razorshark

Go to the Air Force website and look in the Health Professions section, locate a regional HP recruiting office, ask for a Nurse Corps recruiter. That representative will answer your questions. Also, enlisted recruiters must refer all BSN and higher applicants to HP nurse recruiters, no exceptions. They can not and will not work you, because all your info gets put into our AFRISS database where management can see your qualifications, recruiter comments, and the entire process. To clarify, Health Professions recruiters specializing in the Nurse Corps. v/r Sharky

He is correct, although I wouldn't bet on going to Germany or Alaska for your 1st duty assignment. Peterson/AFA should also be in that list. New entry level nurses need to go to hospitals, not clinics. v/r Sharky

if you graduate in dec 2012, then you will fall under the fy13 season, which means you should wait until next year. start the process when you are within one year of graduation. if you need to redo meps and get another waiver, i would start sooner...but not before jan 2012. best of luck. v/r sharky

There are less than 20 NTP positions available for FY12. Technically, you can submit an application as long as you are within 1 year of graduation by the time the board meets. I am not working BSN students for NTP. The reason is simple, they are not competitive at the moment. I target recent graduates with less than 1 year of clinical experience. Why? Faster return on investment. The hiring authority is looking for candidates to fill these slot fast. So, getting someone with some clinical experience that is ready to go now versus a student that must wait to graduate is a higher priority. This is the current climate, but it may change in the upcoming years. If NTP is not an option, get 1 year of full-time in-patient clinical experience and apply for the fully qualified board. I had 5 NTPs that were non-select, although each one of them was awesome...and all five are currently working and applying for the FQ board next year. Don't think of the current situation as a dead-end, its just a detour. v/r Sharky

I think I have already talked with you before on FB. Answers: 1. Depends on the recruiting environment and your current status. The same medical waiver you did for the Army will have to be approved by the Air Force. Just because the Army approved you will not guarantee that the Air Force will. You MEPS physical is good for two years, and you will need to be "SPFd" from the Army to us. When you talk to the HP recruiter, make sure you are 1000% ready to commit...anyone who drops from the process from any service is an automatic red-flag to us. Waiting 1 month is nothing, especially now that it can take up to a year for the entire process. You can start the process when you are within 1 year of graduation and will need to have your course schedule audited and verified with an end date. VA experience is highly desirable...make sure you get good references who can validate your hands-on clinical experience. An MSN is a non-clinical specialty will not likely get you advanced rank. 2. No. 3. No. Applications for the next selection board are due in Jan 2012, and I expect many positions to be filled by then. Start now, speak with your HP recruiter and get some hard answers. Good luck. v/r Sharky

If you are applying for the Nurse Corps, a Masters in anything other than an MSN for a clinical specialty will get you nothing upon entry. Constructive Grade Credit is 2 years for this. Experience credit is 1/2 of total full-time RN experience in an in-patient clinical setting, all other experience is either not counted or determined on a case-by-case basis. 1/2 credit only goes to 6 years, after that it is day for day. For those with over 6 years, simply minus 3 years. So, if you have 7 years of qualified experience, you would come in at the rank of O-3, Captain. 6 / 2 = 3 + 1 = 4 years, earning O-3. Hope this answers your question. v/r Sharky BTW: HP Recruiters do determine rank and submit for rank approval. HR validates.

(Y)et, (E)veryone know(S), it is against the forum policy for recruiters to actively recruit on here. v/rSharky

Contact me, I'll find out.

Unless you have one full year of clinical acute care experience in a full-time, in-patient setting, it is at the recruiter's discretion whether to work your application. NTP is not an option, and fully qualified is becoming more competitive. Don't be discouraged, it will take time. Get the experience, get it on paper, then re-engage. BTW: we have Flight Chiefs, who you are more than welcome to talk to, but they will tell you the same thing. v/r Sharky

There is no requirement for Letters of Recommendation for any Nurse Corps application. There is a requirement for three (minimum) evaluation forms, AFRS Form 1373, to be completed by senior RNs. There is a maximum of five evaluations for clinical skills. What I do is have applicants get three evaluations completed and submit two Letters of Recommendation on official letterhead from either senior military members (former or current), or someone of senior position (chair, manager, CEO, congress, etc.) to describe the applicant's leadership potential. This covers both sides: Clinical skills and leadership. v/r Sharky

One exception, if one were in ROTC and apply to the Nurse Corps. Otherwise, the only test you have to pass is your NCLEX for RN, or others for ARNP. v/r Sharky

Applications are due 27 SEP. The next due date is JAN 2012...and there may not any slots available my then. So yes, listen to your recruiter and get your application in ASAP. Then, you wait for a seat to open up at COT that fits your grad schedule. v/r Sharky

Yes, and no. Your health professions recruiter is correct. There are less than 20 slots available for FY12 NTP and applications aren't due until June 2012...so there is no point in working applications right now when we have fully qualified specialists to concentrate on. If you want to get in, get at least 1 year experience and build up your skill set, certifications, references, etc. Even then, you have to compete to get in. I turn away dozens of NTP applicants each week, its just not an option right now. BTW: your dream didn't get crushed, you just have to wait a bit longer and fight for it. MEPS physical is good for 2 years. Good luck. v/r Sharky

You are right. I was asked to come on here to clear up a lot of misinformation concerning "how" to get accepted, not to troll or argue. There is a reason nurses are not recruiters, and I would never tell a nurse how to do their job. Best of luck everyone. Signing off, Sharky

Give your recruiter ALL medical records concerning this condition and submit to the SG for an authorization to continue your application. They will provide in writing of their decision. v/r Sharky