Elmendorf AFB Nursing: Questions Questions Questions

allnurses Guide · Jan 13, 2010

Hello All,
I was curious if there was anyone out there that was ever stationed at Elmendorf AFB as an Active duty nurse. I am a senior in my BSN program. I will graduate in May '10. COT 08/23/10. NTP in Scottsdale, AZ and then to Elmendorf.
So here goes:
Where will I live? On/off base? (Single & no kids) I keep finding info out there for officers with dependents.
What is the hospital there like? Morale-wise and any other info?
I really want to get into critical care ASAP. What are my chances while I'm stationed there?
I'm not an outdoorsy person per say. What else is there to do there besides hiking, camping, fishing?
What will my average week be like there? I know that nurses do 12 hr shifts. How likely will it be that I work over?
Will i ever get any time off to where I could fly somewhere else with out using any leave? or are you restricted to a certain mile radius?
Currently I hate my status in life, single sans kids and in school full time. I have no life as it is. I'm used to it and would be honored to do it because I'll feel like I'm a part of something bigger than just myself. What is there to do in Anchorage for a person in my boat?
Are there any clubs, organizations to get involved with?
I know I am going to be extremely homesick (I'm very close to my family) so I want to stay busy with something fun too.
In the military I have heard that just because you don't have to work on a particular day you may still be expected to do something else USAF related. How often does this happen? What is it exactly that are you expected to do?
I know there are tons of questions here. Any Advice is Greatly Appreciated!! I am just trying to mentally prepare myself for this transition. I feel as though not only must I prepare for military life but I must also prepare myself for being alone (away from the family) in what seems like another world. I have no problems whatsoever with this but I am just trying to have the most realistic expectations as possible.

Keep in mind I just got to Elmendorf, but I will answer the questions I can.

1. Here is Elmendorf's newcomer's guide. It will probably be more help than I can be. http://ebooks.aqppublishing.com/publications/g31/Elmendorf%20Base%20Guide%202009%20-%202010/

2. This is fairly large city. There is probably easily around 350K people in this area. There are indoor ice skating rinks, indoor water parks, malls, skiing, golf, whale watching, anything that a regular city has Anchorage has it.

3. An officer with no dependents will live off-base. I suggest looking at Eagle River.

4. Hospital seems to very nice, up to date, and the people seem real friendly.

5. If you don't have critical care experience already it is going to up to the chief nurse if and when you can get into critical care. I wouldn't bet on it. Are you wanting to get into CRNA school?

6. See the newcomer's guide for info on clubs things to do.

7. Expect to out in about 45-50hr work week on average. You can look at other posts on here about schedules extra duties etc. to get more of an idea about typical work schedules.

Best advice just go with the flow. There are going to be lots of single nurses and officers in the same boat as you.

SpookyCat, BSN, RN · Jan 13, 2010

Keep in mind I just got to Elmendorf, but I will answer the questions I can.
1. Here is Elmendorf's newcomer's guide. It will probably be more help than I can be. http://ebooks.aqppublishing.com/publications/g31/Elmendorf%20Base%20Guide%202009%20-%202010/
2. This is fairly large city. There is probably easily around 350K people in this area. There are indoor ice skating rinks, indoor water parks, malls, skiing, golf, whale watching, anything that a regular city has Anchorage has it.
3. An officer with no dependents will live off-base. I suggest looking at Eagle River.
4. Hospital seems to very nice, up to date, and the people seem real friendly.
5. If you don't have critical care experience already it is going to up to the chief nurse if and when you can get into critical care. I wouldn't bet on it. Are you wanting to get into CRNA school?
6. See the newcomer's guide for info on clubs things to do.
7. Expect to out in about 45-50hr work week on average. You can look at other posts on here about schedules extra duties etc. to get more of an idea about typical work schedules.
Best advice just go with the flow. There are going to be lots of single nurses and officers in the same boat as you.

Thank You So Much wtbcrna!!

How long have you been at Elmendorf? Do you know how long one's average assignment lasts? I'm planning to sign for 3 years and didn't know if I should plan on spending that entire time (from the end of my NTP till the end of my 3 years minus any deployments) at Elmendorf.

I am actually wanting to eventually be a flight nurse. I know in the military that there are different types. I spoke to a few critical care nurses and the equivalent of a critical care unit director at Wright-Patterson after my Chief Nurse interview. They mentioned a new flight nurse program starting there. I wish that I could have the option to go to a base with such a program. I was told that I would have to work into it. The only thing that bothers me about all that is the fact that my professional life is in the Chief Nurse's hands in that aspect. I was also told that it is very difficult in the AF to become a flight nurse because of all the competition. However, I at least want to be in critical care as soon as they deem me ready. From there who knows? I know that having critical care experience in the AF would look Very nice on a resume if I were to later decide to go back and work as a civie. Then possibly I could become a civie flight nurse.

In the military, I know they send you to school, if you are selected, to get something similar to a CCRN. Do you know how long that program lasts?

Tell me something, if you could. Are these expectations/hopes realistic? I believe that I have the GPA (3.5) between my two degrees thus far to be competitive in getting into a CRNA or a flight nurse program as a civilian. I just wonder what it takes for a nurse to be "deemed worthy" of 1st getting into critical care and then going into something else from there.

I thank you again in advance.

rghbsn, BSN, RN · Jan 13, 2010

Your GPA doesn't matter for any flight program. You actually don't need to be a critical care nurse to be an AF flight nurse, either. Now, to be a civilian FN you will need 3-5 years critical care minimum. You will also need your E designator in the AF to be on a CCATT.

Editorial Team / Moderator · Jan 13, 2010

My brother lives outside Anchorage, in Wasilla. He loves it there, but he is also Mr. Outdoors. Anchorage is a good-sized city, though -- http://www.anchorage.net/686.cfm. I can tell you that men outnumber women greatly in Alaska. Perhaps you won't be single for long!

allnurses Guide · Jan 13, 2010

Thank You So Much wtbcrna!!
How long have you been at Elmendorf? Do you know how long one's average assignment lasts? I'm planning to sign for 3 years and didn't know if I should plan on spending that entire time (from the end of my NTP till the end of my 3 years minus any deployments) at Elmendorf.
I am actually wanting to eventually be a flight nurse. I know in the military that there are different types. I spoke to a few critical care nurses and the equivalent of a critical care unit director at Wright-Patterson after my Chief Nurse interview. They mentioned a new flight nurse program starting there. I wish that I could have the option to go to a base with such a program. I was told that I would have to work into it. The only thing that bothers me about all that is the fact that my professional life is in the Chief Nurse's hands in that aspect. I was also told that it is very difficult in the AF to become a flight nurse because of all the competition. However, I at least want to be in critical care as soon as they deem me ready. From there who knows? I know that having critical care experience in the AF would look Very nice on a resume if I were to later decide to go back and work as a civie. Then possibly I could become a civie flight nurse.
In the military, I know they send you to school, if you are selected, to get something similar to a CCRN. Do you know how long that program lasts?
Tell me something, if you could. Are these expectations/hopes realistic? I believe that I have the GPA (3.5) between my two degrees thus far to be competitive in getting into a CRNA or a flight nurse program as a civilian. I just wonder what it takes for a nurse to be "deemed worthy" of 1st getting into critical care and then going into something else from there.
I thank you again in advance.

I got to the local area 1Jan2010....lol...so I am no expert by any means. We drove the whole way from the DC area.

Being an AF flight nurse is quite different than being a civilian flight nurse. An AF flight nurse is kinda of like med-surg in the sky. The critically ill patients are taken care by a CCAT team and not directly by the flight nurses. Flight nurse is a full time job where CCATT is an extra duty/deployable duty.

You don't need any critical care experience to get into flight nursing. I think you just need two years time on station before you can apply and the recommendation of your chief nurse.

The AF can send you to a critical care course in San Antonio at Wilford hall/BAMC it is a 12month program and has nothing to do with the CCRN. CCRN is just a certification through AACN similar to the CEN which most AF ER get. The critical care program is competitive, but the last I knew about the program the AF was having trouble filling all seats for the course. You will still need approximately two years on station (Elmendorf) before you are eligible to apply. You usually apply the summer before the course starts ie. it will take you 3yrs just to get into the course.

There is a flight nurse forum on this website for civilian flight nurses that has a lot of good information on how to get into flight nursing. As someone already mentioned you can expect it taking 3-5yrs just to get all the required experience and certs just to be eligible to apply to civilian flight nursing position, and then to top it off a lot flight nursing positions don't pay any more than regular ICU/ER nursing spots.

Getting into critical care or flight nursing is not that big of a deal in the AF, but as I have posted it is going to take time. You shouldn't think of the chief nurse as someone that is going to hold you back, they are there to help facilitate your professional goals in the AF. Besides if you and the chief nurse don't see eye to eye the max time you should ever have one chief nurse is 2yrs.

SpookyCat, BSN, RN · Jan 13, 2010

Thank you all again for the info!

rghbsn: I know I sound like such a newb when I ask this but I am having a hard time researching certain terms. What exactly is an "E designator?"

Lunah: My step-father, who is former Navy, said the same thing about the men vs women ratio. lol Well in my last few years of nursing school I have been forced to spent most of my time with 98% women. This could balance me out a bit, since most of my actual friends are guys. Thanks for the link! I learned 2 things which I think are pretty cool already: No sales tax & Northern Lights!!

wtbcrna: How long after starting your assignment/arriving, do they give you to find housing? D.C. -> Anchorage: that trip sounds excruciating. I hope I can fly. Would you recommend that I will need a car while I'm there? The more I find out about the AF, the more beneficial it seems to stay in even after I complete my 1st contract. Based on this information, I am undecided on whether I want to be a FN or a CCAT. However, even if I don't ever become a CCAT, I still want to get into critical care. I do not necessarily believe that the Chirf Nurse would be a barrier to my goals. I mean that person got that job for a definite reason. I do have a lot of faith in the system and the Chief Nurses. The "what if" or uncertainty about it just makes me a tiny bit nervous as it would probably make most newcomers feel. Anyway, if at least two years they want, then I will make them as well as any other time my absolute best. Thanks!

allnurses Guide · Jan 13, 2010

Thank you all again for the info!
rghbsn: I know I sound like such a newb when I ask this but I am having a hard time researching certain terms. What exactly is an "E designator?"
Lunah: My step-father, who is former Navy, said the same thing about the men vs women ratio. lol Well in my last few years of nursing school I have been forced to spent most of my time with 98% women. This could balance me out a bit, since most of my actual friends are guys. Thanks for the link! I learned 2 things which I think are pretty cool already: No sales tax & Northern Lights!!
wtbcrna: How long after starting your assignment/arriving, do they give you to find housing? D.C. -> Anchorage: that trip sounds excruciating. I hope I can fly. Would you recommend that I will need a car while I'm there? The more I find out about the AF, the more beneficial it seems to stay in even after I complete my 1st contract. Based on this information, I am undecided on whether I want to be a FN or a CCAT. However, even if I don't ever become a CCAT, I still want to get into critical care. I do not necessarily believe that the Chirf Nurse would be a barrier to my goals. I mean that person got that job for a definite reason. I do have a lot of faith in the system and the Chief Nurses. The "what if" or uncertainty about it just makes me a tiny bit nervous as it would probably make most newcomers feel. Anyway, if at least two years they want, then I will make them as well as any other time my absolute best. Thanks!

E designator means you are an AF identified ICU nurse, and J designation means ER. I can't remember the rest of designators, but I can tell you the AF just changed AFSC codes for APNs.

I don't think the Anchorage area has much of a disparity between male and females.

Permissive TDY for house hunting is usually 8 or 10days. I got 10days. The trip up here is really long, but otherwise it was pretty easy trip. You can fly and have your car shipped up. The government will pay for you to fly or drive. Driving the AL-Can highway is a unique trip. I would recommend doing it at least once if you have the chance, especially in the summer or fall. You don't have to have a car when you are here, but you are going to want one. There is public transportation here just like any other big city, but waiting out in the cold for a bus is not my idea of good time.

You don't have to pick between being a Flight Nurse and CCATT. Many CCATT nurses were former Flight nurses.

There is a way around getting the AF to train you for critical care or ER. When you get to Elmendorf look for a civilian part-time job working in the ICU or ER whichever is your preference. Then after you have enough hours in critical care you can apply for AF designator code. You can always look me up when get to Elmendorf. We do call quite a bit so I will be in the hospital days, nights, weekends, and holidays. You can come to the OR someday if you want. I can show what anesthesia does and you can get a chance to talk to the OR nurses. It will give you chance to meet nurses and other medical staff that you normally don't get to meet.

SpookyCat, BSN, RN · Jan 15, 2010

E designator means you are an AF identified ICU nurse, and J designation means ER. I can't remember the rest of designators, but I can tell you the AF just changed AFSC codes for APNs.
I don't think the Anchorage area has much of a disparity between male and females.
Permissive TDY for house hunting is usually 8 or 10days. I got 10days. The trip up here is really long, but otherwise it was pretty easy trip. You can fly and have your car shipped up. The government will pay for you to fly or drive. Driving the AL-Can highway is a unique trip. I would recommend doing it at least once if you have the chance, especially in the summer or fall. You don't have to have a car when you are here, but you are going to want one. There is public transportation here just like any other big city, but waiting out in the cold for a bus is not my idea of good time.
You don't have to pick between being a Flight Nurse and CCATT. Many CCATT nurses were former Flight nurses.
There is a way around getting the AF to train you for critical care or ER. When you get to Elmendorf look for a civilian part-time job working in the ICU or ER whichever is your preference. Then after you have enough hours in critical care you can apply for AF designator code. You can always look me up when get to Elmendorf. We do call quite a bit so I will be in the hospital days, nights, weekends, and holidays. You can come to the OR someday if you want. I can show what anesthesia does and you can get a chance to talk to the OR nurses. It will give you chance to meet nurses and other medical staff that you normally don't get to meet.

Thank you, wtbcrna! You have been an awesome help! I will definitely look you up when I get there. It looks like I won't be there until a little less than a year from now. Best of luck to you in your new assignment!