FlyingED

ZRMorgan, Down to less than a year. Time is screaming by and my wife and are working on trying to decide what to do after graduation. So, if you had a crystal ball, what do you think your needs, in Centralia, will be like in 12 mos. My wife and I love the area and would be an ideal place to raise the kids. Thanks for the help. I hope you will be going to San Diego this year. Cory

Thanks for the insight. It is to bad Olympia is tied up, but I will send you my CV this early spring. Have a good 4th of July. Cory

I realize this is an old link, but just checking to see if you two are still happy in WA. I am from Seat/Tac currently starting my 2nd year at the Univ of North Florida. I am starting to look at jobs in Wa, in preparation to moving home. How are things? Any insight you could offer would be great. FlyingED Cory

Hello, I am probably not the best person to ask at the moment. I am currently in Grad school at UNF in the Nurse Anesthesia Program. But, I have an opinion on several of your questions. 1. Yes, I have a friend in Texas who is in my squadron who is PICU nurse. She would be a great reference for you. If you want her number let me know. 2. The Air Force Reserve Flight Nurse is not a normal reservist. We fly, we fly a lot. When I was flying I served around 90-120 days a year. Not a normal one weekend a month, two weeks a year job. 3. The pay is worth it. Granted a 2nd Lt does not pay the greatest, but pay increases nicely with rank. Active duty; if you decide to go that route, is very nice financially for a nurse. The problem is the time commitment away from your family. Time goes by quickly, depending on your nursing experience and negotiating skills you may get 1st LT when you get your commission. Promotions are about every two years up to Captain, then after that you need to complete extra training, and have an open rank position in your squadron for promotion. A lot of my friends are getting ready for LtCol positions. We joined in '99 so that is a nice rise in the ranks for a short period of time. 4. It is a federal offense for a company to punish or refuse a reservist the opportunity to serve their country. If at any time your threatened, or implied a threat, a quick call to your base JAG office will solve the problem. I personally worked as an agency nurse and had an extremely flexible schedule. 5. If you are looking for a challenge as a nurse and as person I highly recommend the USAFR. As a flight nurse you will not only have to be a nurse you will have to be flight qualified. Missions are either "training" or "live". The links below are to my squadron in Washington. http://www.446aw.afrc.af.mil/shared/media/photodb/photos/070410-F-2974K-001.jpg http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.446aw.afrc.af.mil/shared/media/photodb/photos/070410-F-2974K-001.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.446aw.afrc.af.mil/photos/index.asp%3Fpage%3D6&h=997&w=1500&sz=1424&hl=en&start=4&um=1&tbnid=hXQ1Q6KruCyrsM:&tbnh=100&tbnw=150&prev=/images%3Fq%3DUSAF%2Bflight%2Bnurse%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dsafari%26rls%3Den-us%26sa%3DN 6. Dobbins is like working any other job. They have good points and bad points and they change continuously. I don't even know what sort of airframe that they fly, my advice to you is contact the Director of Operations or the Senior Air Reserve Techni cian (Senior ART) and request a face to face. The senior ART is an Officer and a GS employee who works full time for the squadron. The ART knows everything about the squadron and will be able to tell you what they need and whether you will be a good fit. I interviewed like a new job. 7. The commissioning process is fairly extensive and a pain in the butt, so don't be in a hurry. 8. Being an Officer in the Air Force requires that you be able to lead and follow, think hard about who you are and what you can offer to the Air Force, this is not a normal job. It is a commitment that will change your life. For example, in August of of '05 my wife and I had a new baby and with 2 wks notice i was in Afghanistan. I missed my family and my new baby, but there was no doubt in my mind about going. Ask yourself if you can do that. If you have any other questions please feel free to ask. I will put you in touch with my friend from Texas for more input r/t PICU and Flight nursing. Good luck FlyingED QUOTE=ugaRN;2832349]Hey guys! I know this an older post but thought I could post on here rather than making a new one. I am currently a Pediatric nurse in Atl, GA (work on a neuro, neurosurgery floor although planning on going to go ICU soon if I dont go into the AF) I have a BSN and a prev degree as well. I have almost a year experience so not too much...I have been more interested recently in the reserve rather than AF nursing - had a few questions if someone can answer. I am really interested in becoming a flight nurse and have heard that you can go straight into in the reserve rather than just reg branch, is this true? 1) Do you think I would be accepted as a ped nurse? 2) what are the commitments like? 3) I know it is part time but what is the normal schedule like, as well as the pay? 4) I want to keep my civilian job, is this possible with training as well later commitments? 5) what is the normal training and later, job, like? 6) Does anyone know if the AF reserve base in GA (Dobbins AFB) any "good"? ANY input/opinions are GREATLY apprceciated. I am serious about the decisions I am wanting to make in the next 2 months and really am interested. Thanks so much in advance. Have a great day....

Sorry about the screw up, did not notice that you were not talking to me. FlyingED

I no longer at Westover. I am no longer drilling with the USAFR, I am a full time student in Florida. If you have any questions about the USAFR, i out of touch. If you want to know about grad school, CRNA, then I might be able to help. Cory

Yes it is quite the move. It seems that most of the schools are east of the Mississippi and I have certain disadvantages. As you could probably guess I am a Flight nurse and Ed nurse without ICU experience. I have to find schools that consider my credentials as critical care per the AANA. It limits my choices. Hope to see you in Florida. Please share any insight.

We haven't decide which day, it will probably be Monday. I am calling Monday. Have you interviewed at UNF before?

Interview in March. Anyone have any experience with the interview at UNF. Social vs Clinical.

NCGIRL, That was a wonderful explanation. You stated your opinion clearly without getting snotty and you made great points. NEUROICURN-very funny thank you both. Now let's stir the pot a little more. We all know ICU nurses that have crossed over to the ED and vice versa. But, we also know ICU nurses that turn pale anytime anyone even mentions the words "float to the ED". For me, the ICU, with fresh hearts coming right from OR, scare the hell out of me. I remember watching a pair of ICU nurses working the drips on a unstable fresh heart. They were amazing, beyond me, by miles. So, don't get me wrong ICU nurses have "mad skills" but so do we, in a broader field. Like I said in my first post, disrespect goes both ways and only from a very low percentage.

I only know about the Army and the active duty part. They have a direct ascention program where you apply for the Army's CRNA program. If you are accepted you go to Basic Officer Training, then directly to their CRNA program in San Antonio TX. After graduation you owe something like 4.5 years. The Reserves have a similar program where you apply for the Tuition Reimbursement (i think that is what it is called) you don't get any money other than tuition, where as the active duty side pays you 2nd LT. salary while you are in school. The Navy, I have no clue. My advice is talk to the Healthcare Nurse Recruiter for all the branches and see what they can do for you. cory

Why is it that there is a large percentage of ICU nurses who think that ED nurses are unable to correctly monitor cardiac gtts and vent settings in the ER? Here is a little background r/t my venting. I have been monitoring the CRNA board and reading how ICU is really needed to prepare yourself for CRNA school. I know for a fact that When I take my patient up to ICU who is vented and on multiple drips and who I have been monitoring for the last 6 hours waiting for an ICU bed to be opened is alive because I know what I am doing (run-on sentance). When a patient arrives intubated with CPR in progress I know I don't quickly say, "not here, take them directly to ICU!" because Boy Howdy, we may have to start a cardiac drip and set up a vent. Granted this is mostly in JEST! Most ICU nurses and Most ED nurses really appreciate what the other does and the skill required to perform both in the ICU and ED. I just had had enough of a few postings. Forgive my flippant remarks they are not to be taken seriously.

A HUC in the ED is the pivot point in which all others rotate. You are the hero and the demon all in the same person. Multitasking is an understatement, it is paramount that you hear, see and know everything and maintain a pleasant demeanor. A good HUC is valued beyond belief and bad HUC is crucified. My advice to you is that you look at yourself, noting your skills and personality and think carefully whether you are capable. Also, shadow a HUC multiple times before deciding whether to apply. Good Luck! cory

Which ever one you choose will be the best, the one you don't choose should be be given to me! LOL

Well, I just found out that I am an alternate. Anyone else out there get on an alternate list?