Military nursing 2024

[EmergencyRN08]

Looking to join the AF as a RN. I have 2 years of ER experience.

1. What are the possible first duty locations after OTS?

2. Would the navy have better locations?

4. Likelihood of getting stationed overseas?

5. What are the shifts like?

 

[jfratian, DNP, RN, CRNA]

Id say the navy has the best base locations minus portsmouth.   In terms of overseas, most jobs are stateside so numerically it's less likely but not impossible.   

Military nursing is 80% similar to civilian nursing.  You take care of vets, active duty, and their families. You work about 14, 12 hr shifts a month.  Once every few years you might deploy for 6 is months to a hospital in a war zone; right now those are sparse.

[midinphx, BSN]

I was surprised by some things when I came in.
Things I wish I'd known - you are expected to work 3 12hr then 4 12hr shifts every other week. They rotate every 3 months from nights to days. Meetings are mandatory and often on a day off. 

The patients we generally care for are not as sick and messy as civilian er. Mostly young healthy people unless you have a high veteran population you serve. Basically, clinically you will rarely be challenged as civilian er/ICU are. I came in as ICU. My first station was San Antonio and that has a good level of care.
It sounds like you're looking more for location - what are you looking for?  I have to say the military needs always come first. I'm just PCS'd to Okinawa Japan. I've been to England and Illinois and California. The world is big and this has been an adventure.  Not always fun nor what I want - but then neither was civilian nursing. The challenges are very different. There are so many opportunities for growth and learning. 
also as an ER nurse - you could consider flight nursing (more ambulance transport in back of a cargo plane). AE (aeromedical evacuation) has 4 active duty locations and is something unique and special in the AF. 
let me know if you have questions.