awhite90

I have been interested in joining the AF for the past couple years. I did work very closely with an AF active duty health prof. recruiter and applied for the 2014 boards. I specialize in psychiatric nursing and substance abuse. (mind you, I have been an RN with my BSN for three years with no other experience). I applied as a mental health nurse and was chosen as alternate number 1. Unfortunately out of the 2 MH nurses they selected, I was not needed as an alternate. I was well educated and aware of the duties of an active duty RN. I became to really enjoy my full time job working in a state psychiatric hospital but I am still really interested in being able to give back to our soldiers/veterans and families. I thought the reserves might be a better fit for me at this time in my life. I have reached out to the AF reserve health prof recruiter covering my area but haven't received much information back. Can anyone who has worked as an RN in the AF reserves or knows about how being an RN in the reserves work give me some information? What are your duties like? Does the 1 weekend a month/2 weeks a year/possible deployment become more of a commitment than otherwise stated? Are you sent out on more assignments without volunteering? What is the application process like? Does reserves have specialized nurse assignments like active duty? The HP recruiter I spoke with mentioned there are only flight nurse positions available, which I was assuming I would not qualify for given my experience? I mean I am young and eager to learn but really wanted to focus on mental illness such as anxiety disorders/PTSD within the Military. Thank you for anyone who can help me out!!

What specialty are you all hired for?

Congrats to everyone selected! Alternate number 1 for mental health nursing... maybe I'll be joiNing you all. Fingers crossed!

I actually had my interview yesterday with the chief nurse telephonically. Usually it is in person on base but because of time restraints and the budget, the telephone interview was scheduled. You should know the AF mission/core values, why you want to join, what you would contribute to the AF, think of an ethical dilemma you have dealt with, another time you used your critical thinking skills, what you know and think about deployment, what your family thinks about you joining, your fitness level… If you have a good health professions recruiter, they should have provided you with the actual grading sheet they use during the interview. I actually think the interview was more informative for me. The chief nurse that I spoke with was very nice and she explained what your job would consist of. She reviews your packet and brings up any questions the board might have come selection time. She then opens up the discussion to any questions you have. And make sure you address them properly. J

Thank you jfratian and cniles! My number 1 is Germany, and Colorado and JBSA are going to be on my list too. I mean not like I have many choices anyways. haha. Interview is scheduled for next week! Nervous, but ready :)

Ripechancewoods I really believe any detox nurse will have this experience. It's all about how you look at it. It is exhausting to feel manipulated, used, and not appreciated. What really grinds my gears is when you go through the whole admission process, then the pt gets a dose or two of methadone and then leaves later that day AMA. But it does make you feel good when you have that one patient you believe is actually trying. I've worked in a detox right out of nursing school (it was actually my only job offer as a new grad) and I became to love it. I see the same faces over and over and I can predict when I will see them again (but hopefully won't OD or die on the streets). You can tell right off the bat who is serious and who is not. Detox/psych nursing is not for everyone. The experience at my facility, we don't offer enough treatment. We medically detox the patients and send them back out without having aftercare/placement but it's all about when the insurance company stops paying. There is usually an underlying issue (past trauma, mental illness etc.) that is not being addressed in treatment which causes relapse. No person is going to find someone to be honest with and talk about their problems in a 6 day period (comeon - most addicts don't even know what the word truth means). It takes them ample time to build trust and rapport with a treatment provider. There's always so much more I wish could do for these individuals but with time and money constraints you're just forced to only hope for the best and hope to hear good news when you run into them in the future. (My favorite is when they return to school and become an addictions counselor - which I think do the best at thier job). Nursing in itself is a difficult profession, some specialties more than others. Don't get stuck in something you don't enjoy most on days. Good luck to you!

Hello everyone and congrats on your acceptance!! I will be applying as a fully qualified MH nurse and hopefully will be joining you guys in COT this upcoming January if accepted. Fingers crossed! I will be having my interviews very soon at Hanscom AFB. Any advice when meeting with the Chief Nurse? What kind of questions did they focus on? (I do have the guideline sheet that they go by) It appears you all are in the NTP? I almost went that route just for the extra experience but my end goal is to focus in psych and eventually become a MHNP. My recruiter recommended just to go in fully qualified with two years experience so I would have a better chance than the very competitive NTP. So besides interview advice, did you all receive what they promised in the beginning? (Loan repayment? sign on bonuses? Etc.) And also did you guys receive some of your top choices on where you'd be based? I am really excited for you guys! Nursing is a great profession and I can only imagine how much more rewarding it is in the military. Thanks!

Not I. I am applying as a Mental Health Nurse. anyone else?

My recruieter told me that you now interview first (usually once in person and once over the phone) before completing MEPs. The paperwork deadline is Sept if you want to go before the October board and they require ALOT of paperwork and specifications on all that paperwork. You really have to be ontop of everything because the recruiters will only tell you what you need and you have to constantly check in with them because they are busy with all thier other applicants. I should be having my interviews within the next two weeks so hopefully all goes well! Good luck with yours. and also don't rush the process because you can only apply twice so make sure everything is 110 % perfect!

Hello everyone- I am in the process of applying to be a Mental Health Nurse in the AF (I have two years expereince in substance abuse/psych - specializing in forensics). My interviews are coming up within the next month and then if all goes well, I will have to pass all the medical stuff within the next two months in order to get to COT in Jan or March. Any tips for my interviews or things I should be asking my recruiter that I may not know? My recruiter is going to start asking me for my "dream list" and specialzing in mental health you have very limited options. Any advice on where I should try to be stationed? I really would perfer inpatient psych facilities, not really into clinics although a mon-fri job would be nice. hahah. These are my options: *JB Elmendorf-Richardson, AK *JBSA - SAMMC / JBSA Lackland / Sheppard AFB - all in TX but they are my last choices since I visit there often for my family. * Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Germany (probably be my top choice for the most experience?) * Nellis AFB, NV * Travis AFB, CA * JB Andrews, MD * US Air Force Academy, CO My recruiter is great but some extra help and advice from someone who has been through it would be beneficial. Anything helps! Thanks!!