USPHS

[jennysong81]

Hi,

Are there any USPHS commissioned officers who can share their experiences working in IHS facilities?

What is it like living in rural areas? Please share your stories with me because I am interested in joining USPHS upon graduation (finishing up my BSN and will be done in May).

Thank you :)

[ImThatGuy, BSN, RN]

Without reading the multitude of pages here, although I read several, do you have any choice of agencies you get assigned to?

[just_cause, BSN, RN]

you end up applying to specific agencies to specific jobs, they used to have it open access on the net but past few years they've moved it to a email internal distro.

[ImThatGuy, BSN, RN]

Wait. Rather than applying to the service in general and being sent somewhere you have to apply for a job at a specific location and if hired you become part of the commissioned corps?

[txfnp12]

kinda...the process has 2 separate parts. 1). you apply to the corps. This takes a while... 2). you find a job at agency (BOP, DIHS, IHS etc).

I personally started the process in early May...I have a job at a phs agency (I accepted it as a civillian). Recently, I participated in a conference call that discussed the next steps in obtaining my commission in the public health corps.

I am being told by my employer that once my package (medical clearance, security clearance, professional board) has been reviewed, it will be simple to convert over to a public health corps officer.

I hope this helps....

[chul_soo]

Anyone hear that USPHS has a freeze in recruiting right now?

[elovell]

TXRN10 Have you received your medical packet etc yet? I was also on that conference call, sent in the email that I wanted to continue & have not heard anything.

[elovell]

Yay! Finally got my medical packet etc. I've heard on the military medical exams that they make you provide medical documentation for any problems procedures etc. I had my tonsils removed as a child & have no idea what the drs. name was. Will I have to provide this or should I not even put it down? Will they have any way of knowing if I get my physical @ my own dr?

[just_cause, BSN, RN]

I don't think the tonsils will be an issue.. likely just the approximate date, that it occurred and that no issues / problems occured.

[akmt]

Hi folks!

So i just sent in my SRCOSTEP/ JRCOSTEP packet and was wondering if people had any idea how long it actually takes for them to process it... I know it says 4 weeks on the website and then i got an email from one of the PHS people saying it takes about 2 weeks.. which one is more accurate? And I was also wondering how much longer after sending the application and everything does it take to find out if you got accepted... and did you who got accepted get the agencies you wanted to work for? I specified IHS and BOP and i didn't know if they are super selective or not. Thanks for any info!

[hpartsch]

I just sent my application in for PHS!!

[elovell]

I have decided to accept a GS position & convert to PHS after the freeze. Is there any type of form or anything that I should have signed that will ensure that I will be allowed to convert? Has anyone heard any updates on the freeze? I'm scared with all of the budget cuts it may be a long time. How long is our submitted documentation good for?

[ImThatGuy, BSN, RN]

SRCOSTEP/ JRCOSTEP

I filled out applications for the above unsure of what I was getting into. I was looking for some type of summer thing as a USPHS person. I guess you've got to have your RN credentials before applying.