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.

[enova]

Congratulations to the alternates that are now selects!!! I am still keeping my fingers crossed!! SO many emotions right now, happy for ya'll but envious and wish i was there with you..

[droux]

I was just accepted to a few direct-entry NP programs (program awards BSN/MSN/NP). Am I far too late to consider applying for an Air Force scholarship if my program starts this Fall 2014? I just received the acceptance letter, so I could not have applied any sooner than a few days ago. I've already contacted a Navy and Air Force recruiter for info but wanted to post here in case I can get any useful info. I am very green on this whole process and just started researching when I got my acceptance letter.

Congrats and good luck to those who were accepted! I hope to one day be in your shoes. And Germany sounds particularly awesome!!

[freedlyf]

How long did it take for the USFA to complete your background check? Also how soon after that did they schedule your swearing in and give you your offical orders?

[nicolelindseyj]

Hello Everyone! I have been following this thread for a while now & wanted to share my experience thus far. I contacted my recruiter in April and have submitted all paperwork. Last I heard he was waiting on one LOR. It has been hit or miss getting in touch with him.

I am a critical care nurse with 8 years experience, currently studying for my CCRN. I work nights now so I am not as active in the hospital as I have been previously.

My application will go in for the September 2014 board. I wish everyone good luck!

[cbest]

Hello,

My husband is also applying for the Sept. 2014 boards, He is prior service and a little older (42). He has a BS is Healthcare admin. and an ASN is nursing. He is quickly finishing his BSN (4classes to go). and has 2 years experience as a nurse in ER. He was also in the Navy for 6 years. Any advise from prior service?

[jfratian, DNP, RN, CRNA]

I assume he already knows that you must have a BSN to be an active duty Air Force Nurse. Just about to finish those 4 classes, right? He definitely can't start commissioned officer training as a nurse until the BSN is complete. A Bachelor's degree in another field isn't enough.

Did he get an age waiver? I thought you had to commission before your 42nd birthday.

[midinphx, BSN]

42 is the age cut off, however, his 6 years prior buys him 6 years in age. He has until he is 48 to commission without a waiver.

Prior service, though helpful, really doesn't matter in our AF nursing careers. Except of course, that he comes in with O 1E which is more money.

[ScrubGirl88, BSN, RN]

This question may have been answered already but, I am about to start my BSN program and will be done 12/2015. What is the process to get the ball rolling with becoming a AF nurse. There is so little information about it online and the recruiter in Tucson acted like he did not have a clue what I was talking about. LOL

I just want to know how to get started so I can be prepared. :-)

Thank you

[midinphx, BSN]

The most important thing you can do it get the highest GPA. It matters. After being an RN for 14 years, the recruiter asked me what my GPA was - I had no idea (it was high - but that never matter in civilian life).

Sorry to say, the recruiter in in the SW covered the region from San Diego, thru Phoenix, down to El Paso when I met him in 2009. I bet that hasn't changed much. You won't get much info from them. Nurses wanting to commission need the recruiter more than the recruiter needs you right now. He doesn't have a lot of time, and less for someone not yet qualified - and probably won't be qualified until he is long gone. But do continue to contact the healthcare recruiter and expect to be very patient and happy to get any info he gives you.

[JillyRN]

How long did it take for the USFA to complete your background check? Also how soon after that did they schedule your swearing in and give you your offical orders?

Not sure who this was directed to, but I can share my timeline with you. I was informed of selection end of January. Updated paperwork and played phone tag with recruiter until March. Didn't hear that security clearance was complete until end of April (not sure exactly when it was submitted but recruiter said it took 3 weeks). I took the oath mid May. I was told to expect orders a month before COT (ETA mid July). Hope this gives you some insight.

[enova]

I am applying for the second time to the sept 2014 board. I was alternate #6 for ER slot last time. I am hoping for better luck this time. I already went to my interview and now just updating my paperwork. Recruiter told me they have 18 ER slots and 10 clinical nurse slots. He said those are good numbers but it looks like getting in is very competitive

[jfratian, DNP, RN, CRNA]

You still have some time to get extra certs (Sept is probably the paperwork deadline, Oct is when it meets I bet). Do you have your CEN or CPEN? Do you have TNCC? Those might help give you a nudge.