First Nursing Job/Getting in the Air Force

[UCAFblue]

Hi everyone,

I applied to the NTP board last July and was selected as an alternate. According to my recruiter, if I'm not picked up by February 2013 then I'll have to reapply for the 2013 NTP board. I will be graduating in May 2013 and was curious to know what effect my first nursing job might have on my chances with the Air Force if I manage to find a job between graduation and the NTP board.

I ultimately hope to be a NICU nurse, so if I get a civilian job while waiting for the AF, that's where I'd like to go, even knowing that if I get in the AF as a new grad I'll be adult med/surg for the first couple of years. However, I know that the AF and the military in general puts a lot of emphasis on adult nursing....Will I ruin my chances of getting in the AF if I go for a NICU job straight out of school without gaining any adult experience first?? Should I forget about a NICU job at first and go for something with adults and hope I can get into NICU nursing after a couple of years in the AF??

Any input is greatly appreciated!!

[romaniam]

Hmm...that's a tough question, since you're already an alternate. But I'll give you my two cents worth since I am a NICU nurse and will be heading to COT in March.Fact is, it's almost February. If you are lucky enough to land a NICU job as a new grad and haven't yet been selected for the AF, I say, stay at your NICU job for at least a year then reapply to he AF as fully qualified, that way you'll be able to go into he AF in your specialty.If you're selected as an alternate, then go in because your in...then you can try to move into NICU from there.Fact is, it's difficult nowadays to get a job as a new grad and even more difficult to get a NICU job as a new grad.I would also try maternal/child health or L&D, if you can't get NICU because then your transition to NICU will be easier.Good luck! Keep us posted.

[UCAFblue]

Thanks so much for the response romaniam!! Chances are I won't be selected from the alternate list this time around, since I started out at #31 and the most recent update put me at only #27 or something like that. When completing my prereq's I attempted to enlist in the Air Force Reserve, but setbacks and a huge mistake by meps delayed it so long that by the time I was set to sign my contract, I had received my letter saying I was accepted to my current nursing school and decided to go with completing school first. So, my heart has always been a little bit partial to being enlisted first, and that's something I'm still seriously considering after graduation...that way I could be more "well-rounded" and have a non-healthcare job in the AF Reserve while still having a civilian RN job, hopefully in a NICU, and then after a couple of years I could try to get a commision as a nurse if it still feels right.

I worry a little bit about going in the AF as a new grad and having to do med/surg (or OB) for a few years...yes, they say you can change over to specialties like NICU, but I have my doubts about how realistic that possibility really is once you are in and they have control over what you do.

Do you have any adult experience, or is it all NICU?

[romaniam]

I agree, once you're in and in med/surg, I'm doubtful about your chances of switching.I started out in Mother/Baby for a few months and then I got a NICU job and have been doing NICU and/or nursery since.Good luck. I'm sure everything will work out for the best.