Hello my name is nina and I'm a junior in college majoring in nursing. I was just wondering if it was any nurses out there who have actually gone through the process and can give some feedback. I have so many question and wanted to try and get some info outside of a recruiter. Some of my questions are as followed...
1. What are the steps in doing the nursing transition program, I know you go off and do your training and then a 10 week clinical I think? How was that?
2. What is an adverage day like as a nurse in the Air force. I know alot of times as a civilian they say nurses are overworked and underpaid, is it the same in the air force?
3. Do they have any field of nursing in the Air force? I was looking toward pediatrics or neo natal
4. Do you get deplowed often?
5. How does the paying off you school loans work and how many years are you required?
I am very interested in joining but I just want to get all the information first. THanks if you can help!!!
1. what are the steps in doing the nursing transition program, i know you go off and do your training and then a 10 week clinical i think? how was that?
sorta like a senior nursing leadership clinical... but you have your rn, and have more autonomy. one of the goals was to be able to manage a complex 4 pt load.
2. what is an average day like as a nurse in the air force. i know a lot of times as a civilian they say nurses are overworked and underpaid, is it the same in the air force?
haha, depends on where you'll be working. there's always places that pay more, but i think the perks of the military cover any pay concerns. we work with a bunch of civilians, and they make more money than us for the same job. and being active duty requires working as a nurse full-time plus meetings/training/extra duties that extend beyond working full-time.
3. do they have any field of nursing in the air force? i was looking toward pediatrics or neo natal
when you apply, there's the labor and delivery track, or med/surg track.
peds is part of the med/surg track. and there's only one inpatient pediatric unit in the af- at lackland. if you go to any other hospital, their med/surg floors admit peds pts, but they don't have a unit dedicated to those kids. and any new nurse can work with peds.
neonatal... i'm assuming you mean nicu. in order to work there you'd need to attend a nicu fellowship- you won't be placed in the nicu as a new nurse, it's something you apply to get the fellowship to work there.
4. do you get deplowed often?
we get put into "bands" that determine when we can deploy. for nurses, we can deploy for 6 months, and be home for 18 months... if you even get tasked that frequently. i know some experienced nurses that haven't been deployed yet... and some new nurses that get tasked for humanitarian missions that aren't a full 6 months. a big part of the mission of the military is readiness. so ask yourself if you're willing to serve that kind of commitment.
5. how does the paying off you school loans work and how many years are you required?
typically a 3yr commitment for the loan repayment and 4yrs for the bonus. there's other threads that cover that topic alone.
so i have also heard that as an officer you get more say so in where you want to be stationed? because coming in after graduation i would be an officer. and also i was wondering (i dont know if you know this answer) but going into the airforce for example i would be an officer and say my spouse joined with me but would be a enlistee is that okay and do they keep you together
If you are already married to someone enlisted, and then you join the military as an officer, it's okay. And you can sign up for joint-spouse orders- if they can, they assign you both to the same base. It's more difficult if your spouse is in a different service.
And yes, AF will let you choose your top 5 assignments. Usually new nurses are recommended to choose bases with hospitals.
in the navy you will find nurses on land 99% of the time.. not really any ship positions for nurses
...I understand there are a few on a ships.. like mercy etc.. but they are few and far between and competitive to get.
If you want to be on a ship you'd be better off going in as a PA or a corpsman.
I actually would rather be on ground thats why I was asking. Do you know if you are an officer when you enter after doing the ncp if you have to live on base or do you have the option to live off base and get the stipen for housing and food
as with other services you'll find as an on officer you can choose to live on or off post... off post you gain your bah stipend. Most young officers will essentially have to live off post, like it or not, due to limited number off on post billets that others with family or a waiting list will have priority..
as with other services you'll find as an on officer you can choose to live on or off post... off post you gain your bah stipend. Most young officers will essentially have to live off post, like it or not, due to limited number off on post billets that others with family or a waiting list will have priority..
so I would most likely be off base...also do you know anything bout going in if you have a significant other...
say for instance I'm living with someone..the only way for him to go wherever I go is if were married right? Alo if you live off base is that you live in your own apartment or house or are you sharing a space?
say for instance I'm living with someone..the only way for him to go wherever I go is if were married right? Alo if you live off base is that you live in your own apartment or house or are you sharing a space?
The only way for the military to pay for him to go with you is for him to your dependent/be married. You get a housing allowance/BAH it is yours to spend on any kind of dwelling you pretty much want to live in.
2. Navy Hospitals all over the world. (Navy Medical Centers)
3. Navy Nurse Candidate Program. Gives you 34000 for 2 years while in nursing school. commit 5 years service. 24k for 4 years.
4. Overall --> Further nursing experience achieved.
Air Force RNs can be deployed on the hospital ships.
The Air Force has medical facilities all over the world, just as the Army and Navy do. With the combining of many military facilities and the closure and realignment of others, don't be surprised if one day you find yourself at a sister service's hospital.
No one service gives you more initial training than any other. Just because they're paying for you to go to school (which is nice) doesn't mean you get more experience out of the deal.
Air Force RNs can be deployed on the hospital ships.
The Air Force has medical facilities all over the world, just as the Army and Navy do. With the combining of many military facilities and the closure and realignment of others, don't be surprised if one day you find yourself at a sister service's hospital.
No one service gives you more initial training than any other. Just because they're paying for you to go to school (which is nice) doesn't mean you get more experience out of the deal.
Yeah....I heard there is some AF CRNA on here that actually trained at one of those tri-service hospitals called NNMC Bethesda....hmm can't seem to remember who it was though.
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njack017
24 Posts
so i have also heard that as an officer you get more say so in where you want to be stationed? because coming in after graduation i would be an officer. and also i was wondering (i dont know if you know this answer) but going into the airforce for example i would be an officer and say my spouse joined with me but would be a enlistee is that okay and do they keep you together