bryango

I just got off the phone with the recruiter. According to him, the Air Force is only taking DNP FNP's. Does anyone have any more info on this? He is a new health care recruiter and didn't seem to know a lot.

That sounds like a positive for me. I have been a nurse 9 years now, all ICU. Sounds like its time to get ahold of the recruiter and get the ball rolling. Where are you stationed, midinphx?

Mindiphx- what does critically manned mean? I am assuming that means- we got enough :)

I am not sure why Lasik would be an issue any longer since the AF now offers Lasik surgery for active-duty members. The AF used to only offer PRK for "safety" reasons. I was medically disqualified for 6 months is all. But that frustrated my wife enough that see didn't want to join at that time. now I am back to strongly considering it.

They told me I had to wait 6 months, then i could get a wavier. By then I had been trying get in for 4 years and my wife was getting frustrated with putting our lives on hold for the AF. But I still feel like it is something i really want to do. I am currently 36 almost 37 with 9 years ICU experience. I may make one more run at it.

Hi there. Anyone know what the needs are for the Air Force in regards to critical care nurses? I know a few years ago the need was high. I am curious to know if that need has decreased significantly since the wind down in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Well, it is crazy to think that a post I started 5 years ago still gets read. I eventually got selected to join the AF as a ICU. Then was medically disqualified several months later since I had Lasix eye surgery. I then started NP school which I am not enjoying. I am contemplating quitting NP school and reapplying for the Air Force. My wife is still on board for it. My older kids are quite as excited about it as they were four years ago. Anyone out know how what the current needs are for ICU nurses in the Air Force?

Thanks for the replies. I guess the way I look at it is two fold. One, I have always wanted to serve my country and this is a great way to do it. Two, if i can pay off $40,000 of student loans with a three year commitment, I'm in. I know health care providers in the military do make less than us in the civilian world, but I look at my major expenses every month and its housing and health insurance. That would be covered by the Air Force, and I won't have any student loans!! Also, if it turns out not to be my cup of tee, I am done after 3 years. I don't think thats all that bad but I am on the other side of the fence. Riburn3, is there anyway you can PM a name or two and emails of NP's in the military that I could contact if they are agreeable? Thanks!

Hi there. I am a FNP student set to graduate in December of 2015. Curious if there are any NP's out there that have served or currently serving in the Air Force. I am considering applying next spring. So far I am aware of the $40,000 student loan repayment as well as the $20,000 sign on bonus. Anyone out there willing to give some pro's and con's or has experience? Thanks. I know this should probably be in the military/government section but I placed this thread here in hopes of getting more eyes on it from FNP's.

My self and a coworker I are starting Samford in Jan as well. We are from Idaho. Looking forward to meeting all of you!

Kind of a weird question. I have been acceppted to the DNP dual role program at USA. I would like to change to the MSN of the same program (dual role) or MSN for the FNP. Have any of you had experience doing this? Is it doable? Or am I going to have to reapply for the new program all over again?

I will be starting the USA DNP dual program (ACNP/FNP) this fall. I am very nervous as I am the sole provider in my family. I know that working is doable, but I have some anxiety in starting a program that will last FOUR YEARS!!! Anyone else out there starting the same program this fall?

I am reapplying in January 2013. I was an alternate in the May nursing board for critical care. A few short weeks later i was selected. I was suppose to go to COT in Aug, then onto Nellis as my duty station. I found out a few weeks before I was to leave that I was medicallly disqualified by the surgeon general of the Air Force due to having lasix eye surgery in may. I have to wait 6 months, have another eye exam, then be cleared by the SG. After that I will have to redo my MEPS (big time boo) and reapply. I figure I will give it two more tries. If not selected, I am going to move on to getting an advanced practice degree. Good luck to you.

I just found out that I am in. I am going to August COT.

So I just found out that I am in!!!!! I will be joining you all for Aug COT. Afterwards I will be going to Nellis.

Thanks for the comment rndiver82. Has anybody heard anything different or the same from the recruiter about alternates?

Can someone out there shed some light for me. I am on the alternate list for the latest Air Force nursing board for critical care. Does anyone know if we who are on the alternate list do not get in, are we automatically in on the next COT? Or do we have to go through the selection process again? Any light on this subject would be appreciated.

Jenks7- are you the #1 alternate for just nursing or for critical care? I just found out that I am the #2 alternate for critical care. At any rate, hopefully we will both be in.

I just found out I am #2 alternate for critical care nursing. Hopefully after waiting for over two years and coming before 4 boards this will be the time. Just need two people to drop out (that sounds bad).

Hi- My family and I are moving to Williamsburg Va from Idaho for a change of pace. I have a sister that lives there and we have visited several times. I have checked out the three hospitals in williamsburg/newport news and was wondering if anybody out there had worked at any of them in the ICU. I am a ICU nurse with 6 years experience. Also, does anyone know what the average RN with 5+ years experience should anticipate earning? Any information would be great.

Thanks LunahRN. I am hoping that 4th time is a charm. This will probably be the last try as I would have to redo meps in order to sit for the board after the January one. I am curious to know if there are a lot of people attempting to get into Air Force ICU as there have been in the past.

So I posted a post a year and a half ago about attempting to get into the Air Force as a critical care nurse. I have been an ICU nurse for almost 6 years. When I applied the first time it appeared as though I would get right in. But due to the down turn in the economy, lots of people trying to get into the Air Force, etc etc I was unsucessful. I have sat for 3 boards now with no success. I just went through the interview process again and updated my packet. My recruiter tells me that the board that meets at the end of Jan will be selecting 25 ICU nurses. He personally does not have any other critical care nurses applying. Anyone out there applying for critical care in the Air Force. Anyone else hear about the number of nurses being selected this time? Anyone know anything about anything? :)

I also started the application process last year. I did not get selected for Oct 2010 board but I was also not a "non-select", which is good. Currently I am updating my file so that I can sit for the Sept. boards. I just found out that I have a new recruiter. It has been a frustrating process since I feel as though I am qualified and want to serve my country. I thought I was sitting for the July boards and when I called my old recruiter a few weeks ago he said I was not. That you can not resubmit your package for 1 year. It would of been nice to be told that instead of waiting to hear. As far as documentation that I am a critical care nurse, we do the ECCO program at our hospital which is basically a long review of nursing school that you do on the computer. I printed out my completion of that and sent it to him. As far as rank after BSN, I am not sure. He told me that I would go in as a 1 LT with some time towards Captain. I have been a nurse since July of 2006. I got my BSN in May 2007. I figure if this board does not pan out, I am going to move on to something else. A year and 1/2 is enough time.

TinaRN73, I agree, this process has taken forever. Sounds as though IowaRN has some good inside information. I guess we just have to wait till the end of August to find out if we were selected or not. My recruiter told me that even though I was not selected last board, that I was not a "non-select". Which he said is a good thing. I am very ready for this process to be over. I had originally contacted a Air Force recruiter clear back in 2008. But my wife was hesitant at that time. I was not going to get into the military without her being on board. So last year we discussed it again and decided to apply. Of course, it happen to be the year that no one got out of the Air Force and a lot of nurses we trying to get in. Just my luck. I guess at the end of August the suspense will be over for a lot of us.

I started the application process last year. Interviewed and went through MEPS last July. My recruiter told me that I had a solid package and excellent marks on my interview. He said to anticipate going to officer training that fall. Then he contacted me and told me that only about 7 ICU nurses were selected and that all had prior military experience. Early in the year he contacted me to tell me that there was going to be another board in July. He said that I was not considered a "non-select" from the previous board, which from what I understand is that being a non-select means it would be nearly impossible to get in. Sooo, right now I am waiting for the results of the July board, which I think I will know sometime in August. So officer training would not be until Oct at the earliest, more likely next year. And that is only if I have been selected. It has been a frustrating process, but I know that things will work out as they should. Oahufish, have you applied? In the past, they had a hard time filling nursing slots in the AF. Now with the economy as it is, nurses are not retiring or getting out as they usually had in the past. It is what it is. Good luck. There are some great threads about AF nursing on this website.