How to improve AF new grad application

jfratian, DNP, RN, CRNA · Aug 18, 2015

You have a reasonably strong app already. Ask if your hospital will allow you to take PALS and ACLS; I did both of them when I was a tech in nursing school. They may not pay you your hourly wage for the class (as they would an RN), but you should be able to take them on your own time for free. You can also get certified in the NIH Stroke Scale (just google it) for free online.

chloejean104 · Aug 18, 2015

Oh that's awesome! Thanks! I didn't know you could get ACLS and PALS as a tech, I'll definitely look into those!

Camo-angel · Aug 18, 2015

Definitely get both ACLS and PALS, and that NIH Stroke Scale (it's online for free but does take some time). For volunteer hours, look into community programs where you can help and make a difference. But don't just get a few hours with this program, a few hours here. It looks great if you have a large amount from a program to show you've really invested time with them. I logged about 200 hours with a local food pantry helping feed my community, and by the end of it they truly became my second family. They helped me, encouraged me, and the manager wrote one of my Letters of Recommendation! You can also volunteer with a church or the local Red Cross. My Red Cross let me volunteer in the Army hospital (not as an RN, it's a bit tricky to do that). If you can swing it, go on mission trips or humanitarian missions to other countries. Doesn't have to be medical related, even just feeding and clothing people and taking that initiative shows you're caring and involved with the betterment of our world. Because after all, the Air Force looks after everyone, not just America. They have humanitarian missions themselves that I'm hoping to get involved with!

I know you don't start the process till January (I was exactly in your shows in Jan 2014 when I started), but you will eventually need 3-5 Letters of Recommendation. The recruiter will explain this, but it's just what it sounds like. If you can get 5, get 5, that is the max. If you're still a student, definitely find those important professors that KNOW you, and can really brag on why you're perfect for the Air Force. BUT, do NOT get 5 letters from 5 professors. Get a variety. You could get one from your work manager/charge nurse, one from maybe SGA or another organization you're involved with. Maybe someone at a church, just depends who you are connected with. This is what I had to learn. It matters who you know, not just to be handed things, but because eventually if you know someone you can go to them for assistance or help and it shows you are connected with your community, not just the nursing community or the student community. I got a letter from a State Senator, because we'd met several times at conferences and he sat on the board for my college's nursing program. But don't ask for those yet, the recruiter will give you more specific info on what they need to include.

When you work on your CV (resume), really focus on the importance of what you're doing. What I mean is, my first time applying I had a huge list of all this great stuff I did. My volunteer list was too long even. But that's all I did, I listed them, I never explained their importance or why it mattered. For example, saying "Volunteered with College Red Cross 8/15" means next to nothing to them. So you say "Volunteered with College Red Cross and successfully collected enough blood to save 66 lives". Means so much more now doesn't it? Do THAT with as much of your CV as you can, to show its significance. The recruiter usually tells you an easy way to do that is to quantify, use numbers for things like class rank, top 10% of school, your GPA, anything that can have a number attached to it. And list the honor societies you're in!! Sigma Theta Tau especially since it's nursing related. Just make sure you attach the numbers to them, like only top 35% of nursing class accepted, or top 10% of upperclassmen, etc etc

Your Chief Nurse interview won't be for a while, but just look around this site when the time comes and you get nervous about it. Finally, please make sure you truly want this. Being a Nurse in the Air Force isn't something you should ever do just for the perks or benefits, because there is a lot of hard work attached to it. You may deploy, you may move every 3-4 years, you are told what your job is and given extra duties, and on and on. I haven't entered yet, I leave for training October 5th, but I do believe I'm becoming part of something great that will make me a better nurse and person. So hold on, be patient, and feel free to ask other questions here! This site helped encourage me to apply a second time when I was denied the first time! I hope this helps

chloejean104 · Aug 18, 2015

Thanks so much for the advice!

I am lucky enough that a close family friend is a Lt. Col in the nurse corps and used to do chief nursing interviews so he offered to prep me for that but obviously my application has to be good enough too so that's my main focus right now!

Camo-angel · Aug 18, 2015

That's awesome!! That will definitely help with the interview part of it. If you happen to meet/know other nurses/officers that have military background they would be excellent for Letters of Recommendation! I was fortunate enough to have a retired LT Col as a Professor, so he wrote one of my letters and gave me advice!

chloejean104 · Aug 18, 2015

Oh that's great! I didn't even think of that!