FY 2014 Air Force Nursing

[SG219]

I have been following the thread for FY 2013 Air Force nursing and realize that many of the clinical nurses, including myself, were made alternates for FY 2014. The only information I have received from my recruiter is that I will find out sometime in April or May if I am selected or not. Has anyone received more detailed information about the upcoming boards? What is the likelihood of selection for us alternates?

I am also interested to hear from anyone currently serving as a clinical nurse in the Air Force who can describe the day-to-day life and current news regarding the nursing specialty. I am 28 years old, have been an acute care RN at a level I facility since 2008, served seven years in the Army National Guard, and am a family man with two children. My wife, also an RN, and I are excited that I am an "alternate" for FY 2014 because it seems likely I will be selected. We have anxieties about active duty because I have never served on active duty.

[tacomaster]

Thanks everyone for answering my question.

[MattL]

I've actually been thinking about joining the Air Force after I graduate, but I have just a few questions that I'm hoping some of you can answer. I'm currently a junior in my BSN program and a single 20-year-old male with no intentions of getting married or having kids by the time I graduate. :)

1. How tough is it to actually get into the Air Force as a new grad RN? Should I work for a year after graduation and then try to apply, or should I apply right when I graduate just for the hell of it?

2. This is kind of related to the previous question, but when should I start the whole process of talking to a recruiter and getting all the information about applying? Will it benefit me if I started talking to a recruiter now?

3. This is for the RNs who are serving or have served in the Air Force: do you legitimately like working as an RN in the Air Force? I think it seems like something I'd enjoy, but I have no idea what it's like because I've only experienced "civilian" healthcare settings (obviously ).

4. Finally, given my personal situation (young, single male with no kids), would you recommend joining the Air Force?

Thanks in advance to anyone who is willing to answer my questions!

[jfratian, DNP, RN, CRNA]

I won't report to COT till March, so I can't answer 3 or 4 very well. From what little I know now, it's somewhat similar to civilian nursing when you're not deployed. However, you're patients are often military members and their dependents. Depending on you're specialty you have a potential deployment window of 6months every 18months-24months.

Take it from someone who applied with only a few months of experience, and got wait-listed, applying as a newbie is very tough. My 3.71 from a top 20 school didn't cut it by itself. If you have some cool life experiences to talk about in the essays, near-perfect grades, or some prior military experience, then you might have a better shot than I did the first time. I would say that applying more than once can only help you, showing you how the process works and signaling to the Air Force that you really want the job.

It took me 13 months, applying twice, before I was selected; it will be 18months by the time I show up for COT. Start applying as soon as you can, and start taking extra classes/certs: ACLS, PALS, TNCC, ATCN, stroke scale (NIH or AHA), etc. Read through this thread and the 2013 AF nursing thread if you really want to see how hard it is, even with experience.

Contact a healthcare recruiter, and start applying now for the July NTP (new grad) board!

[ffemt]

Mattl

I agree with jfratian. I applied fully qualified and still had to apply twice. It is better to get the process started as soon as possible. Talk to a Healthcare Recruiter. I didn't know the difference and when I first considered the AF, I got the wrong information due to talking to a non healthcare recruiter.

I think going in as a single adult would be a little easier than going in with a family. I will miss my daughters birthday because I will be in COT. Being away from family for several weeks at a time will not be easy but another part of the challenge of the military.

My aunt's sister retired from the military as a nurse. She really enjoyed military nursing. I know several people that served in the AF and they really enjoyed their experience. Good luck on you decision.

[MattL]

Thanks jfratian and ffemt for replying to me!

I think I'm going to talk to a recruiter this week to learn more about the application process. It kinda sucks hearing that it takes a while to apply and get accepted, but I definitely understand why it takes long.

Would it be smart to just get a civilian job right when I graduate? It seems like it takes at least a year after applying to get to all the training and what not.

[jfratian, DNP, RN, CRNA]

Yep, that's what I did. Get a civilian job with a good nursing education department and start taking every class you possibly can.

[MattL]

Should I also apply to the Air Force right as I graduate just for the hell of it? I know it's not likely that I'll get in if it shows on my application that I have no experience, but it couldn't hurt, right?

[jfratian, DNP, RN, CRNA]

Well, the good news is that when you're applying with less than 6 months of experience you can apply for an NTP slot (new grad) instead of an FQ (experienced) slot. You will only be applying against others with little to no experience. There is only 1 board date per year (July-ish), and they don't take as many applicants, but it is definitely worth applying. The disadvantage is that NTP people can only do OB or med-surg. Yeah, apply for NTP in July. If you don't get it, apply for FQ in October or the following February.

[MattL]

If i were to get an NTP slot, could I work towards working in critical care or would I be stuck with med/surg? (I don't think med/surg is bad by any means, just don't wanna do the same thing forever)

[JerseyGirl13]

To the selects...who got orders and COT date already? Still waiting for mine.

[ffemt]

Mattl

You can work towards what you want to do if you let your superior officer know. I would like to go into a specialty field in the AF but at this time I am not qualified. When I had my CN interview, he told me that what I would need to do is let my superior officer know what my goals are. If they know what your goals are then they can put you into positions that can help you reach your goals.

[MattL]

ffemt - awesome! So it sounds like if I wanted to get into critical care for CRNA school (just something I'm considering in the far future) then I'll be able to do it at some point.