Student Considering Air Force Nursing

Specialties Government

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Hello Everyone,

I am a nursing student trying to decide whether joining the Air Force is the right way for me to begin my nursing career (graduation may 2006). I have found this discussion very helpful so far, thanks!

Those of you who have been there: Is there anything you wish you had known before you decided to become an Air Force Nurse?

Thank you so much!

Sarah

Specializes in ED. ICU, PICU, infection prevention, aeromedical e.

I don't have all the answers for that question. It depends alot on experience, what type of area you work, and how that department supports different missions. I'm at Lackland in the ICU. My chance of going to Afghanistan is almost 100%. And that is why I put Lackland on my list.

Specializes in Anesthesia.

Rule of thumb is that AF nurses aren't deployed for the 1st 6-12mo that they are in. Humanitarian missions are hit or miss I have not really seen much rhyme or reason for why some people go on humanitarian missions and some don't other than skill mix. What I have noticed is that some choice humanitarian missions (short term relatively nice spots) goto office jockeys that are part of the "meetings bunch".

I don't have all the answers for that question. It depends alot on experience, what type of area you work, and how that department supports different missions. I'm at Lackland in the ICU. My chance of going to Afghanistan is almost 100%. And that is why I put Lackland on my list.

How did you know to put lackland on your list? Is there a way to know which bases over what openings as a nurse? And what positions will guarantee deployment? I don't know much about this. Considering going into AF and all this info is extremely helpful.

Specializes in ED. ICU, PICU, infection prevention, aeromedical e.

I did just what you are doing. I asked a million questions of anyone willing to answer. The colonel who interviewed me is the one who strongly recommended Lackland. I did not have it on my list at all. I put it on the list in the number 2 spot, and here I am. When you go the recruiter, ask what bases can be requested for you. I'm an ICU nurse. There aren't ICU's on every base and that really narrowed down my choices. After I had a list of where I could go, I just started researching anything and everything I could.

So keep asking. :)

Thanks for the advice.

How likely is it that I will be able to have an OB specialty in the AF? How long is the commitment if I decide to attend school while in to get my Masters? How long is it without the schooling? Is there any way I can ask the recruiter to give me a written guarantee of a neonatal identifier?

Specializes in Anesthesia.
How likely is it that I will be able to have an OB specialty in the AF? How long is the commitment if I decide to attend school while in to get my Masters? How long is it without the schooling? Is there any way I can ask the recruiter to give me a written guarantee of a neonatal identifier?

1. New AF nurses without another identifier are offered either med-surg (46N) or OB.

2. If you are trying to get the AF to pay for your Masters while going to school full-time on active duty then the commitment will be 4yrs assuming that you goto school full-time for 2yrs. Most nurses either use tuition assistance and/or MGIB and get their Masters on their own time while not incurring any more time commitment.

3. You can get your NICU identifier if you meet all the criteria and there is an opening for NICU nurses when you apply. It will be on your contract.

FYI: It seems to be taking nurses 18+months to get in the AF right now, so I would start the paperwork ASAP.

1. New AF nurses without another identifier are offered either med-surg (46N) or OB.

I am a certified paramedic and I am going to start working towards my BSN next semester along with enrolling in the ROTC program. My goal was to become a critical care nurse after completing my BSN, but do I really have a choice after graduating, or do I have to pick either med-surg or OB? If I have to do one of those, would I have the option of becoming a critical care nurse afterwards?

Specializes in ED. ICU, PICU, infection prevention, aeromedical e.

To become a Critical Care nurse in the AF:

Yes, you have to choose the med-surg or OB track to join as a new grad. But don't let that fool you are get you down. The med-surg is Everything. They can go to a traditional med-surg floor, peds, PACU, tele, etc. The possibilities are amazing. Now to get into ICU, there is an amazing fellowship program. After you've been a nurse for awhile (it may be one or two years, I'm not sure), you can apply for the ICU fellowship. It is a year long program. With a mix of didactic classroom study then hands on in an ICU with a preceptor. There is nothing like it in the civilian world. I think the ones who go through this are the most prepared ICU nurses I've ever worked with. (I came in with ICU experience and plugged right in, thus missed out on a great program. lol).

Also the ROTC program is great! You will skip COT and hop right into an NTP class.

Good job on your planning!!

I am looking into the Reserves or Guard as a nurse. Does anyone know if they still attend the same 10 week Nurse Transition Program as Active Duty?

Hey there,

What did you end up doing? Did you join the air force after you graduated? Also I had a question open to all. I'm getting married and I'll be going to nursing school soon, I'm 23 and was thinking about joining the air force so they could pay for my schooling. How would it work?

Would I have to enlist and go trough basic training (my future wife wouldn't like that idea) ?

Would I go to COT?

Is COT like basic training or do I have weekends free?

What other training will I have to go trough? And can my family be with me for the extra training?

I looked it up on the af web site and it has a pay scale for offices o-1,o-2,o-3 and so forth what do these mean and how often do you get promoted?

When you are accepted into the af nursing what kind of office are you?(given the ones mentioned before.)

What is the difference between af reserve and active duty? does a year in the reserve count as a year in active duty?

Where would it be better to live, on base or off base?

What are the chances that my first base to be outside the united states?

Do I have to be a citizen to join or is the green card good enough?

If I do join how often do you have to change bases as a nurse?

Any information will be helpful thank you!

Specializes in Med Surg.

I have been an Air Force nurse (Married w/2 kids) for almost two years now and still like my job. My general advise to someone thinking about joining the military is that it is a lifestyle choice. There will be things that you don't want to do but will have to do. IE: come in on your day off for meetings, go places that aren't very pleasant, or don't get to transfer to a specialty area when you want to. BUT there are advantages. I live on base in a brand new house 3bed 2 1/2 bath 5 min from work, I get paid the same even if I work 2 days a week (or 6 ) all my extra training and certs are free.

My workday

( Before I was charge nurse)

Max pt's = 4

3 if one was a pediatric or was an intrathecal ortho pt

most of the time I had my own tech

Life is good

And I live 7 miles from the Las Vegas Strip :)

If any one has specific AF nurse questions feel free to PM me.

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