interviewing with NP and Chief Nurse (air force)

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I'm in the process of applying for the Air Force as a new BSN/RN grad, and I'm anxious about the interviews (as well as MEPS and COT). From what I have read and heard, the NP is a phone interview and the chief nurse is in-person. How are the interviews like? What kind of questions do they ask? Are they the same kind of questions that are asked at civilian hospitals? Is it more or less intense? Please tell me any pointers as to what kind of questions I should focus on thinking about so that I don't fumble during the interview. Any pointers will be great!

I thank you all in advance. I love allnurses.com. It helps relieve at least half of my anxiety that's been fast approaching as I try to find my place in the nursing field.

:redbeathe soL

your interview sounds far more intense than mine. i knew the core values and what they meant to me when i went in but wasn't even asked about that! mostly i was toured around and told what a great opportunity the air force is. i was told i'd be strongly recommended as well- i'm getting pretty excited now (definitely still have moments of "what am i thinking?!?!) but for the most part i'm excited and just ready to go. just waiting now i guess...and hoping for january COT...

good luck! i'm glad it went well for you!

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A quick change of subject - don't let the "six twelves" while deployed scare you. I've been deployed (as a AF cop - and an RN has a posh job on a forward base compared to a K9 cop, trust me), and you really have nothing ELSE to do but work. Generally you work three, have a day off, and then work three, have a day off, etc. It sounds a lot worse than it is.

You get into your little groove and your little routine and you just sort of do it.

(I just could foresee someone really freaking out about that...LOL.)

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About the interviews - I've always found it interesting that what I considered the most important interview of my life was also pretty much the easiest and ended up being the least stressful (once it was underway, anyway!).

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Specializes in OR, Clinic, Med-Surg.

Hey all,

:twocents:: I just interviewed last Tuesday with a Chief Nursing Officer. Don't stress. It wasn't any different than any other job interview with the exception that they do expect you to know a bit about the USAF itself. Actually because the Chief Nurse, where I interviewed was sooo awesome it didn't really feel like an interview. It felt more like I was meeting with another obviously "better ranked" recruiter. I did not have a phone interview not was I told that I need one. I was told that I won't find out until December 4th and will not go to COT until 8/23/2010. I won't graduate until May with my BSN and need the extra time to apply and take the NCLEX. Anyone else in same boat?

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Specializes in psych/medical-surgical.
A quick change of subject - don't let the "six twelves" while deployed scare you. I've been deployed (as a AF cop - and an RN has a posh job on a forward base compared to a K9 cop, trust me), and you really have nothing ELSE to do but work. Generally you work three, have a day off, and then work three, have a day off, etc. It sounds a lot worse than it is.

You get into your little groove and your little routine and you just sort of do it.

(I just could foresee someone really freaking out about that...LOL.)

I was definitely freaking out about that. Being unable to do much else but work eat and sleep for a week (or 6 months of deployment) would be rough for anyone :/

your interview sounds far more intense than mine. i knew the core values and what they meant to me when i went in but wasn't even asked about that! mostly i was toured around and told what a great opportunity the air force is. i was told i'd be strongly recommended as well- i'm getting pretty excited now (definitely still have moments of "what am i thinking?!?!) but for the most part i'm excited and just ready to go. just waiting now i guess...and hoping for january COT...

good luck! i'm glad it went well for you!

I am hoping to get into the January COT as well. I still have those 'what am I thinking?" days, but in terms of doing anything else with this degree, I have found that this is the best option. I need to get out of my parents house!!!

About the interviews - I've always found it interesting that what I considered the most important interview of my life was also pretty much the easiest and ended up being the least stressful (once it was underway, anyway!).

I was more worried about getting their on time than the actual interview content. To be a nurse you have to be decent at improvisation. :eek:

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does anyone know how often apps are rejected? i hate my current job and really want to quit but can't until i know that i'm accepted into the air force. i'm told the board will meet nov 11 and decide by nov 20- prior military folks, does that seem like it will actually happen or since it's close to thanksgiving might i not hear anything until december??

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Specializes in psych/medical-surgical.
does anyone know how often apps are rejected? i hate my current job and really want to quit but can't until i know that i'm accepted into the air force. i'm told the board will meet nov 11 and decide by nov 20- prior military folks, does that seem like it will actually happen or since it's close to thanksgiving might i not hear anything until december??

I was told by my recruiter, who served for 20 years, that he has never heard of or had a nurse being turned down :/

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I would expect that there WILL be RNs turned away as the number of applications increases with the tanking economy - my recruiter said the same thing but I still held my breath.

With the board meeting so close to T-giving I would expect one of two things: either they'll rush to get results out before the holiday or they'll laze around until after Turkey day. So - either is a possibility, but I'd say December is more likely to happen.

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Specializes in psych/medical-surgical.
I would expect that there WILL be RNs turned away as the number of applications increases with the tanking economy - my recruiter said the same thing but I still held my breath.

With the board meeting so close to T-giving I would expect one of two things: either they'll rush to get results out before the holiday or they'll laze around until after Turkey day. So - either is a possibility, but I'd say December is more likely to happen.

But Newsweek announced the recession is over! :banghead:

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question...when the board meets do they make their decisions at the end of their week long 'session' or do they accept/reject people on a daily basis? just curious if i should be on pins and needles as of Nov. 11 when they meet or wait until the 20th to start jumping every time the phone rings.

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This is going to sound like a smart answer, and it's not meant to be - the board does what it wants how it wants to do it. And I don't think anyone but them knows for sure. What I do know is all results are released at the same time on the same day - HOW they reach their conclusions is a mystery.

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Specializes in ICU/CCU.

Can someone please spell out the process it took to get you all to this point? I am EXTREMELY nervous about even talking to a recruiter because the father-in-law has always said that a recruiter's job is to screw you (he was a grunt in the Marines).

I am a 25 year old dude set to graduate with my BSN in decemeber 09. I am also married with a brand new baby, so this is really important that everything works out. Please give me the rundown. Does the starting salary actually go to me, or do all my "benefits" get deducted from that? Anything else I should know?

Thanks guys, I'm really nervous and it would kill me if it didn't work out for my family. Thanks!

Dane

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