Critical Care Air Force nursing

allnurses Guide · Jun 22, 2009

I am a 30 y/o male graduating with my BSN in December and am considering the Air Force. I want to work in critical care (just finishing a six week ICU internship and loved it). I'm willing to work a med-surg type floor for a year or two before ICU. I'd like to hear about options for working critical care in the Air Force. Is it tough to get in to? Is there an extensive critical care training program? Does the Air Force require me to re-enlist if they put me through a training program? Where are some of the better ICU units located within the Air Force? Overseas? So many questions. ANY experience-based advice would a great help. Thank you

You would have to come in as a general nurse 46N1 in the AF as a new grad and go through nurse transition program prior to starting at your gaining base. In general you would have to work 2yrs as a 46N1 and then apply to critical care internship program which is 12months long in San Antonio. I think there is additional 2yr committment after the crtical care training program. The last I heard the program wasn't that hard to get into.

The biggest ICUs are Wilford Hall, Travis, Eglin, Wright Patterson, but except for Wilford hall they are all relatively small by civilian standards. Then there is dual/triservice bases such as Landstuhl (Germany)and eventually National Naval Medical Center (2011 it should become triservice).

By the way you never have to reenlist as an officer. You resign your commission once your time owed is up and you wish to get out.

Riversurfer · Jun 22, 2009

That's a helpful start. Thank you. I hope to have my resume and pre-qualification form in the mail this week. I've heard it may take some time to go through all the rigmarole, providing I even have a chance of getting in. Not sure what the Air Force's selection criteria includes and how many open slots they have for new grad RN's. With this economy, I'm wondering if application numbers haven't skyrocketed in the past six months?

Riversurfer · Jun 22, 2009

What is the new grad program like in the Air Force and how does it compare with a quality program in the private sector?

allnurses Guide · Jun 22, 2009

What is the new grad program like in the Air Force and how does it compare with a quality program in the private sector?

I would say it is much better than most civilian programs, but I didn't go through NTP because I was already an experienced nurse by the time I came in. You can do a search for NTP and find out quite a bit on the NTP program.

Shimano0606 · Jun 23, 2009

bigsky,

has your recruiter given you an estimated timeline from start of application to actual commissioning? i only ask because it is often much longer than initially estimated. if you have a sharp recruiter, then you should be in good shape. it took me over a year for everything...and i was able to bybpass various aspects of the process b/c of my prior service.

the quota for last year's ntp folks was something like 85 ppl...not sure about this year. if it looks like it will take a while, then don't be hesitant to get a civilian job in critical care and go through their training program before you get in the AF. it may give you different options when you come in.

i'm currently at wilford hall. i would say the surgical icu is the busiest at wilford hall because of the amount of civilian trauma they accept. our unit is often more restricted, but for pre-deployment experiences we often shadow folks in the sicu so we'll have a better idea of what to expect in iraq or afghanistan.

Riversurfer · Jun 23, 2009

Shimano0606,

I have briefly emailed my recruiter and am sending out a resume and pre-qualification form and will call shortly afterward to ask many questions. So, in short, I haven't asked about time frames yet. I've also heard similar stories about lengthy times. They are either interested in me and willing to make it happen, or I'll take my skills elsewhere. I am not 100% set on the Air Force. The more I read about, it sounds like a smart and secure move though and I would think the Air Force offers a quality training program. There are some new grad ICU programs out there and will be applying to them.

How long have you been at Wilford? Been a nurse? Get your training in the AF? Do you deal with severely complex patients at Wilford? How easy is it to get into the ICU there?

Thanks

mobro · Nov 9, 2009

i just came across this thread and was curious about an update! bigsky, now that you're so close to graduating what did you decide?? i graduated this past may, currently working in a civilian hospital and counting the days until i get a call from the air force recruiter telling me i was selected (hopefully). i was just wondering what you decided to do.

Riversurfer · Nov 9, 2009

I decided not to pursue Air Force. I have an application on file with the Navy, but am not certain I want to follow that route. Good luck to you.

Paulieg69 · Nov 15, 2009

I'm 10 years into the AF enlisted, Graduate from NECP with my BSN this December, which means I have zero years nursing experience. That also means that I have to do 2 years med-surge, then 1 year ICU training at Lackland, then at least 1 year ICU work on-base before I can apply to CRNA school, which lasts another 30 months. That means it will take me AT LEAST 7 years to become a CRNA as of now, assuming everything goes smoothly. I'll be at 16-17 years in the military, almost at retirement!

mobro · Nov 15, 2009

that sounds discouraging...does the route to get to CRNA just take longer/require more experience or is that a typical schedule for any advanced degree?

allnurses Guide · Nov 15, 2009

I'm 10 years into the AF enlisted, Graduate from NECP with my BSN this December, which means I have zero years nursing experience. That also means that I have to do 2 years med-surge, then 1 year ICU training at Lackland, then at least 1 year ICU work on-base before I can apply to CRNA school, which lasts another 30 months. That means it will take me AT LEAST 7 years to become a CRNA as of now, assuming everything goes smoothly. I'll be at 16-17 years in the military, almost at retirement!

Not to burst your bubble, but you have left off a couple of things.

1. TOS requirements has always been 2-3yrs before you are allowed to apply to AF AFIT/CRNA school, so it will be 2-3yrs more yrs added to your current plan.

2. By the time you are ready for military CRNA school both of the military NA schools should have converted to a 36mo DNP not a 30month program MSN program.

Now saying all that I would recommend getting a part-time job in a civilian ICU or ER ASAP and then applying to an AFIT program using that as your critical care experience as soon as you meet the TOS requirement.