Pediatric Nursing?

[WoosahRN, MSN, RN]

I have been interested in Air Force Nursing since my last year of nursing school. BUT, I am a Pediatric RN. I have been an RN for a year and a half. Exp in Gen Peds but am now in the Pediatric ICU. I am sure you all understand the personal decision of the areas you work in and I don't want to give that up. I enjoy pediatrics and want to stick with it. Question is....do any of you know if there are decent opportunities as a pediatric RN? I thought about doing AF Reserves so that I could continue to work in peds but would def be interested in a full committment if I was confident that I could stick to that area. Please, any info would help. Thank you.

[just_cause, BSN, RN]

Air force has a ped specialty.... you should contact a recruiter in your area to look at reserve opportunities based on your geo area or look at going active duty and being willing to move to the job location

[Shimano0606]

WoosahRN,

I'm currently in the AF's only PICU at Wilford Hall (Lackland AFB). Right now we're only a 6 bed unit hoping to grow back to an 8 bed unit when we move across town to Fort Sam Houston with the Army. If you're wanting an entire career w/ the AF in PEDS it may be difficult. Each assignment in the AF is around 4 years with some posiibility of extending. Since there aren't many facilities in the AF that offer inpatient peds, you're options are limited over the course of a 20 yr career. If you want to get a PNP or FNP, then the AF can help with that through some of the master's options through AFIT. Ultimately, the AF may ask you to serve as a nurse outside of PEDS at some point in your career.

I asked the same question when I was coming back in the AF and was told "yes, it's possible to stay in PEDS, but don't count on it." Hope that helps a little.

[WoosahRN, MSN, RN]

Thank you for the info. That does help a lot. The one time I did try to get info from a recruiter he wasn't very knowledgeable on the healthcare (at least he was honest) so I didn't have a great idea of what options there were for me. Thanks again.

[dreamon]

So the AF hospital is moving onto Ft Sam? Is it all in the same hospital or will they build a separate one?

[Shimano0606]

As I understand it, all inpatient services will move to Ft Sam and all outpatient services will be consolidated at Wilford Hall. All is supposed to be accomplished nlt sometime in 2011. Our unit is making plans to move this time next year...we'll see. In anticipation of the move, both facilities are undergoing lots of remodeling this year and next.