Stuck at the bedside forever?

jfratian, DNP, RN, CRNA · May 18, 2016

Right now, the AF is pretty well-manned with ICU overall. Last I saw every specialty except OR and flight was over 90%. You can always apply as a med-surg nurse and not take the ICU identifier if you're concerned. Retirements and future wars can always change the situation.

If you take the ICU identifier, you'll owe 2 assignments as an ICU nurse (4-8 years depending on where you are). After that you can apply for AFIT slots (full-time grad school) or another specialty. Make sure you don't take the sign-on bonus or loan repayment so you'll be eligible for board certification pay ($20K per year) once you get your CCRN.

Tbutbu · May 18, 2016

Thanks for the info. Do you happen to know if there's any ability to switch to case management, utilization review, informatics, etc later down the road? Even on the Air Force website, it seems like all of the positions are all bedside related. I'm mainly concerned about the physical demands once I get older.

jfratian, DNP, RN, CRNA · May 18, 2016

Informatics definitely is a future growth area for the air force. Right now there are only 3 AF positions for it, but that will likely increase. Active duty aren't really used for case management or utilization review that I can tell. There are definitely CNS and management opportunities for older nurses. There is also a PhD nurse scientist route.

nurse2033, MSN, RN · May 19, 2016

If you go active duty, as you progress in rank you will progress in management. You couldn't stay at the bedside if you wanted to (there are some exceptions). This is as an RN, I don't know anything about CRNAs. At some point you would need a Masters but not for a while. You do have to pass the PT test every year, you can google the requirements. Good luck.

Tbutbu · May 19, 2016

CNS, management, nurse scientist - all sound very promising. I tried googling Air Force nurse informatics positions, but there wasn't any information I could find online

jfratian, DNP, RN, CRNA · May 20, 2016

Yeah you won't find any info on it. They don't direct commission civilians into that role. It's all internal calls for candidates. The position is for an O-4 or O-5 too; so it would be a while down the road for you.

djh123 · May 20, 2016

I think I need to make that a chorus line in a song. "Stuck at the bedside, forever...".

mhy12784 · May 20, 2016

I'm interesting in long-term career in the Air Force, but I know that 10 - 15 years down the road, my body might not tolerate bedside nursing as well as it used to. I can tolerate the back pains from constantly pulling up heavy patients now, but it's hard to imagine doing so in my 40's - 50's.
I would like to pursue to a graduate degree but I'm not interested in NP or CRNA. Maybe something along the lines of case management, utilization review, informatics, etc.
I'm an ICU nurse with over a year of experience. From what I've read, the AF is resistant to release ICU nurses due to the demand in this specialty. Realistically, what are my options long-term?

As someone who has worked in the OR I literally work with CRNAs all day long everyday. I would strongly strongly encourage you to go down that path (or at least further investigate it)

Youre already in the ICU so youll have the ICU experience. CRNA demand is much greater than ICU nurses, so that helps you out with your military obligations (not to mention the military's CRNA program is supposedly top notch). its an awesome career where they are super happy (every tells me everyday I should become a CRNA), its not physically demanding so it wont destroy your body as you age, it really is exciting and you get to see/learn so much, and it probably helps that its one of the best paying professions in the world.

The biggest downside is the schooling/education is super competitive and very difficult, but no questions asked its probably the best decision you can make.

Case Management/UR/Informatics etc youre gonna have crappy job flexibility (and the pay wont be the greatest) not to mention those are all areas that I think COULD at somepoint in the future get delegated to non RNS to save money.

NP is solid too, but i think CRNA is just a much better choice

jfratian, DNP, RN, CRNA · May 21, 2016

Just to throw this out there: NPs, CRNAs, and ICU nurses are all hovering in the 90%+ manning area right now for the Air Force. However, very few ICU nurses are O1s or O2s; there is definitely strong recruiting for civilians with 1-7 years of specialty nursing experience. That is because AF new grad nurses always start in Med-Surg or OB and have to retrain in ICU later.

midinphx, BSN · Jun 5, 2016

You will not be stuck at the bedside forever as an icu nurse in the AF. I'm AD ICU. I'm not bedside right now. They needed me to do something else, much to my dismay originally. Lol.

Do do expect to stay ICU bedside for 2 assignments (6-8 years) and depending on your rank and how leadership,of the unit is falling. Typically, once you reach major, you start moving away from the bedside and into more administrative roles.

Its funny, most of us are resistant to moving away from the bedside - so maybe it would be a good fit for you.

Editorial Team / Moderator · Jun 5, 2016

Its funny, most of us are resistant to moving away from the bedside - so maybe it would be a good fit for you.

Hi hi! So nice to "see" you! And yes, that was one of my gripes about the Army Nurse Corps â€” they pulled people away from the bedside when they had barely set foot into the realm of competence.