Commissioned RN in Air Force.. what do you do?

Bruce_Wayne, ASN, RN · Jan 15, 2011

Under "Specialties" there's a special forum for military nurses, maybe that'd be a good place to look if you're interested in that.

Editorial Team / Moderator · Jan 15, 2011

She's in the military nurses forum already ... hopefully someone will be along who can respond. :)

nurse2033, MSN, RN · Jan 15, 2011

I'm about the enter the ANG as a flight nurse, and I know several. The primary job of a flight nurse is transporting patients on C-130s back home. You can also be assigned to a clinic or a hospital. One friend is on a base in Kandahar. I'm not aware of any nursing jobs that involve combat, that's a medic or a corpsman job.

just_cause, BSN, RN · Jan 16, 2011

look at the pdf profiles that AF main recruiting site has online.. army has some videos as well as navy.

In general nurses are very safe - relatively safer then the majority of other jobs as they are primarily in hardstand hospitals. Majority of nurses are in hospitals.. majority of hospitals are outside the primary theater of combat.

Nothing is a sure thing.. however I think anyone entering the military should be mentally prepared and willing to work in a combat zone... my 2 cents

rghbsn, BSN, RN · Jan 16, 2011

Nursing in the AF is like nursing in civilian world...just different. There are hospitals (with med/surg, critical care, OB, pediatrics, ED) there are clinics (labs, physicals, sub-acute care, etc) and there are flight positions (where the RN works with AET's...aeromedical evacuation technicians...to transport patients from anywhere in the world to anywhere else in the world. They do this on several fixed wing airframes including the C-17, C-130, KC-135, C-21, C-5, even KC-10. There is even a civilian fleet of airliners that we are qualified to work on in case of national need). Keep in mind that any of these personnel can be deployed into combat areas (generally in the relative safety of the rear) or to areas of natural or man-made disasters (such as Haiti, New Orleans, etc). Nurses are officers, they are service men and women that provide care to other service members, their families and indigenous personnel wherever and whenever Uncle Sam needs them.

Obviously it's more in depth than that...but that's a pretty broad synopsis.

Epona · Jan 16, 2011

Wow! Those were some excellent explantions!! THANK YOU!! :redpinkhe :nurse:

Epona · Jan 19, 2011

I spoke to a regular officer recruiter (not specifically in nursing), but a recruiter who oversees enlisting officers. He told me that you cannot be over 35 OR be on any prescribed meds. to be in the officers program in the Air Force. Does anyone know the accuracy of this?? He said he was going to have someone else call back to verify, but I have not heard anything back yet. THANKS!!

just_cause, BSN, RN · Jan 19, 2011

... so are you looking at medical fields / nursing in AF ? Or are you asking for other officer AF career branches? They are similar but oh so different... to include accession standards (and recruiters...)

nurse2033, MSN, RN · Jan 19, 2011

I spoke to a regular officer recruiter (not specifically in nursing), but a recruiter who oversees enlisting officers. He told me that you cannot be over 35 OR be on any prescribed meds. to be in the officers program in the Air Force. Does anyone know the accuracy of this?? He said he was going to have someone else call back to verify, but I have not heard anything back yet. THANKS!!

Not true, nurses with Bachelors (in any field) are allowable up to age 47. I'm 46 and take a cholesterol med and I'm taking my oath tomorrow. :)

Epona · Jan 19, 2011

CONGRATS!! That's great news!! THANKS for the words of advice!! GOOD LUCK!! :)

divamichelle926 · Jan 20, 2011

Hey Nurse2033-

Did you say they are allowing RN's with a bachelor's in any field? I'm about to graduate with my ADN but have a previous bachelors in science. I have thought a great deal about military nursing (AF or Army) and when I contacted the AF recruiter last year he said I HAD to have a BSN (or at least be enrolled in a program) before I could even submit my papers. They wouldn't consider my previous degree as grounds for commissioning as a nurse officer. My husband is former Army and tells me their requirements frequently change so I wanted to pick your brain! :)