Needing advice from the AF Nurses out there

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Hey AF nurses~

I am needing guidance, words of advice, sympathetic ears, may be just a chance to vent to be sure its not just me.

I am trying to come into the AF as an ER RN. I have been a nurse for over 7 years, all ER and have gone up from Level 2 trauma centers to a Level 1 trauma center. I have current certifications in ACLS, PALS, TNCC, NRP, ECRN, ENPC, TNS, PHTLS and (soon) CEN. I have gone through all the hoops and was told by the CN at Scott AFB that she saw "no reason" why I should not get picked. But that is exactly what happened and we have no reason, and I mean none because there was absolutely nothing written on my application when it was sent back to my recruiter.

I guess I just am wondering if pursuing this is worth the time, hassle and emotional involvement. Not to mention, my husband is looking at going into the Navy (he served in the AF for 5yrs and has been out too long to go back into the AF). He keeps telling me to not take it personally, but I really can't get away from it because I had no feedback, plus it was my packet they were considering.

The main reasons I am looking at coming into the AF is that I want to help take care of those who serve, I want to provide a better life for my son than I had growing up, and lets be brutally honest here, where else will I get the benefits in civilian world that I will in the AF?

So should I continue trying to get in? I already have my packet redone for the April boards, so I'm in the holding pattern. If my husband goes into the Navy, can I at least go into the Air National Guard? I want to do more flight nursing than anything just to get out of the hospital once in a while, so would ANG be a better option? Or maybe look into the VA? Say "screw it" all together????

I'm asking you guys because I would like honest guidance and not best guesses that I have been getting from my husband and recruiter.

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Specializes in ER, ICU.

Did you talk to a health care recruiter? I've been told they are far more knowledgeable. I'm a new FN in the guard and I think it is the way to go. First, you won't rank out of the job, you can stay in that role forever. Next, you still have control over your life, where you live especially. I contacted the recruiter directly in the unit I entered and it took a while, but went through without a problem. In the Guard they are relying on your civilian experience so you need to keep doing what you are doing in the ER. It gives you a break from your real job, serves wounded warriors, and I'm loving the benefits. Having Tricare has allowed me to go part time at my job to have more freedom and control over my schedule. Loving it...

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I'm not currently an AF nurse (I'm working on applying as a new grad), but I just wanted to leave a comment...I know how difficult it is to go through the entire application process and then not get selected (experienced a situation when I was going to enlist a few years ago that made me feel the exact way you feel now), but it seems there are definitely a lot of people who don't get selected on their first try. So don't feel like you are alone. I think you should try again for sure, and maybe the Air Guard would be a better option for you than active duty if flight nursing is what you really want to do. In active duty, from what I understand, flight nursing is a "special assignment" that you wouldn't be able to get into right out of COT, and if you eventually got selected for it you would only be able to do it for a maximum of 2 years. In the Air Guard you would be a flight nurse right away and you would be able to stay in that position for as long as you want to.

It's often the most difficult things in life that are worth the most, so I hope you keep trying...good luck with it all!

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@nurse2033~Yes, my recruiter is with the Healthcare Professionals Division and has been there for a while. According to him and everyone of his superiors, they don't know why I was not picked because I have everything that the AF looks for in an ER nurse. That is one thing that is continuing to frustrate me because I am left wondering what to do? I literally have ever certification, so if I do get picked up by this next board, what made the big difference? There is no difference in the two applications.

@UCAFblue~Okay, so I am looking at the Air National Guard. My concern now is the fact that my husband is looking to go active in the Navy. Can I go into the Air National Guard at the same time? What is the difference between part-time and full-time in the Guard? We have a young child, however my mother lives with us due to the recent passing of my father (he passed the day after I found out I did not get picked, it was a BAD week), so I am not worried about who my son would stay with in the event we were both having to be on duty at the same time. Third question: I live in St. Louis and there is a squad with flight nursing in Springfield, IL. Would I be able to join this group and transfer to whatever base is close to wherever my husband is stationed or should I wait until we learn where the hubby will be stationed before I go in? Thank you for all your insight. I have been trying to get into flight nursing for 3 years and am getting told I "need more experience" even though I have all the certifications and licenses that they require, sometimes even more, and work in a Level 1 trauma center as a Trauma Nurse Specialist and have boarded ICU patients multiple times in my career, including PICU patients.

I also have certifications in scuba diving including search and recovery, underwater navigation, rescue, dry suit, deep diver and I am a Divemaster. Does this help me at all??

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Specializes in Anesthesia.

I don't recommend going NG if your husband is going to go AD Navy. It would be difficult to transfer to another unit every time he PCSs. The same goes for reserves, but it would be a better option than the ANG if he is going to be AD.

The most important thing to find out is why your package was rejected. It could have simply been that there were a lot more qualified candidates than slots available. I recommend keeping your package in for the April board and seeing how it goes.

No, the scuba certifications aren't going to help you get in. The training will help some with aerospace physiology though.

You are not going to be able to transfer from one NG/Reserve unit to another at will. There are only certain units that have healthcare jobs available.

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I went into AF Security Forces and I can tell you from my experience that the AF is extremely picky; It took me about 6 months just to get a job prior to shipping out for BMT (and this is the AF's equivalent of infantry) . Every branch is going through intense cuts (to the point of even trying to get some of the senior officers to retire early) so that they can decrease their numbers. Don't take it personal and don't give up if you have your heart set on going in. Maybe even looking into some of the other branches (Army, namely) to see if they have any sort of openings. Although, I know how it is when one has his/her heart set on serving in one branch of the military over the others.

Wishing you good luck,

hlr2752

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Specializes in ED. ICU, PICU, infection prevention, aeromedical e.

I can imagine how disheartened you feel.

I don't think you can take it personally, as much as it feels that way. AF is facing some serious cuts, including medical field. I don't feel like I have a guaranteed job in the AF even though I'm active. There are more people wanting in and with all the cuts, there are fewer jobs. I bet they simply had way more candidates than they could deal with. There may not have been any ER jobs available. Those of us in the more specialized fields have fewer options available to us. You sound perfect on paper. If it is your dream, resubmit your application.

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midinphx~

Right now I have done nothing but take it personally, even thought I really try not to, because I kept being told that I was such a shoe-in just to be told I wasn't. I just wish I would have been given some direction as to what was needed, what was not liked or what I need to improve upon. Because now I'm just floundering because I simply have nothing more to do at this point but sit and twiddle my thumbs.

Meanwhile, my husband has his paperwork in for the Navy and is just waiting to hear one way or the other from me if I am accepted or not. We would still get the benefits of the military for our student loans through his sign-on bonus, still get the medical and retirement benefits. I just don't know if I can go from working for the last 15 years to being a stay-at-home mom without going clinically insane.

For those of you who may know, can I get a job at the military hospital as a civilian? Or are there things for the spouses to do so I don't feel like a total mooch? I know this may sound really petty, but I have this thing about doing something with my time that happens to help pay family expenses.

Also, I haven't heard a thing from my recruiter, how much should I be bugging him?

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Specializes in ED. ICU, PICU, infection prevention, aeromedical e.

The military hospitals have a lot of contractors and GS nurses. We need the supplementation for the military to continue with training and deployments. If you are near a place that has a job, go for it that route.

Where there is a hospital, there are nurses and you can get a job there.

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midinphx~

Thanks for the info, how would I find these jobs? Once I were to get on base? Is there a website I can go to to get an idea for what is there? Do you have any idea as to what they offer for benefits (I have a pretty nasty student loan debt load looming over me)? Thank you for all your insight.

I'm still torn over staying with the AF route or just throwing in the towel.

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Specializes in Anesthesia.

If your husband is going AD Navy you should look at the Navy not the AF. It will be hard to stay stationed together if one of you is in a different service than the other one.

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Wtbcrna~I did look into the Navy and the recruiter I spoke with said I had to have 90 days experience with my BSN before I could join the Navy. I found this a little strange considering I have 7 yrs experience, have been a charge nurse and helped teach EMT classes on trauma, and he told me they aren't looking for ER nurses.I'm also looking at the Naval Reserves, but I'm getting so frustrated by the whole experience. My friends who are in the service now complain they are short staffed, especially for ER nurses, but every turn I'm told "no". Every time I turn on the TV there are ads running for AF nurses, but then they are cutting them? The amount of mixed signals is just really ticking me off.

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