New NP in the military

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Hi all,

I am about to graduate as a new FNP and will enter active duty service in the Air Force. I have to first attend officer training and then I'm off to my first base assignment at the end of the summer. I wanted to ask all the Air Force NPs out there to please share any experiences they've had, especially deployments. I know being deployed overseas is pretty much a sure thing at some point and I am curious as to the role of the NP in Afghanistan or Iraq. I am also hoping for a solid clinical education during my first tour and hope that the mentorship will help me in my training. Any experiences along those lines is also welcome. I am both nervous and excited about this huge change and I would love any and all input. Thanks!

Hello all! First of, I can't comment on the RN experience in the military. I am a direct entry FNP. My AF specialty code is an FNP therefore, I did not attend NTP. If you enter the military as an NP, you will not go to NTP. That said, I haven't been deployed yet, but have been told on numerous occasions that I will be deployed as an NP, not an RN. I am headed on a medical mission to Haiti next month and I am filling a nurse practitioner slot.

As far as my experience thus far, this is my 6th month in practice. I was assigned an MD mentor, and although this position has been filled by more than one MD, I have always had a mentor. All of my co-workers are willing to help and answer questions. They make sure I am never in clinic without someone there backing me up. I was started at 1 hr appts which decreased over time. Now I see 20 min acutes and 25 min routines. I am now expected to see approx 80 pts a week, and starting this summer, 90 pts/week, which is going to be a real challenge. Each provider has about 1500-1600 patients to manage. The military really wants to increase the numbers we see in clinic and reduce the numbers we send off-base.

As far as the wish list, I didn't get any of my top five, simply because there were no FNP slots where I wanted to go when I was ready to go active duty. I didn't go to COT until August, after I passed the FNP boards, so my base options were limited. However, the AF did work with me to get me an assignment that I was happy with (mostly).

If anyone has any other questions, please let me know and I'll post as soon as I can!

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Specializes in FNP-C.

Starla, that's cool. So you didn't work as an RN before but the air force got you in as a FNP and had mentors to work with you? Awesome.. I guess there is still hope for me then?

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Starla-thanks for posting

Hollaataplayer-The role of RN and FNP are completely different. That's why I was surprised when you said you were going to NTP. If they are sending you to NTP, they probably are commissioning you for floor nursing. It is possible to be an FNP without experience. It would be like a physician assistant practicing without experience. It will be challenging but it is doable. Going from RN to FNP is challenging. The only difference is I'm use to working with doctors and I'm comfortable with talking to patients, doing patient assessments, and patient education. But believe me the first prescription I write without someone looking over my shoulder will be verified with my medbook. LOL.

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Specializes in FNP-C.

Shapely,

Thank you for your reply! I know that the roles are totally different of an RN and FNP. It's just that the recruiter here told me even though i would have my masters, I would have to go in through the NTP since i have no floor experience. But then again, I've heard that FNP can work as such without RN floor experience. I would have to talk to the recruiter again next year when I'm about to graduate and as about the mentorship training and not the NTP training for BSN new grads. Gee, I know I'll be nervous to prescribe my first med.

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If you want to commission soon after graduation start application now. It's about a year long process. That's the one mistake I made.

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I'm grateful for all these NPs posting because my ultimate goal is NP, and while I know the transition for me will be a bit different since I'm already active duty, I'm still interested in all these posts. I think this is the most NP folks we've had on this forum in a long time! Thanks, Ya'll - you're getting me excited about grad school.

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Not everyone gets their choice of assignments.... I didn't get any of the bases listed on my preference list!

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Not everyone gets their choice of assignments.... I didn't get any of the bases listed on my preference list!

Wow - you're the first! It could be that they didn't have your specialty at any of the bases you picked, or they didn't need you at any of the bases you picked.

That sucks - hope you got somewhere decent and that you're OK with.

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I can't wait to post on here my real time experience as an AF FNP.

Carlina. You're going places. I did a completely online fnp and still worked full time. I took 3 classes at a time and finished in 2 years. My clinicals were 1-2 days a week, I worked 3 12 hour shifts, and still had time off to study and have fun. It was alot of studying and papers but as an experienced nurse you'll fly through. You will amaze yourself at how much you already know. Of course this is coming from someone who doesn't have kids. My husband did become quite good in the kitchen.

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I'm happy with my assignment. It was just odd to me that I didn't get any of my choices-especially since I put down large hospital facilities and I'm a med/surg nurse. I ended up with an outpatient clinic.

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Hey AF NPs...please post your experiences! I'd love to hear some different perspectives. I'm six months in and frankly, the jury is still out. We shall see....

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I'm happy with my assignment. It was just odd to me that I didn't get any of my choices-especially since I put down large hospital facilities and I'm a med/surg nurse. I ended up with an outpatient clinic.

That is TOO bizarre!

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