US Army vs. USAF ER Nursing

[JmanRN80]

I am an ER/Trauma nurse that works in a large city area. I have tried processing for the USAF for FY 2017 but was placed as non-select because my experience was not in a Level 1 or 2 trauma center. At the time I was putting my packet together I did get a job at a level 2 center and working on my experience. My USAF recruiter is very doubtful that the next board in Feb '17 will have any openings for ED RN's till the beginning of FY2018 boards in July/August '17. I decided to just for giggles look at the US Army and knowing that the branch is larger then the USAF. The recruiter pointed out the fact that for Active they are showing 4 slots for the Feb'17 boards and 20 slots for the reserves for the same board. I know that Reserves in the USAF was not an option for my specialty. Also the Army does not have the sames bonuses for ED nurses as the USAF. Besides those differences I am having a hard time deciding if I should proceed with the Army, and would like feedback from any current RNs in either branch, active/reserve, as to get more input about what it is like. Especially in education, deployment, lifestyle and training. Thanks for your help fellow colleagues!!

[jfratian, DNP, RN, CRNA]

The job is largely pretty similar. The Army seems to have more higher acuity facilities, but it is also a much bigger organization. Both branches have rotary wing aircraft medical evac slots for ER nurses. Many bases and deployments have joint AF/Army hospitals and wards where multiple branches serve alongside each other.

The Army deployment schedule is pretty brutal in my opinion. They go for 9 months at a time (and sometimes longer). The typical AF deployment is closer to 3 months, and we have a 2 year cycle where you typically are only deployed once unless you volunteer. I don't think the Army necessarily does that.

After you join, the AF still offers $40K annual board certification bonuses for ER nurses. I'm pretty sure the Army offers something similar. I'd say it's pretty much a toss up. Go wherever the slots and bonuses are.

[KMFT]

Hi Jman,

I have also applied for the USAF Feb '17 boards and my recruiter told me that it was a possibility that I would not be selected d/t me not working at a level 1 or 2 trauma designated facility and that I might need to apply for CCN or Flight Nurse. Finding out that you could not be selected because of it is very disappointing I started my application at the end of August and was just told last week about the level 1-2 possible requirement (which is frustrating because my recruiter KNEW that I work at a level 4). He also told me that there are 10 ER RN slots for Feb '17.

[jfratian, DNP, RN, CRNA]

Honestly, I'd be surprised if any of these recruiters even knew what the difference between level 4 or level 1 was. Few of them have healthcare backgrounds at all. A lot of them were in aircraft maintenance shops and then took a recruiting post. I'm guessing they just didn't know.

[JmanRN80]

Well...the nice thing at this point is that i have my level 1 and 2 exp now. My recruiter didnt feel optimistic about the feb boards. Now you told me what your recruiter said makes me want to reach out to him again. Thanks for the heads up.