Will I still get to practice in my own specialty if I join the AirForce?

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^^topic^^. I have a nursing classmate who is in COT as of now and I am strongly considering the airforce as a possible life experience pathway before I hit the 30 year old mark. I graduated with my Bachelors and already have 2 yrs experience in ortho/surg. I just need to ask a couple of questions to all you military RN's out there. Will I still be able to practice ortho at the same hospital once I am finished with COT or would I have to work on the military base hospital? I am aware of deployments and I have another question- Even if I'm an ortho nurse and if I were to deploy- Will the airforce just float me to whatever department needs nurses? Thanks.

Specializes in EMT, ER, Homehealth, OR.

You will have to work for the military at a military hospital, clinic etc. not at the local hospital. What floor/area you work on will be the needs of the service with input from you. This is if you are going on active duty. If you are going to join the reserves you work for who ever you want and do your drills and 2 weeks active duty along with deployments.

Specializes in ICU/CCU.

Precisely as jackrn said. They really want you to work for the AF in your specialty, and they typically don't hire outside of the area your experience is in. If you go active duty, you will be assigned a base where you will live for 3-4 years (officers stay at a base a little longer than enlisted, I believe). You will work at the facilities on/around that base for the USAF. It's typically a VA affiliated hospital or sometimes a joint effort with the Navy/Army.

Then, every 18 months you're up for deployment. Deployments are 4-6 months (typically 4). They used to be 3, but the Army complained that we weren't staying long enough, haha, and it was messing up the rotations.

The way I look at it, the AF is working as a nurse (which you probably love, since your on a nursing forum, haha), working for the best company in the world (US gov), on the best equipment in the world, in the best facilities in the world alongside the best workers in the world.

I leave for COT October 16.

I have one more question:D So, if I do go active duty, do I get to choose the base I want to be assigned to? Reason I ask is that I live in Alaska and there is an airforce base nearby. Thanks.

Specializes in ICU/CCU.
I have one more question:D So, if I do go active duty, do I get to choose the base I want to be assigned to? Reason I ask is that I live in Alaska and there is an airforce base nearby. Thanks.

You chose your preference, 1-5. You had better get used to the idea that you won't be there, though. Even if you do get your first choice, chances are great that in three years you'll be gone. It also depends on your specialty. That base may not have your specific area of need. You kind of have to get used to the military way of thinking: what you want is irrelevent, You're their property.

Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Its called a "dream list" for a reason - lol.

Specializes in Anesthesia.

AF active duty deployments are generally 6 months not 4. As an ortho nurse you would probably be assigned to med-surg or a clinic. Enlisted in general stay in place longer than officers. Typically, you can expect to stay about 4.5 yrs stateside or 3 yrs overseas.

Specializes in ICU/CCU.
AF active duty deployments are generally 6 months not 4. As an ortho nurse you would probably be assigned to med-surg or a clinic. Enlisted in general stay in place longer than officers. Typically, you can expect to stay about 4.5 yrs stateside or 3 yrs overseas.

That's funny, because everything I was told from current active duty officers was almost the complete opposite. And was told my assignments would generally be 2-3 years with overseas being closer to 2.

Specializes in Anesthesia.
That's funny, because everything I was told from current active duty officers was almost the complete opposite. And was told my assignments would generally be 2-3 years with overseas being closer to 2.

It used to be that way, but this is general knowledge and can be verified on the internet.

Specializes in Anesthesia.
It used to be that way, but this is general knowledge and can be verified on the internet.

http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123030545

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