Chuckleface

Thank you so much for your response! It sounds like the best option to pursue would be CCATT. That is ultimately my goal anyway, just need to work on getting the experience I need to be applicable for it!

Hey everyone, I'm a new grad nurse, I've been working on a med/surg unit since June of 2022 and I am beginning to get closer to my one year mark. I have always wanted to serve in the military in some way and becoming a flight nurse is a career goal for me. Due to family commitments, active duty isn't an option as I cannot be relocating every 2-3 years. I've looked into the Air Force Reserves and the Air National Guard and the Guard has a base close to where I live that does aerial evacuation. For anyone who has done this, I have a few questions. 1. I understand that initially there is a lot of training. However, after reading through a number of threads on this topic I still don't have a clear understanding of what the monthly requirements are. Many have stated in these threads that being a flight nurse requires much more time than the typical one weekend a month and two weeks a year. How much time a month will this specific position require? 2. Is it difficult to go into CCATT later down the road when I have the required experience? 3. The base closest to me is in North Carolina and I live in South Carolina. Am I still able to serve at a base that is not located in my home state? Thank you for any insight/ advice in pursuing this! I have not reached out to a recruiter yet. I want to make sure I truly understand the time requirements and commitments and I don't meet the basic requirements yet of having a full year of experience under my belt yet. -Charlie

First of all, I really appreciate all of this help, advice, and insight. Thank you for each of y'alls responses. Through the research I have done, I came to understand that in order to meet the qualifications to be a flight nurse I would need a minimum of 5 years of combined ER and ICU experience which is why I was looking at an ER position. However, would you advise I instead look for an ICU position? My original plan has been to leave the floor and go to an ER for 2-3 years and then go to the ICU for another 2-3 years and then take that experience, along with any EMS experience earned along the way and apply for a flight nurse position. All ER/ ICU experience will also be in a level 1 trauma center to increase my experience and bolster my resume. Considering the fact that flight nurses collaborate with EMS on a regular basis, it seems logical to me that having some experience in EMS would prove to be beneficial. I was actually considering getting my paramedic. My nearest technical college is offering $0 tuition and my plan was to enroll there and earn my paramedic through them. However, I called them this morning and discussed the idea with them. You have to have your EMT first before you can pursue paramedic training, I already understood this but was under the impression I would be able to get this certification through them first and then go on to get my paramedic. That is possible, however they do not offer an online variation of this program. I would have to attend all lectures in person on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday. That class schedule simply will not work for me at this time. On top of that, even if I do get my EMT from an online source such as AMT, in order to get my paramedic certification I would have to complete about 180 hours of unpaid ride time (I may not have that number exactly right). That requirement would pull me away from my wife a lot and I would hardly be home since I would also have to continue working full time on top of that - we already went through that when I was completing my practicum and also working as a tech at the same time and I don't want to put her through that again. With all of this considered, it seems that the highest patch for me to pursue at this time is EMT-B. However, I am beginning to question if that is even worth it after reading y'alls responses. As far as the weight thing, that is probably one of the few things about being a thin guy that actually works in my favor.

I appreciate your feedback and advice! I had not heard of MICN and I am looking into that now to see if there are any opportunities for that specialty in my area.

Again, I don't mean to turn this discussion into a debate as I have noticed that often times this topic can become a bit heated for some reason or the other. Why people are so passionate about what other people do with their time and resources, I don't know. But, to answer your question. You actually hit the nail on the head. My career goal is to be a flight nurse. However, I am a new-grad nurse. I have worked for about 6 months. I'm currently on a med/surg floor. To make a long story short, I have always been interested in flight nursing since I decided to pursue nursing but nursing school was very difficult for me and I often didn't even think I would graduate, let alone pass the NCLEX. So I gave up on that dream thinking I would never be smart enough or capable enough to actually get it. I ended up graduating with my BSN and I passed the NCLEX on my first try. I had already secured my current job months before graduation through my hospital tech experience at another hospital within the same system. After actually finishing school and passing the NCLEX, I realized that if I put my mind to it and work hard, I might actually have a shot at a flight nurse job down the road. Obviously, there is a lot of experience needed to even be considered for that job, experience I am years away from having. I am going to stay where I currently am and finish my first year as a nurse here. While it isn't experience that directly benefits my dream, I am learning so much as a med/surg nurse that I know will benefit me as a nurse in general. When I do finish my first year, I am going to look for an ER job at one of the two level one trauma centers near me and begin working on getting the years of experience I need in both the ER and ICU. Along with ER/ICU experience, I figured having some EMS experience would help make me more competitive and the adrenaline rush of EMS has always appealed to me. Also, I think it's important to note: I am not looking to leave nursing to become a full time EMT. There are PRN EMT positions in my area. I am just looking for a side job and yes I am aware that I could make even more money if I found a PRN nursing job but with my level of experience - I'm not going to get a PRN nursing job. I have already tried that.

I'm not here to start a debate or argument about whether an RN should get their EMT or anything along those lines. My question is simple: Has anyone here done the RN to EMT bridge program AMT offers and if so I just have a few follow up questions. Would you recommend the program? Can it be done completely online except for the skills test? And is the true cost only $523 as advertised on the website? I would really appreciate any input about this program or other online RN to EMT or just EMT programs. Thanks everybody, hope you all had a really good Thanksgiving this past week! ?

Hey, kind of off topic here, but I just found out today that I have latent TB. I'll be meeting with a doctor soon to discuss treatment. Would I still be able to serve in the military? I read a thread that said in civilian nursing they will let you work, but require you have a cxr every 9 months or so, is this the same with the military?

Doesn't the U.S Public Health Service take care of them?

After thinking about what you said Neats, I think you may be right. I think I'm getting too caught up in the glamor of being in the military or grandstanding a title as you put it. I don't know. I want to serve, but at the same time there's nothing wrong with serving in the civilian sector also, the military isn't for everyone.

Thank-you for your service. I'm definitely keeping that in my options also. I'm looking at everything. I'm currently finishing up my senior year of high school, so I'm still trying to figure things out and I'm sure once I get into nursing school and start clinicals I'll know better where I fit and can serve the best. Thanks for the suggestions! :)

Have Nurse, I'm sorry if it sounded like I was asking which branch was better than the others, that's not what I meant at all. They all have very well qualified nurses and doctors, but each branch has there own specialty that is unique to that branch. Air Force flies, Navy sails, and the Army walks. I'm very interested in all three branches. They all have some really cool opportunities. Just so I understand this, it sounds like as a nurse I can expect to deploy only once or twice in my career. I was reading a post on here where a Navy nurse said she had deployed in 2007 and didn't get to deploy again until 2012. So are deployments few and far between for nurses? PS: Also, why is all the information on the Navy page pertaining to Corpsman? Active & Reserve Nursing Jobs in the Nurse Corps - Navy.com

Thanks for chiming in jfractian. I have looked into the Air Force a little bit, but had mostly written them off because of the chair force jokes. Foolish assumption though, you people do some really awesome stuff. I'm going to keep my options open and when I go see a recruiter I'll be sure to hit up all three. One thing that really intrigues me about the Air Force is flight nursing.

Thanks for the comments. Sounds like the Army would be my best bet. Thankfully my school recently partnered with another school to provide ROTC, so I think I'll look into that.

Hello again. I've posted before with some questions about the Navy's NCP and I was pretty much dead set on joining the Navy, but I'm starting to wonder if it wouldn't be the best fit. I chose the Navy because I knew my dad, who is opposed to me joining any branch of the military, would prefer me to join either the Navy or Air Force since they tend to have a better reputation as far as language and stuff like that in my dad's mind. Whether or not this is true, is besides the point and I kinda doubt, but my dad feels better about those branches. He served in the Army and he said he didn't like the culture there and he's made it clear to me and my siblings that he doesn't want his children joining the military. I made it clear to him that I was going to join the military though and to kind of ease the tension a little I suggested that I'd join the Navy. Although he is still opposed to the idea he told me I had to make these choices myself and if this is the route I want to choose, then he'll support my decision. Now, here's the problem I'm facing now. Although I am still very much attracted to the Navy because of how professional they seem and the fancy ranks like Lieutenant Commander and Commander (C'mon, you got admit that sounds really cool. LOL), I don't want to join and then end up spending my time in the United States never seeing any action. Obviously not the same kind of action the troops at the front lines see, but working in something like a field hospital or surgical team. I've heard a couple of different things about the Navy. I've heard working on a ship is rare and few nurses ever get the opportunity and I've also heard that, being the medical provider for the Marines, they deploy with the Marines. I've also heard they don't deploy with the Marines. Is it specialty specific and maybe those who said they didn't deploy were in the wrong specialty and never had the opportunity? The Army, however, seems to be much more willing to throw their nurses into more dangerous areas. If I'm looking to get in the s***, so to speak, would the Army be a better option? Thanks for any answers! Chuck

Good to know. My school has recently applied for CCNE accreditation and are currently a new applicant. Hopefully they will get it. :)