Interested in becoming an Air Force Nurse

allnurses Guide · Sep 18, 2008

I am interested in becoming an AF nurse, and I have some questions. (WTBCRNA - I have reviewed some of your posts and you seem to have a lot of information. I couldn't contact you via pm because I can't pm on here.) I love nursing, and I have always wanted to be in the military. I never realized that I could still join until recently.
I am 34 and married with 4 children. My stepdaughter doesn't reside with us, so we only have 3 children that actually live here. I'm currently in the process of getting my BSN. I have my ADN and have been a med-surg/Ortho nurse for the last 2 years. I did speak with a nurse recruiter and I will have to wait until I am within a year of graduating to begin the enlistment process. These questions are open to anyone who might have answers :)
Here are some of the questions I have:
1) When you enlist, I know they send you for some type of training. How long is this training and does your family go with?
2) What are the pros/cons to base housing vs. living off base. Have you ever lived on base? How are the 'officer's' living quarters different than other housing?
3) I was told that although we are considered 'Officers' we aren't really 'Officers'. Is that true? Do we undergo any special officer training? Are nurses who enlist with a BSN as Officers treated differently than those who enlisted before obtaining their degree?
4) How easy/difficult is it to be deployed out of the country with your family? We would like to go to Germany, Italy or possibly Guam. My family is very excited about the idea of getting to travel AND let me do a job that I absolutely love to do!
5) Please tell me that most of the hospitals have computerized charting :) We're still on manual here.
6) What type of nurses are in demand? If you want to advance and become a CRNA, does the AF help you with this? Do you have to enroll further for this?
7) What are the hospitals like? Did you work as a nurse BEFORE joining the AF? Have you ever worked at a civilian hospital? What are the differences?
8) Have you ever been deployed into an active combat area? Are nurses normally deployed in these areas. If they are, do they get extra combat training?
9) Last but not least, tell me the pros and cons. Tell me 3 things you have really appreciated about your career in the AF and 3 things you would like to see changed.
10) What are the retirement benefits for an AF career of 20 years?
I appreciate anyone who takes the time to answer even one of my questions. The nurse recruiter sounded very promising, but I want to make sure that what I am hearing isn't too good to be true. I just love the idea that we would get to move/travel every 4 years while I get to do the absolute best job in the world. I do not come from a military family, so the closest military experience I have is that I've seen Top Gun.
Thank you so much.
~Sherri

Hi Sherri,

1) A Commissioned Officer doesn't enlist. We commission sounds like a small difference, but if some recruiter is talking to you about "enlisting" then you are talking to the wrong kind of recruiter. You should only be talking to an officer health care recruiter not the kind of AF recruiter you see on every block. The training is actually only 4.5wks called COT and no your family doesn't go with you for that. Here is a link http://www.airforce.com/training/healthcare/index.php that will give you an idea of what COT is like.

2) Base housing all depends on the base, if you are at a base that has newer base housing and it is available then it is usually a pretty good choice. Yes, officer housing tends to be a little bigger than most enlisted housing. My first two duty stations I lived on base and now I live off base. Each one has its pros and cons, but in general since you would probably come in as a 1LT base housing with 3 kids would probably be a good financial choice in most areas.

3) We are medical officers and yes we are treated a little different and no there is no difference in our ranks/pay etc. It is just a line officer/medical officer thing. In general line officers supervise or fly and we do direct patient care up until about Major or so depending on your speciality. The AF isn't using conditional reserve status/CRS like they used to to separate different kinds of officers. It is not something to even worry about.

4) You never get deployed with your family. You can get stationed, which I think is what you mean, with your family overseas pretty easily. You may even be able to go overseas on your 1st assignment if you are really adamant about it.

5) Nope, most AF hospitals are still stuck in the stone ages....lol, but you will more help and less of patient load than any civilian hospital that I have ever seen. On med-surg the RN to pt ratio is usually 1:4/5 with one med tech for every two nurses, and the med tech gets all the vitals, does baths, some can give meds, hang maintenance IV fluids (depending on local policy), and keeps up with I&Os.

6) All types of nurses are in demand, but critical care nurses are probably the most in demand. If you are thinking about going to CRNA school you should try to get hired on and trained in ICU ASAP before coming in the AF. It is easiest to get into CRNA if you are an ICU nurse, and yes you do incur 4.5yr committment after CRNA school.

7) See 5 and yes I was an LVN before joining and worked for a little over a year in as a civilian before joining the AF.

8) Nope I haven't deployed. I have been extremely lucky so far, and yes nurses deploy to combat areas sort of. In general unless you are in a special forward set of medical providers you won't be on leading edge of battle. We receive firearms training, field readiness training etc, but we are not combatants so we don't get the whole infantry training thing...thank God...

9) Pros: Good Pay/benefits especially once you reach O-3 w/4yrs, Reliable co-workers that actually show up to work, the ability to get a higher education while on active duty.

Cons: Bureaucracy (which trully can't be explained unless you have worked for the military or another large gov't entity), Promotions: AF nurses have the lowest and longest time to make Major of any uniformed branch ( the official statistics that are shown are inflated and readjusted to show the numbers they would like you to see), ....They are basically my only real beefs with the AF most all problems I have had will fall under those two categories.

10) 50% of your base pay for life, low cost medical care for life of you and your dependents (not free but really cheap...I think it is about 400 a yr and that includes free prescritptions on base or through the mail order pharmacy etc), free use of base gyms/commissaries/BX/AF hotel use etc.

My advice take the time to look over all the branches: AF, Navy, Army, and USPHS. They all offer the same basic benefits, but can also have advantages they might be something you are looking for. For example: USPHS is the fastest promoting service and is most like a civilian job; Navy, in my opinion, has the best bases and seems to be a mix of the best between AF and Army; and go Army if you want good promotion rates with the full OOH Rah military deal.

faline1973 · Sep 22, 2008

I have another question. I've been a med-surg/orthopaedic nurse for 2 years. I am considering transferring off my floor to get some new experience. Besides ICU - is there a floor you would recommend? What about the Neuro Care Center for brain injuries?

Thanks,

~Sherri

allnurses Guide · Sep 22, 2008

I have another question. I've been a med-surg/orthopaedic nurse for 2 years. I am considering transferring off my floor to get some new experience. Besides ICU - is there a floor you would recommend? What about the Neuro Care Center for brain injuries?
Thanks,
~Sherri

I personally think that would be great experience, but the only place that you would really get to use inpatient neuro experience is probably Wilford or Landstuhl in the AF.

My suggestion is try to decide where you would like to work in the AF, if it is med-surg then any floor will probably help. On the other hand if you are thinking about ICU/ER/OB/OR etc, it is much easier now as a civilian to get that training before coming into the AF.

StudyinginCT · Sep 29, 2008

This was a really helpful post. I'm considering joing the AFR as an RN, and I, too have a bunch of questions. I've started the process by filling out the request form to speak with an AFR health recruiter, but military friends have told me recruiters lie and it's best to talk to actual people serving in the capacity I'm looking at.

wtbcrna - sounds like you are AD? I'm trying to figure out what the probability of getting deployed is. My reasons for joining the AFR as a Rn are mainly to care for our vets who have given so much over the last 8 yrs and also to have the ability to attend USUHS for CRNA school. How long are AF deployments? Of the 3 branches, it seems like AF would be the least likely to deploy and would still allow me to give back to my country and serve with talented people.

Another question I have is how much do you end up getting paid per year as a reservist in the Nurse Corps? Additionally, from reading some of the other threads on here, it appears as though the process takes forever. I'm starting a post-bac BSN in January and will finish in december '09. Is it possible to start the process now before I finish my RN? I already have a BS in social sciences.

I had originally thought FN sounded awesome, but after reading some of these threads, it sounds like that requires a lot of additional training and time away from my family. Critical care is obviously where my passion lies, and is necessary for CRNA school. How do you advise declaring yourself going in? Does it make a difference?

Any other tidbits of advice are most welcome. Thanks so much!

-Anne

allnurses Guide · Sep 29, 2008

I am AD AF currently in Phase II of CRNA training from USUHS. I will graduate 12/2009. AF deploys pretty much the same as the other branches, but the deployments are usually 4-6mo vs. 6-12mo of the other branches. I can't really help you with the Reserve aspect of the AF, but as far as I know you have to be AD AF to go to USUHS through the AF.

You have a long way to go to becoming a CRNA. My suggestions for now is become fully familiar with the process and spend a lot of time shadowing a CRNA. Here is a link from the AANA to get you started. http://www.aana.com/BecomingCRNA.aspx?ucNavMenu_TSMenuTargetID=8&ucNavMenu_TSMenuTargetType=4&ucNavMenu_TSMenuID=6&id=108

This was a really helpful post. I'm considering joing the AFR as an RN, and I, too have a bunch of questions. I've started the process by filling out the request form to speak with an AFR health recruiter, but military friends have told me recruiters lie and it's best to talk to actual people serving in the capacity I'm looking at.
wtbcrna - sounds like you are AD? I'm trying to figure out what the probability of getting deployed is. My reasons for joining the AFR as a Rn are mainly to care for our vets who have given so much over the last 8 yrs and also to have the ability to attend USUHS for CRNA school. How long are AF deployments? Of the 3 branches, it seems like AF would be the least likely to deploy and would still allow me to give back to my country and serve with talented people.
Another question I have is how much do you end up getting paid per year as a reservist in the Nurse Corps? Additionally, from reading some of the other threads on here, it appears as though the process takes forever. I'm starting a post-bac BSN in January and will finish in december '09. Is it possible to start the process now before I finish my RN? I already have a BS in social sciences.
I had originally thought FN sounded awesome, but after reading some of these threads, it sounds like that requires a lot of additional training and time away from my family. Critical care is obviously where my passion lies, and is necessary for CRNA school. How do you advise declaring yourself going in? Does it make a difference?
Any other tidbits of advice are most welcome. Thanks so much!
-Anne

StudyinginCT · Sep 29, 2008

Thanks for the info! That sucks you have to go AD to get in USUHS. Oh well. There's always the route through my state university.

I've researched CRNA a lot. I'll be done with my RN in dec '09, and have already mapped out critical care training programs that are possibilities for me. I've taken all of my requisite sciences (provided I get a B in my o-chem class that I'm currently muddling my way through). I hope to start CRNA school for the fall of '11. Yes, long road, but I'm going into it with my eyes wide open. A good friend of our family is a CRNA, and she's been very helpful. I've already gotten to shadow her for 3 days. Previously I worked as a tech in a Level I ER, so I've got a lot of exposure to emergency medicine.

Hopefully I'll be able to get a good read on how often some reservists are deploying to make my decision. Getting deployed 6 times in 6 years sounds like more time than I'm willing to spend away from my son. 3 times in 6 years, that's doable.

allnurses Guide · Sep 29, 2008

Starting school in 2011 after graduating in Dec 2009 is doable, but it is far from the norm. Most people probably have 5-10yrs of critical care experience starting out in CRNA school.

When you are ready to see what pharm is going to be like in nurse anesthesia school PM your email address and I will send you USUHS pharm handbook. It is true eye opener.

Good Luck!

Thanks for the info! That sucks you have to go AD to get in USUHS. Oh well. There's always the route through my state university.
I've researched CRNA a lot. I'll be done with my RN in dec '09, and have already mapped out critical care training programs that are possibilities for me. I've taken all of my requisite sciences (provided I get a B in my o-chem class that I'm currently muddling my way through). I hope to start CRNA school for the fall of '11. Yes, long road, but I'm going into it with my eyes wide open. A good friend of our family is a CRNA, and she's been very helpful. I've already gotten to shadow her for 3 days. Previously I worked as a tech in a Level I ER, so I've got a lot of exposure to emergency medicine.
Hopefully I'll be able to get a good read on how often some reservists are deploying to make my decision. Getting deployed 6 times in 6 years sounds like more time than I'm willing to spend away from my son. 3 times in 6 years, that's doable.

StudyinginCT · Sep 29, 2008

ugh - PHARM. I am dreading pharmacology. DREADING IT. I had this insane micro class that required massive amounts on regurgitation (plus it was a summer course, so, not so much time to get it done). The prof was quite literally, crazy. I compared notes to some other Micro courses, and the amt of info was probably 2-3x as much as other nursing micro courses. I generally try to pump myself up and say "if I got an A- in Copeland's class, I can do most anything."

But yeah, Pharm. memorization up the ass.

I can't figure out the PM issue. I just joined today, I'm sure I'll come across it. As for the time frame, I'm well aware I might not get in the first time I apply with only a year's experience. that's obviously the best case scenario on my end. That's when I can complete the requirements. It would sure suck to have to RETAKE o-chem because it's too old or something like that. Central Connecticut affiliates with 2 hospitals here, and the word on the street is if you go and work in the ICU at either of those hospitals, you have a MUCH higher chance of getting in, as the hospital must accept you before the University does. So we'll see...... They do hire graduate nurses at both hospitals to work in all their ICUs, so it's at least a possibility.

allnurses Guide · Sep 29, 2008

Don't get me wrong it is definitely doable to get in with one year experience. As far as pharm goes....well....besides being airway experts....CRNAs are expert gas passers and drug pushers so pharm becomes second nature....

Pharm will make a lot more sense in anesthesia when you are actually pushing the drugs.

Well anyways good luck....I think you have to have 15 posts before you can PM if that helps.

ugh - PHARM. I am dreading pharmacology. DREADING IT. I had this insane micro class that required massive amounts on regurgitation (plus it was a summer course, so, not so much time to get it done). The prof was quite literally, crazy. I compared notes to some other Micro courses, and the amt of info was probably 2-3x as much as other nursing micro courses. I generally try to pump myself up and say "if I got an A- in Copeland's class, I can do most anything."
But yeah, Pharm. memorization up the ass.
I can't figure out the PM issue. I just joined today, I'm sure I'll come across it. As for the time frame, I'm well aware I might not get in the first time I apply with only a year's experience. that's obviously the best case scenario on my end. That's when I can complete the requirements. It would sure suck to have to RETAKE o-chem because it's too old or something like that. Central Connecticut affiliates with 2 hospitals here, and the word on the street is if you go and work in the ICU at either of those hospitals, you have a MUCH higher chance of getting in, as the hospital must accept you before the University does. So we'll see...... They do hire graduate nurses at both hospitals to work in all their ICUs, so it's at least a possibility.

JDCitizen · Sep 29, 2008

Don't get me wrong it is definitely doable to get in with one year experience. As far as pharm goes....well....besides being airway experts....CRNAs are expert gas passers and drug pushers so pharm becomes second nature....
Pharm will make a lot more sense in anesthesia when you are actually pushing the drugs.
Well anyways good luck....I think you have to have 15 posts before you can PM if that helps.

Hope you don't mind if I chime in. I agree with wtbcrna... Seems to quote what I have been told/seen.

Now here goes the flight of thoughts:

While I was in NP school my partner from nursing school started CRNA School. He had one year on an oncology unit and two years in ICU/CCU…. He had multiple interviews (at different schools) was placed as an alternate for one year and accepted the next. Even he told me some of the programs were essentially waving the 1 year ICU experience but there was such competition for slots the schools only had to accept the best and from his stories the interviews could be brutal. After entry the school he was going to seemed to really work hard to get the students through to graduation. I saw some of the school stuff he was doing, they were really digging deep into the sciences all the way down to the molecular level for pharmacology (including recognizing molecules)… Memorization, regurgitation and more memorization (yada, yada, yada)...

His over two years at school was living getting by on credit and profit from the sale of his house… Great thing is though half way through he had a signed contract for his dream job: Returned home, to work at his home town hospital with home town group that he knew…

So true (even from a different perspective): Pharm will make a lot more sense in anesthesia when you are actually pushing the drugs. Pharm made sense when I was a floor nurse, now it really makes more sense when I am the one doing the ordering, changing doses or D/Cing...

Rob RN AF · Sep 12, 2010

Hello,

I am prior service Air Force (enlisted) and am going to be going back into the miltary next year as a nurse. I was wondering if you knew what branch offers the fastest promotion to major? I read in your post that the AF is the slowest to promote officers to O-4. Can you tell me which branch of service will offer me the fastest promotion to Major please.

-Rob