New Grads...any information about COT

[AFFam]

New grads with no prior RN experience, have any of you received your information about your duty station or NTP assignments? I thought I remembered reading that some of you had. We have my husband's COT date, but we were wondering if anyone is going to COT without their duty station or NTP assignment. Also, what was the timeline between receiving your COT date and knowing where you were stationed if there was a delay?

Forgive me if I worded any of this incorrectly, I am still learning the lingo.

[mt_nurse]

It was a couple of weeks until I found out my NTP and base destinations. I guess expect just about the same time.

[carolinapooh, BSN, RN]

I've heard from a couple of folks who know (people who are expecting inbound RNs from NTP) that AFPC is EXTREMELY backed up. The consensus here seems to be about two weeks, and I've heard as long as three weeks from a couple of other sources.

It must be bad, because just over a year ago we were hearing bases and selection at the same time. I think Randolph's been swamped.

[AFFam]

My husband talked to the recruiter's boss and he thinks that he should know something by mid-June. I just find it odd that some May grads are going to COT before DH and he graduated in December. I didn't know if there was a regional preference or what. He mentioned that they are trying to get specialized RNs processed first. I'm not sure what that means though. We are just hoping to have enough time to get everything taken care of.

[carolinapooh, BSN, RN]

It probably depends on when their apps were cleared for the board.

"Specialized" RNs are qualified nurses with specific, AF critical identifiers: critical care, ED, maybe L&D - possibly even some MSN specialties like FNP or CRNA. I don't know that these are what they're looking for, I'm only taking a guess.

[mt_nurse]

Specialized RNs..just means you have experience working as an RN for >=6 months. These RNs don't need NTP, so it's easier to take care of AD station placement for them.

[carolinapooh, BSN, RN]

Actually, the RNs who don't need NTP aren't considered "specialized". An RN with > or = to six months experience is only considered "qualified".

[midinphx, BSN]

yeah, and those specialized and those qualified nurses..... we don't get processed any faster! lol (don't get me started!). There is no rhyme or reason to how they are processed. Stop looking for it or it will drive you crazy.

[AFFam]

...if its a standardized process, how is there no rhyme of reason. I don't understand, and if he has more than six months experience by the time he goes to COT does he still need NTP or can we bypass that training? Its crazy that some canidates are saying that they have orders already and have not passed the NCLEX yet and he is already working but doesn't have any of that...

I am just anxious about finding out where we are going and get orders to secure a place to live and have TMO move us...I don't want it to be at the last minute.

[AF Nur]

Well, People might know where they are going before they pass the boards becasue their paper work was turned in early. it depends on when his paper work was turned in and and who is working on it.

As fr getting their orders mailed to them, they don't untill they passed the boards and show prove.

[AFFam]

Well maybe that was the case because it seemed like we were forever re-signing paperwork for this reason or another. Hopefully we will know something in the next month. We are trying to save for the uniform costs, and I would love to have enough time do this without having to use the credit card! From what I read, they are terribly expensive.

[carolinapooh, BSN, RN]

You don't find out where you're going until after you meet and are accepted by the board, because they can't allocate a body to a unit without knowing that person is actually going to qualify/make the cut. All of the packages that are going to meet Board X are reviewed by Board X at the same time.

What takes the packages time to get from the desk of whoever's checking them for completeness depends on how many packages that person has to review, and also on whether AFPC has to contact recruiters to verify/correct/add information.

AFPC is just behind - way behind, from what I'm being told.

Orders aren't cut until after you're commissioned, because you can refuse the slot right up to the moment you're sworn in. The delay in getting them is, again, due to the fact that AFPC is undermanned and overswamped, if you will.