks for the input! :)

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Specializes in all.

A little curious. If you are working as a nurse in a specialty where there are limited base opportunities will you be forced to change? They will not keep you at the same base for eternity?

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HNella - that's a good question. My boss is a retired Lt Col and at one time was (quite literally) the AF's highest ranking oncology RN. I've been home on quarters sick with some God-awful virus for the last three days and I'm not scheduled to go back to work until Wednesday (thank God, because at this point getting up and walking across the room wears me out - I don't know what this is, but don't catch it!) - let me ask her. I've been wanting to know this myself.

I know our oncologists have spent pretty much their whole career here, since Wilford Hall's the big center for AF (and really DOD) cancer, and I know my boss did time at Keesler on a combination unit (onc and gen-med). But I know from hearing her talk she's spent most of her time here at Wilford Hall. I also know from hearing her talk that the way the AF does this sort of stuff has changed.

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Specializes in Anesthesia.

It is possible to switch to different specialities in nursing in the AF. I came in as an ICU nurse, but I carry 4 different AF nursing identifiers (46N, 46N3E, 46N3J, & 46Y3M). I have worked several different jobs while in the AF ICU, ER, Acute Care Clinic, Student Health Clinic, admin for a couple of months, and now I am CRNA. Not too bad for 8 yrs in the AF. Each base will provide different opportunities it is up to you to seek them out.

It is usually easier to switch between similar nursing specialities i.e. ER/ICU, Med-Surg/Clinics/PACU/Tele/Step-Down, and it is usually much harder to go from totally different specialities like Mental Health to Med-Surg but I knew a few mental health nurses that picked up their 46N.

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wtb - you might know this answer then before I can get back to work - Hnella and I were curious as to how it works if you want to stay in a certain specialty. I know the AF doesn't mind NOT moving you but she's wondering (I think) will they leave you in one spot for the duration of your career.

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Specializes in Anesthesia.
wtb - you might know this answer then before I can get back to work - Hnella and I were curious as to how it works if you want to stay in a certain specialty. I know the AF doesn't mind NOT moving you but she's wondering (I think) will they leave you in one spot for the duration of your career.

You can't usually stay in one spot for 20yrs as an NC officer. You will hear some people talk about doing the LSD (Lackland, Sheppard Dyess) tour their whole career just so they can stay in Texas, and some nurses will just move between 3-4 bases in 20yrs. The more specialized you are the less likely you are going to move that often. I think not moving looks bad when you come up for promotion. As a nurse corps officer we are expected to move every 3-5yrs depending on the base. Not everything is about your AF career though. I plan on trying to stay in Alaska until my two youngest children have graduated from high school. That will put in AK for about 7yrs. I don't know if the AF will let me stay that long, but I do know one L&D nurse that has been here over 8yrs.

If staying in one place is a high priority then USPHS is probably a better fit.

P.S. NICU is probably the smallest (as far as available bases) USAF nursing speciality I know of, so if you are looking not to move based on nursing speciality NICU is probably it.

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Specializes in all.

I was more curious, I think, about the more specialized areas of nursing limiting the possibility of moves. I can see the advantage of staying put in one base especially if you own kids :rolleyes:. I actually look forward to changing things up every few years and seeing new places and faces.. I have moved all over before joining the AF and hope they keep me moving for many years to come...

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Specializes in Anesthesia.
I was more curious, I think, about the more specialized areas of nursing limiting the possibility of moves. I can see the advantage of staying put in one base especially if you own kids :rolleyes:. I actually look forward to changing things up every few years and seeing new places and faces.. I have moved all over before joining the AF and hope they keep me moving for many years to come...

The moves can be fun and exciting, but I am on my 4th base in 8yrs so I am read for a little stability for awhile.

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Specializes in all.

Do most nurses rent or buy when they go to a new base? I can't wrap my head around the prospect of renting, but the housing market is a bit unstable in many parts - so I am torn between the two.

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