I'm an Active Duty Air Force RN with almost seven years' experience as a nurse and four of those on active duty. I'm about to drop an application for the Air Force's NICU RN program and there's a question on the interview that's really bugging me, because I have no idea what it means! I want a good answer for it (the interview will be performed by the Neonatal Program Advisor to the Air Force Surgeon General - who happens to be my former commander), I think I'm reading too much into it, and if anyone can give me some insight I'd appreciate it.
The question is: "What changes in your personal and/or professional lifestyle do you anticipate as a clinical nurse in the NICU?"
I have no clue. I've worked Oncology since graduating from nursing school and have been on the DOD's only BMT unit since coming on active duty. I think what's getting me is the phrase 'professional lifestyle' (I think that's a silly way to put it - but a lot of the stuff I read in the military is worded a bit bizarre).
The only way I can even fathom addressing this is ethically: I did my pediatrics rotation in nursing school on Duke Hospital's Level III NICU, and spent time in all three levels of care there (NICU, SCN, and the TCN). Especially in the NICU, I saw (and know I will see in the USAF) things that may or may not agree with my own sense of ethics - but I feel it's not my place to judge. (I see this in CA care all the time as well, especially when we transplant people that no civilian insurance company or facility would allow to be transplanted because of personal history, PMHx, disease status - a host of things that might not make them good candidates otherwise. Not my place to question. I can't put my own personal filter on someone else's situation.)
And personal lifestyle? Nothing - our shifts are exactly the same, our ability to take leave is the same, our chances of deployment - and places we can be deployed - are exactly the same. I don't stress about stuff - I don't bring work home - I leave what happens at work at work. We lose patients all the time - I've been through numerous deaths, codes, you name it. I've been to patient funerals. I've seen patients recover and I've seen them relapse.
Any thoughts? I still say the question's poorly worded, but I was wondering if anyone else had another take on what it might mean/another perspective. Appreciate the help.
