waiting, Air Force Nurse Corps

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Hello all, I am new to this forum, but have been reading from it for some time. I am curious. Who is still waiting for the fully qualified selection status from Jan boards? It seems that AFPC is busy with other matters for the immediate future. I am waiting patiently....well not so patiently!

Specializes in MED/SURG.

Thanks for the info, you really are a wealth of information and I am sure many appreciate all you have given. I know I do!! I have joined several AF sites on Facebook and by far this blog with all the entries has been most helpful.

So keep the advice coming....I know that when I think of another question this will be my spot to ask for answer......TY

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No problem. I do what I can.

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Hey everyone,

This post will be somewhat off topic so I apologize in advance for that...I'm in my second semester of Nursing school, so far it's been pretty hectic but not too bad far as studying and time management goes, I've been told that 3rd semester is the make it or break it semester, that is the one with Med Surge and Mental, and people say that once you get through that semester, you're golden, meaning that the program is still difficult but managable in 4th and 5th semesters...anyway initially when I started the path to obtaining my BSN, my goals were

1) Graduate with my BSN

2) Join the Military as an officer (I was hoping to get loan payback and maybe a bonus)

3) After 2-3 years in a critical care capacity, apply for NP and/or CRNA schools, but be on a military release to go to school, and then join back when I've graduated..

But recently I've been told about Physician Assistant programs and I also looked at the Physican Assistant job description for the Air Force, I read on the air force site, that their is a loan called HPSP( which will give you a monthly stipend and pay for your tuition and fees, most PA schools range between 2-3 years) and it also states that once a Physician Assistant graduates they are automatically promoted to Captain..so these are my questions

If I dont' get picked up for HPSP, will the Air force pay the student loans back upon commission?

Also

For Physician Assistant for their pre-req's, they require alot of Chem in my opinion, chem isn't a strong suit for me, I would still have about 4 semesters of Chem to take and some Biology courses, but I don't think I'll struggle with those as much, is it realistic for me to maybe take one bio and chem course along with the nursing courses each semester...keep in mind I have a decent amount of study time available..

For PA programs they require

1) Have completed a Degree I'll have my BSN in May 2012

2) Shadow a PA-Hours range for each school, some require 100 hours and some require around 1000

3) 3 LOR

4) Program length 2-3 years

5) 3.3-3.7 G.PA overall miniumum/Science G.P.A similar

Time required for PA

1) Graduate with BSN (2 more years)

2) Apply and get accepted to PA school (2-3 years length of school)

3) Go into the military as an officer and start as an 0-3

(5 years to goal)

My age would be 38 years old when I would be entering the military, assuming I would start the year I graduate with my BSN

of course these times are only if I get accepted the first time around, if not the times are longer

So time required for Nurse Practitioner would be

1)Graduate with BSN (2 more years)

2)Get 2-3 years experiece as a RN

3) Get accepted in NP or CRNA school, if accepted (3-4 years)

Overall time to my goal=9 years

My age when joining the military would be 33, assuming I get my commission accepted the year I graduate with my BSN

I also have 6 years prior service so the NP route looks appealing based on retirement years

I've just have been doing alot of research on both professions and their just doesn't seem to be alot of difference between the two, I've read on some posts that the NP has alot more independence, but I can't see that being the case for a NP in the military, (I plan on being a lifer, if they'll let me)

Also I have a strong interest in Neuro and Surgical and ER and Cardiac

Also I was thinking about applying for commissioning in the Air force to be an RN about May 2011, a year from when I graduate, also will be taking the GRE and also applying for the PA programs in June 2011, so one of my concerns is what if I apply for the commission for RN and get accepted into the military, and get accepted to PA school? if something like that were to happen can i turn down the commission for RN and pursue PA and maybe get the HPSP while in PA school?

I also live right by Sheppard AF Base, I would like to shadow a NP and a PA at the hospital here, any suggestions on how to go about doing that? Sorry for the long post again, and I know it seems like I'm leaning towards PA, i'm really not, just PA is looking more appealing due to less time to obtain an advanced degree and starting would be coming in as an 0-3, I'm older-31 so that is one reason the PA is looking like the way to go, but I'm open to discussions and suggestions...

Also so there is no misunderstanding, thus far I've really enjoyed Nursing, just trying to figure out what would be the best fit for me as far as long term goals are concerned, since I'm a non traditional student and older..

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Specializes in med/surg, oncology.

Welcome. I would suggest skimming through this military blog. There is already a wealth of information addressing your questions. I would also contact a recruiter. They do have quite a bit of information regarding many of your basic questions as well. I'm 41, single mom with 14 years in nursing. I have my MSN and am entering as a Captain.

I hope this little bit helps. Military.com also offers quite a bit of info.

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Hi Weneferd,

Thanks for the quick response, I believe that the reason you are starting as an 0-3 is because of the MSN and possibly the years of experience, In my case I have no nursing experience except for school and clinicals that will have to be completed for Nursing school..I have 6 years prior active duty so that means If the air force were to accept my commission I would start off as a 0-1E or second lieutenant, because I have no nursing experience.....nothing wrong with that, just seems like it will take longer to reach my long term goals, on a plus side if I were to obtain the BSN, and join the military straight out school at 33, I will def retire faster and possibly have my BSN debt paid off:-), now that I think about it a little bit more, it might make more sense to do that, and see if I can get a conditional release while I go to school whether that would be for NP, PA or CRNA a few years after that and is still undecided...oh and on the recruiter note, it's always better to collect the info before you go to the recruiter, even the Health Care ones have an agenda:-)

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Specializes in Anesthesia.

Huggiebear,

I am not going to attempt to answer all your questions, but I will straighten somethings out for you.

1. An MSN w/o experience qualifies you for 1Lt not Captain. A PhD/DPN/DNAP qualifies you for Captain.

2. You cannot go straight into critical care in the military w/o previous experience.

3. You can go straight to NP school straight after graduating with your BSN. You would have to do this own your own part-time if you were AD, but it can and is done all the time.

4. I don't believe there is an option for AD RNs to goto PA school. You maybe able to get out/use HPSP, but PAs and nurses are in different corps and it is difficult to be released from the nursing corps to join another corps.

5. Your interests are all over the place, but it seems you want to do some in the advanced practice realm. I would suggest doing some shadowing on the civilian side 1st to decide which area you are most interested in.

6. If I did the calculations correctly you could also do USU medical school. With your prior enlisted time and if you came in right after you graduated you could finish your pre-reqs and apply to medical. You would definitely be a lifer then.

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Hello everone,

This is a little off topic, but I am in the waiting game right now with the Air Force as well. I am just wondering if there are any nurses who are in/have been in the Air Force Nurse Corps that could answer some of my questions. My biggest question is how long it will take for the board to review my packet and make their decisions? I graduate this coming December 2010. I went through MEPS and did my interview with the Chief Nurse about three weeks ago. I know it's the hurry up and wait game from here on out, but I was just wondering if anyone had any similar circumstances that could help! I have heard two different things from two different recruiters. I am going to start trying to find a civilian nursing job for post graduation because I would rather be getting experience and getting a paycheck rather than just sitting around waiting. I also heard that if I do get a job and I work for 6 months prior to going to COT I could possibly not have to go through NTP? I know that NTP is only for new grads, but I am applying as a new grad so I wasn't sure if my orders would have NTP automatically?

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

Why does everyone try so hard to get out of NTP? It is a great program. I didn't get that option since I've been a nurse for 14 years when I joined. But a friend of mine was a nurse for a year and went through NTP by her choice. She has told me so much more about nursing oppertunities and things that I have not been exposed to. It has some class work, yes. But a lot of floor work and hands on. They also got to meet others in the same situation as them and bond with a group. I jumped into my unit and haven't had the same experience.

(stepping off my soapbox)

Yes, you will wait and wait forever it seems. In retrospect, it wasn't as bad as I thought it was. It took me almost a year to get in (I went to COT just this past May). Even if you get accepted, it's doubtful you would go real soon after you graduate as COT space is limited to just so many. So I would suggest you get a job and experience. and so you don't sit around going crazy waiting. Also expect that $1,500 in uniform expenses up front.

Good luck

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hey guys,

I'm graduating from an Accelerated BSN nursing program in May 2011 and thinking about applying to be an AF nurse. How competitive is the program for new grad positions. I don't want to go through the long application process just to get rejected because a bajilliion more experienced Nurses already applied. I need to speculate my odds a little before I do that much work (interview, apply, security, physical)

Here is my personal background: BS degree in bio-chem 3.3, pre-nursing and ems classes at local community college 40 credits at 3.97, current nursing school GPA 3.92 (over 1/3 complete and those were the HArd classes), 5 years EMT experience, 2 years professional EMT experience averaging 35 pt contacts a week, EMT BLS training co-director at small volunteer EMS agency,23 years old.

So what do you guys think, should I go call my nursing recruiter or should I apply in the civilian world and try to get some experience first?

thanks in advance!!

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Specializes in MED/SURG.

I am going straight to my base after COT and I would love to go to NTP. I have been a nurse for yrs but learning how to be "an AF nurse" would have be fantastic.

Pymschrs you should contact a AF Healthcare Professional recruiter now. Many nurses do this prior to graduation and then just jump in afew months afterwards. I am older (much...LOL, have 4 kids 25,23, 19 and 12) my husband is retired USN and I followed him for his career and now its my turn; wish I had done it sooner but it was not the right time then. Now is. THe big DQ for any branch of military is medical. Do you have any chronic dx? DM, CA, cardio, etc? Google around and look at the medical DQ's and there is MANY. I needed a waiver for high BG (was 101) high chol (was 225 and the month before I had a draw it was 160). THe waviers are not bad to get, takes 4 + weeks though at which time all stop on your package till u get the paperwork back approved.

Good luck and keep us informed on your progress.

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Specializes in all.

Both mine were high too. I was so paranoid with a fasting BG of 110 that I must have checked my BG at work 20 times following that and all were perfectly normal. Also, my cholesterol was high and it never ever been high prior to MEPS I am a vegan and it just didn't make sense. I still believe there was something off with the lab work

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Hawkeye,

My packet went to the November boards last year, but got pushed back to the January boards of this year because of too many applicants. I found out that I got accepted April 1 and will be leaving for COT March 2011. I'm hoping to commission in the next couple of weeks. Get ready for a long wait!

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