ICU vs OR - Air Force Nurse Corps

[keyb]

Hello! ?

I am a recent graduate with a job lined up in the Med Surg Post Trauma Unit of a Level II Trauma Center. It was originally my goal to move into the OR for experience around 6 months, as this hospital requires 6 months of med surg before moving to the OR. I am also interested in applying for the Air Force next year. My question is, would OR even be a good choice for getting selected? I want to be an OR nurse, but I want to be part of the Air Force even more. I keep seeing everyone pushing CC as the specialty to go with, should I focus more on transfering to the Trauma ICU? I know I dont want to stay in the Med Surg unit, and I want to do things right when I apply - the Air Force has been my dream longer than being an RN, I just succumbed to family pressure and never joined. I'm tired of waiting and I regret not joining years ago, which is a very bitter feeling. I've stalked these boards for all types of info, watched tons of videos posted on youtube (thank you, Jay Quinn!), and gone over the Air Force website a few times, but I am still unsure of ICU versus OR for my chances. I appreciate any advice offered.

Thanks!

KB

[MasalaC, BSN, RN]

Hey KB,

Do you have a 3.5+ GPA? Why not apply for the nurse transition program (NTP)? According to my recruiter:

"This program has three specialty choices to start with: Clinical, Perinatal and OR."

Late April/early May a recruiter was telling me they were recruiting new grads to start Oct and that the deadline was "fast approaching". I don't meet that GPA req hence why I'm going to direct commission after my year. Contact a nurse corp recruiter asap unless you prefer getting civilian experience first!

A recruiter posted on FB that the NTP application cut off w/ interview is July 2nd, the board meets July 15th, estimated board release Aug 2nd, then Oct OTS starts. You can PM me for more details. Good luck!

[MasalaC, BSN, RN]

Well I'm newb so PMs can't be a thing as of now. But do check this out and send your info to this recruiter. You need to schedule for meps asap. Good luck

[keyb]

MasalaC,

Unfortunately my GPA isn't at 3.5, either. I appreciate all your help, though! ❤️ My plan is to spend this year wisely in order to have the best odds of getting accepted, and to work out. I meet the physical requirements, but I doubt I can meet the actual running/sit up/push up portion - so this gives me time to get in shape. Do you happen to know if they need OR nurses, or If ICU would be better? Thank you for the document!

-KB

[MasalaC, BSN, RN]

I can't do a real push up to save my life. So that's gonna be.... interesting. At least there's no pull ups involved!

Do what you like! If OR is your thing (kudos to you), then do it!! I'm a psych nurse and I can go in as a psych nurse, or med-surg (clinical nurse), or OR. So regardless of what specialty you choose, you can still come in and be trained in OR. Or you can get OR civilian experience and bam, commission as an OR nurse. However, there's only 8 billets for OR for the FY20 cycle:

2. NC FQ Fully Qualified Nurse: For Nurses with 12 months or more of full time experience in the following specialties no min GPA:
46N3 Clinical Nurse (43)
46N3E Critical Care (28)
46N3F NICU (4)
46N3G Obstetrical Nurse (8)
46N3J Emergency Dept Nurse (17)
46P Mental Health Nurse (5)
46S3 Operating Room Nurse (8)
46Y3A WHNP (2)
46Y3B PNP (2)
46Y3G Midwife (2)
46Y3H FNP (5)
46Y3M CRNA (2)
46Y3P Psychiatric Mental Health NP (2)

So you would be competing for 8 spots. HOWEVER! You can ask to apply for more than one speciality. For example, I'm a psych nurse but there's only 5 spots opened. I also don't want to be a psych nurse in the AF since the places they can go is sooooo limited. So I figured, hey I can do med surg. Anyways, my recruiter is going to set it up so I can apply for both psych and MS.

Become an OR nurse in the civilian world then ask your recruiter if you can apply for both OR and MS. But only do ICU if you really want to!! I was in ICU for a very short time before I switch specialities and now I am so much happier. Don't do it just to get in the door!

[keyb]

MasalaC,

Thank you! you have been so amazingly helpful! I had no idea I could apply for multiple specialties! I'm going to continue with my goal for OR and see if the recruiter will put me for both when I talk with him. I appreciate all your time and help! I wish you the best of luck and hope you get in!!!

-KB

[MasalaC, BSN, RN]

Thank you! I had no idea I could apply for both until my recruiter mentioned it! I asked her if I could apply for med-surg as a psych nurse and she was like "Sure, do you also want to do OR?" "NO PLEASE" "Ok, how about applying for both psych and clinical nursing?" "Whoa I can do that?"

She's not the most responsive recruiter out there, but when she is, I learn things lol

Make sure you join the unofficial AF nurse corps group in FB for useful info (if you haven't already!): https://www.facebook.com/groups/2226039527/

Future AF OR nurse ?

Good luck and keep us updated!

[MasalaC, BSN, RN]

Oh, and also "you must gain at least six months in that specialty to be eligible" (according to my recruiter) so 6 months in med surg + 6 months of OR gives you that magical 1 year nursing experience making you all set for either clinical nursing or OR in the AF. You got this!

[keyb]

Awesome! Once again, thank you so much! I had contacted a recruiter, and he was nice, but basically told me to get a year of experience and then contact him (since I wasn't eligible for NTP). I am so happy we have this resource to contact other nurses and ask questions. ?

[keyb]

I had one more question - how do you know where all you can go? in one of the above messages you said that you didn't want to be a psych nurse in the AF since the places you can go are limited - how do you know where all you can go? I haven't run across that information, yet. Thanks!

[MasalaC, BSN, RN]

Your recruiter will send you a checklist of things to do as well as an excel sheet with specialities and the bases they can go both domestic and internationally. I sent you a message! (I've leveled up!)

[keyb]

Awesome! Thank you! ?