LTinAK

Hi- I'm an FNP in the Air Force now, let me know if you have any questions! If you google "military pay chart" (or something similar) you would be able to figure out pay. If you have a DNP (which is what they are looking for now) you would come in as an 0-3 (Capt). There is also Board Certification Pay, which is $500 extra a month. There are also contracts you can sign (certain # years for $$) but I don't know about those since I did HPSP. Seriously though, a recruiter can be an excellent source of information, although I understand your reluctance to do so. Good luck!

I'm guessing yours are the closed toe kind? If so, my post won't be very useful, but I do have a trick for the open toe kind. After you open the bag, but the bag over the patient's toes, and then the hose slides over their foot much easier. After you get the hose in place, remove the plastic bag by pulling it out the toe hole.

1. No 2. 11 - 15 years 3. 30 - 39 4. female 5. BSN

Hi Morte, No, you would not need a local license. As long as you are Active Duty your license can be from any state, and it doesn't matter where you are stationed at. I was stationed in Mississippi and Washington working at the hospitals, all with an Alaska RN license :-)

I had a red stethoscope while on Active Duty in the Air Force. No one cared. Good luck with school!

I wanted to second the advice you already received about not using a tourniquet. I hardly ever use a tourniquet on my more elderly patients, and I think it really helps with avoiding "blown" veins. The first time or two I tried it, it felt wrong, as though I was omitting a very important step. However, it works wonders! Good luck!

Hi Jules, I'm in the same boat as you right now! Just wanted to offer that at my school, they highly recommend process improvement projects for the DNP students and their Capstone. It sounds like you have received some excellent suggestions, good luck!

Hi teodoroc, While I cannot speak to the money you would make on Active Duty, I know a lot of AD physicians and Nurse Practitioners joined through the HPSP. The HPSP pays for 100% of your education, and gives you a monthly stipend while you are in graduate school. You are on AD for 45 days per year, and get paid at an 01 for those days. Its a great way to have no debt for your schooling, and then you are guaranteed the experience you will get paying back that education by serving AD, which is one-for-one. Meaning, if they pay for 3 years of school, you own them three years of AD. Getting your advanced degree with zero debt might be something to consider when determining if it is worth it financially. Good luck!

I just read your post, and I wanted to reply. Recently I attended a lecture where interview skills were addressed, specifically how to answer the question about weaknesses. The speaker said to identify an area that you would like to work on, and then identify how you are working to improve that area in the next year. The idea is to show you can reflect honestly on your weaknesses, and that you have a plan on how to make improvements. In my mind, this really helped make the question easy to answer. Hope this helps! Good luck!

I just went through this process, and it is definitely frustrating, but completely doable. My best advice is to put on a professional outfit, print up some resumes, and then go in person. Do your research first though, and make sure they have providers at the office that would meet your preceptor requirements. If it is an office (as opposed to a hospital) ask if you may speak with the Office Manager. Make sure you know exactly how many hours you need, and about how many days a week that works out to be. I have NEVER had a return phone call when calling for preceptors, but am 2/2 with going in person. I think it helps if they meet you, and can kind of gauge if you will be a good fit to precept there. Good luck!

Have you thought about joining the Guard or Reserve, maybe as an IMA? You would still be subject to deployments though. Active Duty would not be a good choice if you don't want to move. I doubt any Reserve/Guard units deliver babies, but maybe check and see if they would take you if you wanted to serve in a different capacity as an RN? The reason I say IMA, is that is what I considered doing when I left Active Duty. I spoke with the recruiter, and they were still taking people for this role. It is mainly at large bases, and you do all your Reserve time at once at the hospital (instead of over several weekends). Not sure exactly what you are looking for, but if you want to discuss more part time options I would call an Air Force Reserve Health Professions Recruiter. Let me know if you need contact info.

Hi Adam- I study. A lot. Our school recommends three hours of study each week for each one credit hour of class, but I find myself working on school a lot more than than. Not sure if that helps, but good luck to you!

Hi SoldierNurse- Did you get the Urgent Care bill taken care of? I used to be Active Duty Air Force and we were able to enter Urgent Care referrals (for Active Duty) retroactively as long as you were at least roughly 30 minutes/30 miles away from an MTF. The Urgent Care also had to bill Tricare, and I was amazed at how many didn't. AF may be different than Army, but maybe call the nurse line or speak to someone in Tricare and see if they can do this? It's worth a shot anyway. Hope you're feeling better.

Hi psychaeb- If I were you, I would call a Health Care Recruiter for the AF and ask your questions. Not trying to be smart, but that's what I did a few years ago :-) (The AF does an NTP program for new grads, not sure if when you graduated makes a difference.) They will be aware of the most recent requirements, and be able to help you the most accurately. Be careful not to call a recruiter that recruits enlisted, you will need a different one. You could Google the closest one, and then go from there! Good luck to you!

The hourly requirement is yearly. Could you get a PRN gig somewhere? I don't know if volunteer work counts, definitely something to look in to though. I worked Med-Surg for three years, then went to a clinic for two while I was AD. Now that I'm in Reserves, I have a civilian Med-Surg job, and do clinic work on my drill weekends. You read my mind though, your situation is a little odd :-) Good luck to you!