Periop-Doug

​are there any ad/reserve usaf surgical nurses out there who can give me a few details regarding the daily work life of an operating room nurse? i.e. hours worked per week, typical on-call schedules, deployments, work atmosphere/professionalism of or staff and doctors, etc. i am an rn (adn) with 10+ yrs of surgery & endoscopy experience, now graduated with bsn, and prior service (11 yrs usaf enlisted), who is considering active duty and/or reserves usaf. any insight is greatly appreciated! doug

Hey 79Tango, thanks for the info! Although it looks like my timing may be worse than I thought. I am 47 and will graduate with my BSN in Dec, after I turn 48. I thought the age requirements were the same as active duty (limit of 42 after subtracting years of prior enlisted service. I have 11 years AD so I would be 37 when I graduate.) but the recruiter told me the reserves do not subtract AD services years from my age and the cut-off is 46. I can apply for an age waiver but he thinks it will be difficult. Not sure where this will go now. I may have to resort back to AD attempt.

I am an operating room nurse with 10+ yrs of experience, and 11 yrs prior enlisted active duty. I am considering trying to become an AF Reserve nurse but was wondering what reserve life might be like such as: - Weekend Duty - Summer Training - Issues with employers - Deployment length and frequency - Pay and benefits satisfaction - Typical workday, etc. Any insight would be greatly appreciated!

I would like to visit an AF operating room to get a feel for the job and how it may differ from civilian nursing. Even if it is just for an hour or so to get a quick tour and ask a few questions. Is there anyone out there who has some information on how I could accomplish this, or would be willing to sponsor a visitor to your OR? I currently live in Texas so San Antonio would be a great location, but anywhere else would also be considered. I am an experienced (10+ years) OR Circulator and Endoscopy RN. I am currently enrolled in an RN to BSN program and scheduled to graduate Dec. 2011. I also have 11+ years of enlisted active duty and I am looking to receive an AF commission as an RN to complete my career. Thanks in advance for any help provided! Doug

Awesome news carolina! I also didn't see anything in the article on medical officers being down sized but I am somewhat sensitive right now since I am moving forward with this process. Thanks again for your replies and insights as they invaluable to me right now. Doug

I just read an article that the Air Force is reducing enlisted and officers by over 5700. Has anyone heard if this will affect nursing?

Thank you carolinapooh for your input. And yes I understand that I cannot take anything stated in this blog as the truth. However, it is certainly encouraging to read responses from others who have similar experiences or know of others who have had them. I greatly anticipate your response as I am eager to see what the regs state! Thanks also to midinphx for your supporting comments. Finding this blog is exactly what I have been looking for. Anyone aware of any other similar blogs?

Thanks again for the response midinphx! I have thought of another question. Has anyone ever been told you cannot join the USAF as an RN due to a positive TB test? Let me hear if anyone knows if this is an issue. thanks!

Awesome news midinphx! This is very encouraging to here and I guess that is what I am looking for more than anything is a little encouragement that people similar to me are getting positive results. I am currently trying to get all of my medical records together and hope to have them off next week to the recruiter. I am guessing from what you stated, and others that I have read, that it would be better for me to go ahead and get a clearance physical of some sort from an orthopedist regarding my back injury and have that already in my records rather than waiting to see what the MEPS phyisican says. Would you agree? Thanks again for your reply!

I am a 46 yo prior service (11 yrs enlisted) veteran who, after leaving the USAF as an E-5 in 1995, went to nursing school and has spent the past 10+ years working as an RN in surgery. Now that my kids are grown and on their own I am seriously looking at returning to active duty as an officer in the USAF Nursing Corp. I have spoken to a recruiter and begun to collect medical review information because of course, my main concern is health related. I am quite healthy and work out regularly but I did suffer a lower back injury about 5 years ago. I have not required surgery and I am able to function fully now after years of rehab and working out furiously. Nonetheless, my recruiter says it will be an uphill climb. I am looking for anyone who has been in a similar situation as I, with or without the health issues, and was successful (or not) in receving a commission. Any pointers or tips would be greatly apprciated! Thank you,