Mamakellyd

I'm back from the interview- which lasted 2 hours. The chief nurse is a Lt. Col and she had her asst. chief sit in as well, and she was a Major. The interview was not as intense as I expected, it was very relaxed and more of us talking that questions/answers. In fact, she opened the interview by asking me what questions I had for her. She told me that my work and life experiences would more than make me a good fit and that she thought I would do well and thrive in the AF. My preceptor (who is the Col. and Commander of the unit) had said that the CN would have to want me before I would be put in touch with a recruiter, and I left with the recruiter's phone number. I was given a tour of the unit and introduced to all the nurses, the pharmacist, some of the medics and a couple of physicians in the unit. I was also introduced to the deputy commander who is active guard and she told me that she and I would talk often if I decided to join because she would the one who would help get everything for the guard bureau, etc. Every question I asked was answered as if the CN was planning my orientation and I was already on board- even down to her telling me that their goal is for everyone in the unitis to be ACLS, PALS, and TNCC certified since they have a homeland response mission. When she was telling me that she pulled her TNCC book off the shelf and said that when I got ready to do the class that I could use her book instead of buying one. I would say that it went well, and now I just have to do a lot of talking things over with hubby and praying between now and Monday to see if I am ready to take the leap and call the recruiter. And- I have to tell my mom. :) I had mentioned it to her a month ago when this first came up and she didn't respond very well, so I need to figure out how to try and explain it to her. Any suggestions?!?

So today is the day- headed out in a few minutes for my interview with the chief nurse. The unit is about 2 hours from my house, so got some travel before I'll be there. I'm horribly nervous, mostly about not being able to articulate why I want to join. I know why, but it is so hard to put into words somehow. I also have interviewed for anything for over 18 years, and even then it was "Have you done PD?" and "When can you start?" Not really an interview! I'll update when I get back home.

Hi all- so I confirmed my interview with the chief nurse for this Saturday morning. It is for a clinical nurse slot in an ANG unit. Any suggestions or ideas on what I might get asked? I've been told I might be asked if I understand the mission of the Air Force and the mission of the unit. I've found the AF mission online, but I can't find the unit mission on their website. I know basically what the unit does, but no written mission. I've also been told I'll likely be asked why I want to join, and I'm having a hard time putting that into words too.

The whole COTS vs RCOTS is so confusing to me. The CN says you go to RCOTS and says she just had a nurse come back from the December class, which she says lasted 5 weeks. I've been reading on the link you posted and it says RCOT is 2 weeks. I guess I'll find out when it is time- if I make it that far! I have not heard from her since the phone call, but I didn't expect to since she said not to expect any more until after the interview, so not sure if I'll have to answer the questions prior to the interview. I'll update when it is over.

I started this thread a couple of weeks ago and no one replied- so I cut and pasted the content here. :) Today I got a call from the Chief Nurse of the ANG unit I am hoping to join. My preceptor is the commander of the unit and so she set up the call. We talked for over an hour, and she asked me to send my resume. They won't drill in their home location this month, so it is early next month before I get to go. But we had a good conversation, and it was amazing how similar our situations are. She told me she enjoyed the conversation and said we'd meet with her assistant chief nurse. Also she told me that it would be appropriate to bring my husband if I wanted, and to wear business casual "appropriate for an interview" so I could spend some time following around members of the unit. She also told me that if the commander (my preceptor) didn't think I would mix well with the unit and if she didn't think I could handle the job clinically she would not have even told me she had a slot open. So for those who have been through this, does it sound favorable thus far? I've read on here about a sheet with nine questions that you have to answer- do you do this at interview or do you get this from the recruiter? Is it typical for them to invite you to bring your spouse, or is this a way for them to see how serious you are? I'm also a little confused on the officer training. Everyone keeps telling me that nurses go to COTS, but she is telling me a new nurse (a Lt) just got back from RCOTS and that this is what nurses go to. She did tell me that even if everything progresses and I get approved from the national board to not expect to do RCOT before December 2014. Thanks in advance for any replies!

NursRies- Just wanted to say Hi! I'm also an acute dialysis nurse- considering and working toward the Air National Guard. Not many of us dialysis nurses out there, so I have had some of the same questions you do.

I am working on air national guard.

Just remember people who are hiring have to be very careful. If they indicate that someone will get the job and then they don't it can cause problems. So often they are very cryptic and careful.

Meg- I've been an RN almost 23 years, and spent about 9 years of that as a nursing administrator responsible for hiring. A lot of times I would pair someone up to shadow one of my nurses so I could get their thoughts and feedback as well. I can tell you that I did not do this if I did not like the candidate. I kept it brief and did not speak toward the future if I had no intentions of really considering the applicant. I agree with the prior comment of sending a thank you note for the interview, and following up. Once you take NCLEX and know your results make sure you call her or communicate somehow that you have passed.

I would say go back and read your promissary note that you signed when you received the loan. I am currently finishing up my MSN as a recipient of this and mine was quite clear that it is only as a full-time faculty member. I also asked whether each year reduces it by 15% that if I taught for two years and then left teaching would it be reduced by 30%. I was told that it does not and that it would require me to teach for four full years to forgive the majority of the debt. The promissary note has to detail how it is cancelled, and also anything that allows you to defer repayment.

Today I got a call from the Chief Nurse of the ANG unit I am hoping to join. My preceptor is the commander of the unit and so she set up the call. We talked for over an hour, and she asked me to send my resume. They won't drill in their home location this month, so it is early next month before I get to go. But we had a good conversation, and it was amazing how similar our situations are. She told me she enjoyed the conversation and said we'd meet with her assistant chief nurse. Also she told me that it would be appropriate to bring my husband if I wanted, and to wear business casual "appropriate for an interview" so I could spend some time following around members of the unit. She also told me that if the commander (my preceptor) didn't think I would mix well with the unit and if she didn't think I could handle the job clinically she would not have even told me she had a slot open. So for those who have been through this, does it sound favorable thus far? I've read on here about a sheet with nine questions that you have to answer- do you do this at interview or do you get this from the recruiter? Is it typical for them to invite you to bring your spouse, or is this a way for them to see how serious you are? I'm also a little confused on the officer training. Everyone keeps telling me that nurses go to COTS, but she is telling me a new nurse (a Lt) just got back from RCOTS and that this is what nurses go to. She did tell me that even if everything progresses and I get approved from the national board to not expect to do RCOT before December 2014. Thanks in advance for any replies!

Thanks! That is the website I've been reading on. It has answered a lot of questions for me- and prompted even more! :)

You're welcome! I probably could have worded my question better. I have no military frame of reference other than uncles who served around the time of the Korean War, and things were certainly different for them! Everyone else I know is either Army Guard (enlisted) or active duty army (enlisted). With the couple of AF/ANG nurses I know I feel like I have already been such a time drain on them- and one of them is the Colonel and Commander of the unit that has a slot. She told me about it herself and is setting up a meet and greet with her CN for next week, so I'm trying to learn as much as I can about the process so I don't sound like a total idiot when we meet. :)

Lunah- Just to clarify- I was not looking for specific content of exams. I would never want that myself nor would I ever ask or expect anyone to divulge information such as that. From what I've read on the website for COTS the curriculum seems to be mostly based on learning the customs and courtesies, protocols, etc. So I was looking for generalities more than anything else.

Can you wife share what types of things are on the tests? Is it customs and courtesies type information?