midinphx BSN

I'm an active duty flight nurse. We interact quite a lot with the reserves and guard units. It is very competitive to commission, yes. Directly into reserves or guard as a flight nurse, most do want either ER or ICU, but it never hurts to ask and t...

I was army AD and now AF nurse. I have to say AF has been difficult to learn how to manage my army tone! I’m to abrupt. I want to assign the job and get into it - talk later. In the AF there is a lot of talk! LOL. Just expect it. Make...

After OTC (no longer COT), there is Nirse Transition Program (NTP) for nurses with under 1 year experience. It’s an excellent program and sets you up for success in the AF! It’s TDY before your first duty station, San Antonio and Travis are often o...

I’m at Travis, active duty. I know nothing of reserves. I do know you’ll have to go through: SERE, water survival, initial flight nurse qual (1 month) and flight training unit (1 month). Then a couple months on mqt in your unit. Other reserve ...

I’m 5’2”. I am AE. Not only the reach test but that drives a waiver which takes time. It is completely doable.

Waivers take a bit of work - I suspect it was easier to reroute you rather than work the waiver. I’m active duty on my second AE flying assignment. Generally, one should expect to serve 2 AE assignments- can be flying or in a ground support role...

Easy waiver for depth perception. Don’t let that stop you. I have a height waiver (5’4” is the lowest without waiver)

I’m active duty and came in with 14 years ER and ICU. In active duty, it is basically calculated as a nurse gets half the time credit to rank. So I cam in like I’d been a nurse 7 years and was a captain. I would not have wanted to come in higher t...

You can totally do this! I was prior service army - 20 yr break in service - came in at 42 as RN with 14 years experience. I will serve at least until 59 yrs old with no trouble. I came in ICU, now I’m flight nurse. I’ve have 5 deployments in 9 ye...

Not sure this will help - but when I came in AD I expected results in November by thanksgiving. No word came. ... until March! None. In March I found out I was going to COT in May. So no news is good news! Good luck and be patient. Everything ab...

I’m AF. I was prior in army. I chose AF because it always seemed nicer than army. It’s not. Quality of life is a vague term. So we have nicer bases and dining facilities and gyms. That does not equate to better quality of life. I don’t spend off du...

I’m an active duty flight nurse. The process probably hasn’t changed much from when I did it. The process is on the AF knowledge exchange. You should speak to your chief nurse as you’ll need his/her endorsement. Start coordinating getting a flight...

Pixie, your IP now? From ER to IP. Awesome. I started as ER, went ICU, then AF. 2 ICU deployments. Now flight nurse. Was the IP at Lakenheath AFB and really got a lot out of it! Never asked for that job, but I have been told to embrace whatever I’...

You really need to consider NOT enlisting now! If you can ensure 2 things - can you become US citizen? And is your BSN from accredited school? Once you enlist - you will be held to serve the position you are going in with and will have a hell of a t...

I joined the army at age 18. My goal was to get the GI Bill and college fund then go to college. Things didn’t go exactly as plannned... diversions along the way. Cut to now - I’m a nurse. I am in the Air Force and and serve as a flight nurse. I ...

I was prior service military before coming in as a nurse. I thought I knew what to expect. Nope, lots of surprises. Your time is rarely your own. That's what it felt like at first. AF can work you 6 days a week. Same pay. They can switch you ni...

Hiya Luna! Yeah, it's been awhile. I've been really busy here. There's a tradition of going crazy here in ones last few months of fitting as much in as possible. So I've been traveling every bit of time off. I leave England next month This is m...

You will not be stuck at the bedside forever as an icu nurse in the AF. I'm AD ICU. I'm not bedside right now. They needed me to do something else, much to my dismay originally. Lol. Do do expect to stay ICU bedside for 2 assignments (6-8 years) a...

This is a really old post. Bonus change based on needs. But you will not be eligible for any other bonuses if you take an accession bonus.

You are not going to get a real answer to this question. There is no standard answer. It varies by base, unit, mission needs and manning. Sounds really harsh, but true. I came in full qualified ICU RN. My first unit worked what they called panama...

The opposite. Critically manned means that there are more open iCU slots than nurses to fill them. It's a good time to apply for fully qualified iCU. Be more competitive and get the CCRN.

We are still considered critically manned in ICU.

If you want to be a flight nurse, do NOT come in as an ICU identifier. You will not be allowed to reclassify from 46n3e to 46f for at least 2 assignments. We are critically manned in icu.

Joining the military to pay off debt may prove to be a poor decision. It's not a last choice. Military is a way of life and a deep commitment. Don't join for money.

Skip the Associate. You've got the time and the money for your Bacchelors! Good on you for wanting to get a jump on it! Once you get settled at your duty station, you go by education and training and they can help steer you. There is tuition assis...