[brian]

Fort Sam Houston, Texas — Of all the life-altering war wounds a soldier can come home with, burns are about as painful and disfiguring as they get.

Burns hurt intensely for a long time and rehabilitation is slow and excruciating because the skin forms thick, tight scars that freeze the simplest movements.

Working in the burn unit, where one witnesses so much suffering in the course of healing, requires its own measure of endurance.

“It’s rewarding but draining. You know that what you’re asking them to do is going to hurt them in the short term but that it’s necessary for the long term. That’s tough love, we all know they have to do it,” said Maj. Gen. Gale Pollock, chief of the Army nurse corps and deputy Army surgeon general for force management.

Full Story: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/0...rtage_080114w/

[wtbcrna]

The incentives on some things are a little better than the other branches, but then again you don't have to worry about 15+month deployments back to back in the other branches. The Army just doesn't get it. It is not about the money it is the about the length of deployments, and the treatment of their nurses in general that keep them from recruiting more nurses.

[MBANurse]

Originally Posted by wtbcrna

The incentives on some things are a little better than the other branches, but then again you don't have to worry about 15+month deployments back to back in the other branches. The Army just doesn't get it. It is not about the money it is the about the length of deployments, and the treatment of their nurses in general that keep them from recruiting more nurses.

Deployments are a risk. But one should join the military unless they are prepared to serve in combat zone at a moments notice. Period.
Another problem to the military in general is that one needs a BSN to be a commisioned officer on Active Duty (you be commissioned in the Army Reserve with an ADN but will not promote past Captain I believe) and alot of BSNs find jobs that appeal more towards their preferences.

As to the "treatment" of nurses. I have to ask as to what you mean?

[Mayladybug]

Great article. Especially for someone like me who is SERIOUSLY considering joining the military. I have yet to "talk" to a recruiter..have just been doing some research on my own.

Thank you all for your service.

Debbie

[wtbcrna]

Originally Posted by MBANurse

Deployments are a risk. But one should join the military unless they are prepared to serve in combat zone at a moments notice. Period.
Another problem to the military in general is that one needs a BSN to be a commisioned officer on Active Duty (you be commissioned in the Army Reserve with an ADN but will not promote past Captain I believe) and alot of BSNs find jobs that appeal more towards their preferences.

As to the "treatment" of nurses. I have to ask as to what you mean?

I am mainly referring to how the Army treats their deployed nurses. The AF and the Navy usually have decent facilities when deployed. The Army on the other hand has a whole different view on how soldiers should be treated while deployed. Since, I am AD I am ready to deploy whenever called, but that doesn't mean I want to deploy for 15+ months at a time. Six months deployments are okay with a bare minimum of 6 months back before being deployed again. Unfortunately, this can't be done for the infantry/ground pounders, but the Army would go a long way in keeping/retaining more of their medical personel on this type of rotation.

Good Luck! MBA are you AD these days?

[Psqrd]

I am in the process of joining the Reserves (Army) when I complete my ADN in May of this year (one semester left!!!) The long deployments I must admit give me great apprehension when it comes to joining especially since I have a 2 year old at home and the wife wants another, but I feel that I am between a rock and a hard place. I am almost 40 and don't have a retirement established. I already have 8 years in the military (6 active 2 reserves) and feel that since I only have 12 more to go that it would be a good deal plus with the sign on bonus's it will help dig me out out of this financial hole that I am in.
My brother recently ran into a nurse in Iraq where he is serving and was told that they are only doing 4-6 month rotations d/t financial hardships---it was costing him approx. 30 grand from lost wages to be deployed. Your right about the captain thing that you can't be promoted past it but you only have 6 years from joining to get your BSN anyway so getting past captain in 6 is pretty hard to do so its not an issue...and they will pay for my step up to my BSN!
I loved serving my country and I look forward to doing it again.
P2

[Itshamrtym]

Hello, just wondering PSQRD, couldn't you start a BSN program now (maybe Excelsior College or Liberty Univ.) and be entitled to the strap program, which is the stipend of
around $1,250.00 per month?? If you did this would you still get the bonus? You then would have 2 years to finish your BSN. I went through Excelsior for my ADN (from LPN)
and a friend of mine is doing Liberty Unvi. and just loves it. I was told that if I enrolled for the BsN @ Excelsior that if I joined I would get the strap program.. Just a thought.. and good luck to you... GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS AND NATION!!!! Thank you to all that serve..... (P.S.) Excelsior has a contract with the ARMY and a lot of your course work and dantes exams are paid for and I think the same with Liberty...

[Psqrd]

Originally Posted by Itshamrtym

Hello, just wondering PSQRD, couldn't you start a BSN program now (maybe Excelsior College or Liberty Univ.) and be entitled to the strap program, which is the stipend of
around $1,250.00 per month?? If you did this would you still get the bonus? You then would have 2 years to finish your BSN. I went through Excelsior for my ADN (from LPN)
and a friend of mine is doing Liberty Unvi. and just loves it. I was told that if I enrolled for the BsN @ Excelsior that if I joined I would get the strap program.. Just a thought.. and good luck to you... GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS AND NATION!!!! Thank you to all that serve..... (P.S.) Excelsior has a contract with the ARMY and a lot of your course work and dantes exams are paid for and I think the same with Liberty...

Thanks for the the info...I will ask about this program.
I'm not sure if this would work for me as I need an income ASAP, my wife works part time while working on her MBA through U of Phoenix and so we don't have to put our child in Daycare $$$. They told me that I'm entitled to $250 per unit per semester while in the reserves and that would more than cover my tuition to Sac Sate which has a step up program already in place for ADN to BSN...at full time I believe its 3 semesters or 5 part-time and its like 5 minutes from my house.
P2

[kukukajoo]

I spoke to recruiters this past summer. Most of the programs have age caps and I was not eligible for many being in my late 30s so I decided against signing on. I still have the contact information and if something comes up that looks enticing I may take another look but for the time being I know I can land a much better job here stateside in the field of my choice.

[Psqrd]

Originally Posted by kukukajoo

I spoke to recruiters this past summer. Most of the programs have age caps and I was not eligible for many being in my late 30s so I decided against signing on. I still have the contact information and if something comes up that looks enticing I may take another look but for the time being I know I can land a much better job here stateside in the field of my choice.

You have to ask for age waiver...I am suprised that they did not tell you this.
My recruiter told me about someone they signed up for the nurse corp that was 53!
Just make sure that they don't make you sign away retirement benefits...ask about it..they will know what you are talking about.
P2