Hello everyone. I am considering joining the Air Force and maybe the Navy. I served 4 years in the military. I only say that because I know that "typical" work days aren't so "typical" and can end up doing many different things.
So my question is, if I commission as an officer to become a nurse in either the Air Force or the Navy, how does the "work week" or "scheduling" work.
Is it 3 days of 12 hr shifts and the rest off. Or 3 days of 12 hr shifts and the other days doing "military BS work". How exactly are the schedules.
I am not in the AF yet but have spoken to a Captain whom is a peds nurse in San Antonio. She told me that the nurses on her unit make their own schedules, they work 12s, and they work about 14 shifts every 4 weeks so on an average 42hours per week.
It will vary from base to base and inpatient vs. outpatient. Some units self-schedule and others do panama. Some do 8 hours per day times 5 days per week while others do 14 12-hour shifts per month.
You can reasonably expect to work about 160 hours per month on patient care with an additional 5-10 hours per week based on what your additional duties are and how many people you supervise.
I'm in the process of applying for AD Air Force, but currently work as a GS nurse for the Army. We do a Panama schedule, which I like quite a bit. And I agree with what everyone is saying- military or civilian, you can expect to do extra duties. Civilians tend to have extra duties that can be tied to their work schedule (ie. done while they are on duty) so they don't go into overtime. Military nurses are kinda expected to do their extra duties outside of their scheduled shifts. Also know this... civilians get "sick time" and are not afraid to use it! It's fine if there is adequate coverage, but on my unit, military nurses are on call and frequently called in to cover shortages. It is not uncommon for military nurses on my unit to go from their scheduled 84 hour two-week schedule to 96 hours and even above 100.
Specializes in ED. ICU, PICU, infection prevention, aeromedical e.
You are not going to get a real answer to this question. There is no standard answer. It varies by base, unit, mission needs and manning. Sounds really harsh, but true.
I came in full qualified ICU RN. My first unit worked what they called panama - but it was too random to be panama - you should be able to predict when you'll work with panama. But I have found every unit I've been on will randomly change your shifts if you don't have a request off granted.
I've worked one month with 0 days off - but that was really situational, but they can do that.
If you are assigned to an inpatient unit - Expect 7 shifts every 2 weeks. With all those extra duties and training and PT on your own time.
If if assigned to a clinic or not 12 hour shift place - expect 10+ hour work days 5 days a week.
Also, be aware that even though you come in as a specific nurse, they will use you as they need you. even though I'm ICU, I now have a day job in an office. I'm the infection preventionist now (it's karma kicking me after all my arguments with IP in the past!). I have weekends off for the first time in over 20 years. I liked my 12 hr shifts. But now I can plan my life! I get the actual holidays off, which I'd never cared about.
I will also point out the amount of time I've spent away from "home". I got lucky and deployed within 9 months of coming in. I did COT then. another unexpected surprise of 2 day notice for a 7 week training. Then 3 weeks in CSTars. 7 months in Iraq with a month detour thru Afghanistan. Supposed to be 18 months at home before next bucket for vulnerability - I got 14 (with surgery recovery I was off the list a bit). In that 14 months I had 2 tdy training - one for 7 weeks and anothe just a week. I got tasked for 3rd deployment 2 days after I got back to leave in 9 months - my commander cared about his people and refused to let me go. Instead I sent to SOS for 7 weeks. Lol. Then I got my golden ticket and PCSd. I'm in England. No challenge clinically, but a great AF learning opportunity. But I am still off to classes. 1 month done in June, back in Texas again ironically. I have a bonus item of a tasking to Slovenia for a training mission. Then I get to go back to Baltimore for 3 weeks.
Live become an excellent packer!
too much info, I know. But it isn't just the number of shifts you work to answer your real question.
In my experience with the military so far, how much BS you do is really up to you. A sizeable chunk of your promotion and awards package bullets come from the BS stuff...i.e. stuff that really doesn't involve patient care. No one really cares about the patient care you provide, as long as you aren't screwing-up; it's expected that your care is good.
If you qualify as 'prior enlisted' and can receive the 'E' designator, you could retire as an O3E and pretty much never do military BS in your career. Promotion to O3 really isn't that competitive. It's only if you want O-4 and above that you need the BS stuff on your record.
I'm active duty Navy RN, I completely agree with this. If you're super moto and want to pick up a bunch of extra collaterals, you're gonna be at the hospital ALOT on your days off. As an O1 or O2 its not gonna make much difference on Evals, in the Navy you're promoted to O3 automatically as long as u don't have some sort of discipline. I don't volunteer for anything extra LOL "Never Again Volunteer Yourself (NAVY)" LOL I'm getting out in 2 years I cant wait. So much BS and Nursey-Nurse-Nurse stuff to put up with. The pay is pretty good tho if you're in a high BAH zip code like San Diego.
In the Navy we work 3-12's one week, 4-12's the next. I get paid as well as I did as a civilian, but work 2 extra days per month. Oh and I got deployed to Afghanistan within the first 2 months I was on board. I loved it, but many people with families don't.
I'm considering going navy. My goal is to make O-3E by the end of my 13years (I did 7 years enlisted). So tell me, if I never volunteer for anything like you, and otherwise do a good job when on the floor, can I expect to make O-3E before retirement? Also how many hours of work is typical per week beyond the 7 12hr shifts every two weeks?
chloejean104
52 Posts
I am not in the AF yet but have spoken to a Captain whom is a peds nurse in San Antonio. She told me that the nurses on her unit make their own schedules, they work 12s, and they work about 14 shifts every 4 weeks so on an average 42hours per week.