Student Considering Air Force Nursing

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Hello Everyone,

I am a nursing student trying to decide whether joining the Air Force is the right way for me to begin my nursing career (graduation may 2006). I have found this discussion very helpful so far, thanks!

Those of you who have been there: Is there anything you wish you had known before you decided to become an Air Force Nurse?

Thank you so much!

Sarah

Sometimes at night we can hear the boom and then wait for the announcement before donning the IBA. There have been a few that where a bit close to where you could feel the ground shake. One in particular was a little close for comfort, but even with that one I know of only one person who was hurt and they only had a shrapnel frag come through the B-hut. Still all in all I am pretty thankful at the enemies very bad aim.

That is also helpful to hear thank you very much

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Specializes in ED. ICU, PICU, infection prevention, aeromedical e.

I was in Iraq and Afghanistan last summer. It's definitely an experience that you'll never forget. We got mortared a lot. And they actually hit things, amazingly no one got killed from any mortar fire on that base while I was there, despite being hit several times a week. The hospital itself took a rocket one night during the draw down. It hit the lab directly where 2 people were working. They heard the alarms and got down just as we are taught. No injuries! None. A friend of mine hit the ground and under a foot over where he was lying was a 12in hole in the wall. We actually evacuated the hospital that night for structural safety in under 30 minutes. Patients and workers all safe. No one needed so much as a stitch. There is some danger anywhere though, even at the places you go everyday.

My deployment band comes up again in October this year. As an ICU nurse, we get get tasked each time. I haven't met anyone in the ICU who didn't get tasked when their bucket came up unless he/she had a medical reason. My family didn't really like me being gone. And they really don't want me to go again. But they still support that this is the life I chose. It's not perfect and always great; neither was being a civilian nurse. I missed plenty of holidays and family things then too. Now I'm just gone a bit longer - it goes quick. It's only 6 months.

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Only six months?? Maybe that sounds like less on the other side but when you are in the middle of it..it sounds like an eternity. It is groundhog day everyday! Everyday! I mean everyday!!

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Specializes in Anesthesia.
Only six months?? Maybe that sounds like less on the other side but when you are in the middle of it..it sounds like an eternity. It is groundhog day everyday! Everyday! I mean everyday!!

l was kinda of thinking of the same thing. I am tired of the desert and being away from home, and this is as nice of deployment as you can get.

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l was kinda of thinking of the same thing. I am tired of the desert and being away from home, and this is as nice of deployment as you can get.

Are you deployed currently?

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Specializes in Anesthesia.
Are you deployed currently?

Yep, hanging out in the desert for the last few months.

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