New NP in the military

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Hi all,

I am about to graduate as a new FNP and will enter active duty service in the Air Force. I have to first attend officer training and then I'm off to my first base assignment at the end of the summer. I wanted to ask all the Air Force NPs out there to please share any experiences they've had, especially deployments. I know being deployed overseas is pretty much a sure thing at some point and I am curious as to the role of the NP in Afghanistan or Iraq. I am also hoping for a solid clinical education during my first tour and hope that the mentorship will help me in my training. Any experiences along those lines is also welcome. I am both nervous and excited about this huge change and I would love any and all input. Thanks!

Specializes in FNP-C.

I too am in the direct entry level FNP program. Well I wouldn't say direct entry because I went through a traditional BSN program first, then thought about grad school and now I'm attending the masters program full time and I graduate in August 2011. I was thinking about the Army for a little while since they'll get me into the military the quickest and I heard about opportunities, but then my uncle influenced me to get into the Air Force as he is a retired Lt. Colonel in the USAF as a logistics officer (line officer). He said you get promoted slower in the USAF and USN compared to the US Army, but "quality of life" is better. Of course, he's biased there.

Well, I've been told it's a 6 months to 1 year process of getting into the USAF. I decided it'll be worth it to wait that long to get into the military branch I really wanted to get into, the USAF. :) So when I graduate, I would be a new grad FNP who went directly into a master's program to become an FNP with no previous acute care RN experience. Is the USAF in great need/demand for FNPs? I'm hearing stories about the USAF is in great need of FNPs, but not so much of bedside RNs as the Army is?

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Specializes in Anesthesia.
Not everyone gets their choice of assignments.... I didn't get any of the bases listed on my preference list!

My advice to those just coming into the AF: Instead of making a blind list find out what bases have openings/openings coming up and then make your list from there. It will save you a lot frustration, and it will help your assignments officer.

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My advice to those just coming into the AF: Instead of making a blind list find out what bases have openings/openings coming up and then make your list from there. It will save you a lot frustration, and it will help your assignments officer.

Where can this information be found?

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My guess is you'd have to get it from your recruiter, because that sort of stuff is only accessible from inside the Air Force on the assignments listing.

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Specializes in Anesthesia.
Where can this information be found?

Right now you would get it from your recruiter and/or their supervisor. Once in the AF you would get the information from your Chief Nurse usually or directly from your assignment manager.

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WTBCRNA-What type of hours do you work as a CRNA? Are you enjoying military APN versus civillian? Do you have extra committees and meetings to go to like floor nurses? Is this going to be a career for you? I'm just curious.

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Specializes in Anesthesia.
WTBCRNA-What type of hours do you work as a CRNA? Are you enjoying military APN versus civillian? Do you have extra committees and meetings to go to like floor nurses? Is this going to be a career for you? I'm just curious.

My hours are highly variable. Yesterday, I worked 12hrs and today I go in about 0630 and then I don't get to leave until all the cases are done and/or no running OB epidurals or more than likely unlikely until 0700 tomorrow(i.e. I am working a 24hr shift today d/t call). Tomorrow I am post call so I will be off all day. In general my work schedule is 0630 to 1500. We can't leave until our cases are done or until the call person can take over our room which for the most part ends being between 1500-1530. We have two kinds of call primary and backup. Yesterday I was backup call and today I am primary call. When all of providers are there we usually pull 4 days of calls a month, but I am doing 9 days of call this month and 13 days of call next month d/t deployments.

I love being a CRNA. I am new CRNA so I haven't worked as a civilian CRNA yet. We all have extra duties etc. In general we don't do many committees/teaching etc., because we simply just can't get out of the OR long enough to do those kinds of extra duties.

I will have over 12yrs in by the time my payback is over, but I am still weighing my choices whether to get out or not. My biggest priority right now is to make sure my two youngest children graduate high school before we move again, and both will have 2-3yrs high school left when my payback is done so who knows what I will do at that point.

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Thanks WBTCRNA-I am currently working in the PACU. I'm a new grad as well waiting on my commission. I'm so excited. New career field plus new officer. I work with a lot of CRNA's and they all seem to love it. As for me, I'm tired of the call. Before PACU, I did L&D so my entire nursing career I've taken call and worked nights/weekends. We take 1 day a week and every 3rd weekend now. I'm hoping to not have call as a FNP or maybe just phone call for critical labs. I have my fingers crossed. *daydreaming* Please let me be in a daytime clinic without weekends. :D I'm hoping to do my 20 and be done with working full time. I also have a 401k from the past 8 years and an IRA we max out every year. I love nursing and enjoy going to work, so don't get me wrong but, someday I want to work around my vacations. Where are you stationed now?

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Wtb is in Alaska - and knows I'm HORRIBLY jealous over it!!

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Specializes in Anesthesia.
Wtb is in Alaska - and knows I'm HORRIBLY jealous over it!!

Elmendorf is considered an overseas assignment so you should be able to put in for at your 2yr mark. I really like it up here, but I need some more time off to enjoy the area.

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

My brother lives in Wasilla -- he drives for UPS. I'm dying to visit!!

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That's a heck of a place to drive for UPS!! (But what a gorgeous drive, I'm sure!) Hey, man, what can Brown do for YOU??

(Maybe pay for your trip to Alaska...?? LOL! You could mail yourself at a discount!)

Back to your regularly scheduled forum!

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