Considering the AF for nursing

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I know there must be so many of these threads but it seems rude to hijack someone else's for my own questions...

So here's the rundown: I'm a sophomore at Oregon State U. fulfilling the prerequisites for OHSU's nursing program, which I will hopefully be applying for next year. While thinking of ways to pay for at least some of the cost of nursing school I came across the Air Force. I've done some research and I've talked to some people at the AFROTC here at OSU and I've sent an email to the AFROTC up at the University of Portland.

I guess I'd like to hear from people who are nursing in the Air Force who can give me first hand experience and advice.

When people talk about deployment are they referring to anywhere over seas or just into war zones?

When AF nurses go into warzones what are the conditions? Are you right in the thick of it or are there hospitals your stationed in?

Will I be able to pursue my masters in nursing while in the AF?

Will civilian experience as a nurse affect my entering rank?

Can anyone give me a rundown of ranks? I'm a little confused about that whole area...

Anything I should watch out for from recruiters? I know most of them are honest but you do hear a lot of horror stories...

Thanks for any of you help!

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Specializes in Flight/ICU/CCU/ED/Trauma.
i know there must be so many of these threads but it seems rude to hijack someone else's for my own questions...

so here's the rundown: i'm a sophomore at oregon state u. fulfilling the prerequisites for ohsu's nursing program, which i will hopefully be applying for next year. while thinking of ways to pay for at least some of the cost of nursing school i came across the air force. i've done some research and i've talked to some people at the afrotc here at osu and i've sent an email to the afrotc up at the university of portland.

i guess i'd like to hear from people who are nursing in the air force who can give me first hand experience and advice.

when people talk about deployment are they referring to anywhere over seas or just into war zones?

deploment is anywhere...not even just overseas. sometimes there are training deployments, disaster relief, humanitarian aid, etc.

when af nurses go into warzones what are the conditions? are you right in the thick of it or are there hospitals your stationed in?

most of the hospitals in-country (in the active war zone) are run by the army. there are some smaller units with clinics, etc. run by navy personnel on marine corps bases. often (not always) af hospitals are located in the larger "theatre of operations" in a more secure location; i.e. germany, currently. or kuwait, or somewhere within a few hours flight time. there are frequently barracks assigned just to the hospital or mostly to hospital staff so that night shifts can get some sort of break from day shift folks (again, that's ideal, not 100% of the time).

will i be able to pursue my masters in nursing while in the af?

yes, and it will be easier in my opinion. you can apply to be assigned to school...so you would be paid active duty wages while having a sole mission of completing your degree. you would owe time to the af for the time and money they gave you to finish school.

will civilian experience as a nurse affect my entering rank? yes, you get 6 mos. of credit for every year you work as an rn for the first 6 years. then it is 1:1.

can anyone give me a rundown of ranks? i'm a little confused about that whole area... not sure what you want to know? how long you're at a rank? where you start as a new nurse? how fast you get promoted? clarify it, and we'll try to help.

anything i should watch out for from recruiters? i know most of them are honest but you do hear a lot of horror stories...

you need to be talking to a health profressions recruiter for officers. they are not at the strip mall, they are usually not local unless you're in a big city. you will not be looking to enlist, you'll be looking to get a commission. there is a difference.

thanks for any of you help!

my replys are in red. i hope it helps!

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Awesome! That did clarify a lot!

Ok so ranks, how long do I stay in each rank? How does rank effect what I do? I understand there are classes I can take to improve my nursing skills and general know-how, will taking those affect my rank?

Is there an acronym dictionary floating around? Half the battle with this research is understanding those

Also I have a corn snake. Can I bring him with me once I'm assigned to a base or I will I have to get a friend to take care of him?

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Specializes in psych/medical-surgical.

Up to captain/O-3 promotion is automatic. Expect to be O-3 around year 4 of service. After then you have to be selected by a board for promotion to O-4/major, and that is competitive/selective. Currently the AF is said to be the slowest promoting military branch for nurses.

Rank determines who you are in charge of. I was told by an ex-AF RN that RNs can actually outrank doctors... obviously you still have to take orders from the docs though lol..

http://usmilitary.about.com/od/airforce/l/blafrank4.htm

http://usmilitary.about.com/od/promotions/l/blofficerprom.htm

http://usmilitary.about.com/od/airforcejoin/a/deployments.htm

Do corn snakes eat corn?

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Thanks for the links, and no cornsnakes eat mice, which I can buy frozen and in bulk

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