Hi everyone, I am an ICU RN in a liver transplant unit at USC with 1.5 years of critical care experience and half a year on a neuro DOU floor. I reached out to an air force reserve recruiter asking about flight nursing opportunities and according to him there is a shortage of flight nurses in the Air Force.
I sent him my resume and I am waiting on him to let me know if the CNO at March Air Force Base in California would like to pick me up for commission.
Are there any current flight nurses in the air force reserves that can share their experiences? I'd like to know what to expect in terms of the timeline between contacting recruiter and commissioning. Also, how long is COT, flight school, survival training, and approximately how much time do you serve per month? Is it possible to keep a full time position at a hospital?
It isn't but it's mostly because I work nights and the VA pays well. Working at the VA, if I go on military leave I can choose to use my AL/SL or my ML. I decided not to so I'm LWOP
Yeah I figured... At least there's the bonus to help. I still have some student loans unfortunately. Any resource websites to show flight nurse reservist pay?
I was going over your replies and forgot to ask what the minimum number of days is to keep your wings? What happens when you fall out of the minimum? Not that I intend to but is there a protocol for that?
I believe it is 2 hours per 90 days but you also have a lot of different areas you have to cover (i.e. Medical emergency, thoracic, plane emergency) to stay current so 2 hours every 90 days won't cover it. Any AFI will cover that (just Google it) and I don't go to SERE until July but we don't jump train.
Hi everyone! So I am currently in the process of joining the air reserves as a flight nurse... my interview with the chief nurse is in the morning. With CCAT is that something you need Air Force experience to join.. like something to work up to.. or is that something you are able to join straight out of the gates? CCAT sounds more like what I am looking for long term.. I am more of an ICU/ER girl than a Med-Surg/flight attendant girl... but am more than happy to put my time in if needed.
2 years ICU or ED experience + 800 critical hours (vented, invasive monitoring, or vasoactive drips) within the last 2 years. They also like CCRN, CEN, or CFRN. I'll quote the documentation later.
2 years ICU or ED experience + 800 critical hours (vented, invasive monitoring, or vasoactive drips) within the last 2 years. They also like CCRN, CEN, or CFRN. I'll quote the documentation later.
Alright, here's the big copy/paste from AFI 48-307 V. 2 for CCATT qualifications which is current as of January.
"3.2.3.2. Nurse. Nurses nominated for assignment to an ERCC UTC must have a minimum of two years Critical Care/Emergency Department nursing experience. Within six months prior to the CVC application, the nurses must have experience with ventilator management (ABG interpretation, basic ventilator management), hemodynamic monitoring (knowledge and management of invasive lines, interpretation and application of labs/data, fluid/blood product management, and resuscitation standards) and titration of vasoactive intravenous medications. Nurses must demonstrate knowledge in pharmacology of commonly used medications in the respective UTC allowance standard to include, but not limited to: medication dose and use, contraindications, management and clinical indication for medications."
"3.2.4.2. Nurse application package requires (see Attachment 2 for package checklist):
3.2.4.2.1. Coversheet – CVC checklist.
3.2.4.2.2. Current curriculum vitae including a self-assessment to include an in-depth description of critical care activities over the previous two years. (Self-assessment must provide evidence or attestation of tasks in para 3.2.3.2. Previous two years†does not infer candidate must have two years of experienceâ€. Describe critical care activities experienced/performed within that time period prior to application.)
3.2.4.2.3. Current nursing job description.
3.2.4.2.4. Nurses will be current with BLS, ACLS, as well as Advanced Trauma Care for Nurses (ATCN) Course; or, Trauma Nurses Core Course (TNCC) in lieu of ATCN. It is highly recommended RNs have a certification in CCRN, or CEN, or CFRN. Completion of the Air Force's Emergency/Critical Care Nurse Fellowship or AACN's Essentials of Critical Care Orientation is recommended. (Include copy of respective certificate for each applicable certification held.)
3.2.4.2.5. Current copy of RSV checklist for the primary nurse AFSC position listed in the MISCAP for the respective ERCC UTC, plus RSV checklist for qualifying AFSC currently held. 46Y3M will submit current copy of RSV checklist for 46Y3M AFSC".
Devo19, BSN, MSN, APRN
171 Posts
It isn't but it's mostly because I work nights and the VA pays well. Working at the VA, if I go on military leave I can choose to use my AL/SL or my ML. I decided not to so I'm LWOP