Guest43184

Elmendorf AFB (Anchorage, AK) is also a joint venture AF/VA but not quite as large an integration as Nellis.

Operating Instruction - basically the rules/guidelines that military follow. When you go to COT you'll have OIs that will dictate your behavior, schedule, etc. For military hospitals these are the guidelines we adhere to (or change as needed) to comply w/JCAHO and other inspections, patient safety, etc.

Nellis AFB (Las Vegas, NV) is also a hospital w/NTP.

I've been on an AF Med/Surg floor (no longer on that unit) where this EXACT thing happened. I completely agree with you that skills need to be up to par to care for these patients but (yes...but) OIs caused MAJOR issues for the floor. I am a very competent nurse and feel comfortable providing care to a variety of different patients but OIs are often stumbling blocks. I've updated a few OIs and presented them to both of our nurse councils, medical council, surgical council, P&T, etc....and over 1 1/2yrs later they are still "on the agenda" (i.e. not finalized). I am not trying to make any excuses regarding this matter but when it comes to these experiences - it's up to you to make a change. Take it up the chain and update your OIs. The floor nurses don't have the same monitoring capabilities (at least not in my hospital) as the ED/SDU/ICU. Our medication OI has been updated (yet not approved...hahahahaha...bad joke) to reflect that patients receiving an IV pressor, etc wait an hour and receive an oral counterpart before admitting to a floor b/c floor nurses CANNOT push those pressors. Sure, in a deployed situation the rules change completely but JCAHO, etc. Regarding the rotations to civilian facilities - that's exactly what we're doing right now. So far it's slow going but we're improving our working relationship w/a large trauma facility. On a side note - our IV med issue regarding transfer from ED to floor was largely impacted by an ED nurse who transferred a nurse to floor w/o updating VS and the pt stroked upon arrival to the floor. Every hospital has interunit issues but we need to look outside 'eating our young' and remember it's all about the patient. I'm not a huge fan of the team-building training we do here but the tenets are simply patients first, attitudes/egos/drama take a backseat to patient care. Regarding your line experience - I've only spent a short time on the line side but I'd move in a minute if my career allowed. I love the AF and I love being a nurse but the 2 don't play well together - or at least not in my limited experience. Are you prior enlisted or line officer crossover?

Just want to suggest that you request Travis (or even Wilford Hall) as a first assignment. I'm at Nellis, for a number of reasons, and it's been good to me but not a great learning experience as far as nursing goes. I've heard great feedback from my friends who've done NTP at Travis (or are stationed there) and same goes for WHMC. Depends on what you're looking for nursing-wise but Nellis is a medium-size facility combined w/VA (like Elmendorf)....we have challenges b/c of the combined AF/VA venture that are different than other military facilities but then again...it's all relative :) Good luck w/your decisions!

It's not too bad really. Everything seemed overwhelming to me at first but there are people that will help and you'll be able to get it done :)

AF required follow-up application info AFTER arriving at first duty station. It may have changed but I like to get the word out early b/c my recruiter forgot that part and one of my friends did not get her repayment. I did have to feel out an application w/the recruiter but essentially it did nothing until I completed all of the info that wtbcrna posted.

The link that wtbcrna posted has the correct contact information for the ADHPLRP program manager at AFIT. The person who coordinated mine was Patricia Faustman and I think she may still be the person to contact.

Make sure to read the fine print and do some research online, etc. When I came in I could choose loan repayment OR bonus. I did read somewhere that the AF might offer both soon (as the Army does) but I don't know any details...your recruiter is the best source of info for that. The $$ is taxed though so just be aware w/the loan repayment that it may not cover as much as originally explained. I would HIGHLY recommend making copies of EVERYTHING you sign or are told by the recruiter (and do get things in writing). I did opt for loan repayment and I had 30 days to get everything done once I got to my first duty station...and I came across that information 'accidentally'. My recruiter never mentioned that I had more paperwork to do for AFIT for the loan money (after I'd completed the paperwork w/him). One of my friends on my unit never received that info and NEVER received her loan repayment...she took it up through the proper chains and was told "tough luck". She actually separated Sept '06 and had planned on staying in if she could get the loan situation straightened out. Just know that if it sounds too good to be true, it likely is. Like I said before, I've had a good experience thus far but it's been like anything else...I've gotten out of it what I put in :)

I'm currently an AF nurse w/2yrs active duty time. I'd be happy to answer some of your questions if I can. Overall my experience has been positive albeit not what I expected. I think I expected a little bit more forward-thinking nurses and have learned that that's not always the case. I came from a great nursing education/community and was shocked by the outdated paper charting, old equipment, etc. I have grown immensely from learning to make do and improvise and paper chart...hahaha...btw I despise paper charts...would love to have automation but we're nowhere near that goal at my facility. The clinics are automated and someday I believe our inpatient side will be as well. Anyway those are minimal issues. The working relationships have been great, the skill/knowledge base is younger than many civilian facilities as nurses are *currently* moved out of clinical areas as they make rank (although the goal is to maintain bedside experience as nurses progress in rank). If you have specific questions, send them my way or feel free to PM. *PS - take EVERYTHING your recruiter says w/a grain of salt...really liked my recruiter, felt okay going in....and found out much of what he told me was misleading....my husband has been in the AF for 14yrs and warned me that all recruiters are liars...hahaha...guess mine was too. Btw recruiters are simply that...people in place to RECRUIT/market the military so talk to some AF nurses if you can or even visit a hospital and follow a nurse.

We don't have it yet but we've put in a purchase package for a new SiteRite and the sherlokc is part of it. I would love to hear feedback from anyone who's used it as it'll be a first for us.

Understood, thanks. I think overall I knew what you were getting at, just a little hypersensitive lately about this b/c I don't live in the most supportive community. My husband is over there now and I'm set to go as soon as he returns home...just part of the deal. Regardless I respect nurses who work to improve our working conditions and pay. Take care :)

I'm a military nurse (also PICC certified) and I don't get paid anything to place PICCs...I do it on my days off and before/after my shifts...for free I also work full-time in the hospital so no "combat pay" here Seriously though, combat pay (a whopping $225/month) is available in very few deployed areas and for what we get paid otherwise...the sacrifices we (and our families) make...and the commitment required of us...is no joke. So the fact that "Even military get "combat pay""....is a weak justification for your statement.

USAF...seriously, I came on active duty after my experiences downtown The shortage here is insane and I came from a community w/MUCH better hospitals/resources (I was spoiled I guess). Just remember that Vegas wasn't built for hospitals/schools....majority of the $$$ is still in the service/entertainment portion and medical is catching up....

I'm an ADAF nurse and will offer a bit of my experience. I was a direct commission (i.e. not ROTC) so during my recruitment process I was able to choose 1 of 2 tracks (med/surg or OB). That DID NOT mean that I was going directly to med/surg or OB - just basic interest. Generally AF nurses who work in OB stay there for quite a bit so if a person wants anything besides OB he/she needs to pick med/surg. Anyway...we have new nurses in all areas of our hospital but generally majority start on med/surg (this has varied depending on our chief nurse's preference). The main thing that I had to get a handle on was the "needs of the AF". I really, REALLY HATED hearing that early on (I've only been at this a couple yrs...) but it's basically mgt's way of explaining certain decisions. I've submitted to it much more in the last year and my career is taking some great turns but you get out of it what you put it :) My husband has been ADAF for 14yrs so I've seen a different side of it w/him (non-medical) and didn't really know what I was in for. Regardless I wouldn't trade my experience for anything. Part of military life is making sacrifices and some of them seem to make no sense and frustrate me to no end BUT it's been good for me. I still maintain certain long-term nursing plans and hope to fulfill them in the AF...if need be I would separate to fulfill my goals and come back AD afterward. As far as credit for civilian time...for the most part that (at least from what I've seen) applies to rank and sometimes placement within a hospital/clinic. So much of what happens in my hospital is based on the chief nurse and his/her philosophy.