[judyblueeyes]

Also, this:

http://www.goarmy.com/amedd/nurse/corps_benefits.jsp

You can make the most of your time and career by taking advantage of the benefits available to nurses serving in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps. Not only will you come to know the pride that comes with serving your country as an Officer, but you'll also know that you're providing our Soldiers with the best nursing care. While serving your country, you'll enjoy the privileges and respect afforded to an Officer in the world's most advanced Army. In addition, you'll enjoy financial and educational benefits to help you rapidly advance your career.

Active Nurse Corps Benefits
Reserve Nurse Corps Benefits
ACTIVE NURSE CORPS BENEFITS


As a nurse serving as an Officer in the Active Army, you'll receive a comprehensive benefits package that includes a competitive salary and financial incentives such as nursing school loan repayment. In addition to opportunities for continuing education and clinical specialization, you will receive low-cost or no-cost medical, dental and life insurance, generous retirement plan options, housing allowances and 30 days of paid vacation earned annually. You'll also enjoy a reasonable work-life balance that provides plenty of time for family and recreational pursuits.

ARMY NURSE ACCESSION BONUS
Start with a sign-on bonus in the amount of $20,000 or $30,000 if you elect to not receive student loan repayment. If you participate in the Health Professions Loan Repayment Program, you could earn a bonus of up to $10,000.

ACTIVE DUTY HEALTH PROFESSIONS LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM (ADHPLRP)
As a participant in this program, you can qualify for more than $114,000 to repay your nursing school loans. Under this three-year program, you could receive up to $38,300 annually.
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RESERVE NURSE CORPS BENEFITS


When you become a nurse and Officer on the U.S. Army Reserve Health Care Team, you can work in your community and serve when needed. In addition to generous financial incentives and retirement plan options, you'll have the opportunity to enhance your career and provide our Soldiers and their Families with the best nursing care.

SPECIAL PAY
As a nurse anesthetist, you can receive special pay in the amount of $30,000, paid in three yearly increments of $10,000. A $15,000 sign-on bonus is available for nurses with a BSN and specialized training in critical care, medical/surgical, psychiatric or perioperative nursing.

HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM (HPLR)
As a nursing professional serving on the U.S. Army Reserve Health Care Team, you may be eligible for up to $50,000 to repay your nursing school loans. This program provides up to $20,000 for two consecutive years, plus $10,000 for a third year. You may be eligible to participate in one other Army Reserve incentive program.

[alfa-sierra]

Originally Posted by zahryia

You were probably kidding, but I'm interested in how many private contractors have died and/or been injured. Any stats on that?

IBC (www.iraqbodycount.org) quotes 90,000 civilian casualties, all inclusive-iraqs, americans, british,south african etc) since 2003. The following, a much sober count, is an excerpt from wikipedia (reference at the end).
At least 1,186 deaths between March 2003 and July 2008. 244 of those are from the USA.[69][70][71][72][73] Contractors are "Americans, Iraqis and workers from more than three dozen other countries."[74] 10,569 wounded or injured.[69] Contractors "cook meals, do laundry, repair infrastructure, translate documents, analyze intelligence, guard prisoners, protect military convoys, deliver water in the heavily fortified Green Zone and stand sentry at buildings - often highly dangerous duties almost identical to those performed by many U.S. troops."[75] 182,000 employees of U.S.-government-funded contractors and subcontractors (118,000 Iraqi, 43,000 Other, 21,000 U.S.).[76] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casualties_of_the_Iraq_War#Contractor_casualties

[**RN**]

Unsettling? If I were 22, single, and still had a passion to see the as much of the world as I could, working as an RN: what would be the follow-up criteria for job hunting? If I were living a baller lifestyle, had a serious credit/tution loan/medical bill hangover, as well as a desire to serve my country in a manner that I can be proud of at the same time. . . What would I do?

Having been in nursing long enough to have convinced a few younger folks to enter the field out of a sense of wonder and fulfillment, I know there are many reasons to "follow the money," early in one's career. At some point, money can be a deciding factor for all of us, myself included (medical bills caused by an uninsured motorist that initially cost about $500K, a loss of almost 3 years salary, along with disabling injuries will do that to you sometimes). The U.S. hires nurses from countries already having nursing shortages much worse than our own, by promising higher wages than the countries they already live in. Nursing jobs in Iraq typically have some of the most stringent vetting processes, leaving those positions open only to the most highly qualified nurses who can gain valuable experience while in a hostile environment. I would be honored to work next to the nurse that's been through hell, and can now easily work in difficult situations like the complete and total B.S. drama caused by insecure nurses who are incapable of just doing their jobs, and have to raise trouble around them in order to hide their own incompetency.

Following the money as a rule is unwise and possibly not the most ethical thing to do. The occasional post looking for the highest salary only makes me wistful for the days when I was footloose and fancy free. Fortunately, Allnurses.com offers a place to ask more questions about work in war-torn countries, but when it comes down to it, some people are all about the money. I am loathe to do it myself, but I'm going back to work in a specialty I'm not truly in love with, so I can get experience and go traveling. Traveling so I can make some extra cash and go back to school. Back to school so I can get a nursing home administrator's license and my MBA. So I can open my own Eden Alternative nursing home and surround myself with the love and community/family for the rest of my life. And, (oh yea) I've still got some huge medical debts to pay off!

The last job I took was in case management/clinical supervision and I thought I was going to hate it, until the Administrator told me she would make certain I would get the best training available. She lied, and was fired soon after. . . but not before she coaxed me into working for her with an astronomical salary and a significant bonus to boot. Even though turnover at the company I went to work for is now at over 200% in a one year period (20+ people have worked for this small company of only 10 people in the last 10 months), I was able to provide the highest level of care to my patients. A level of care I will never again be able to provide for a multitude of reasons, but I certainly loved and cared for them like nobodies business for the 3 months I worked there. A new Administrator came in, and cleaned house by hiring only people that had formerly worked for her. . . only the old office manager still works there. I was devastated when I lost my job, because I was being paid too much and I spent too much time giving my patients personal attention, but I realize it was a necessary corporate move. (Though I wish the new Admin. had asked me to take a pay cut and give up my bonus instead.) I gladly continued volunteering care for some of the patients that my company quickly dropped because they were not "making" enough money for the company. Altruistic motives are not necessarily lost when one asks where the money is. Perhaps, asking follow-up questions like: "How do you intend to make yourself worth your princely salary," would be worthwhile asking of the people following-the-money. You might be pleasantly surprised at the answers you get. Rationalization/justification is a slippery slope of its own, but survival in a world mostly driven by the pursuit of money puts us all in situations we are not entirely comfortable with sometimes. I'd like to think I'm growing up, not growing old. . . so I'll admit my logic may be faulty, but I have goals that transcend working for the man the rest of my life. Working for human kind in the U.S. requires power and wealth that can be achieved in a limited number of ways.

I know that I can (and will) make a difference in this world, and that by taking the (mostly) intentional journey I am taking that: I will be able to open a large alternative home and make a SIGNIFICANT difference for the lives of hundreds if not thousands of people. It will take years, but with the philosophies to help guide me (in my sometimes wayward ways) I know certain things will come to fruition if I live long enough. The elders that come to my home will continue to thrive, the folks that come to work for me will be handsomely rewarded with not only monetary but intrinsic values, and it will all cost LESS than a regular nursing home.

I welcome any response, but will only consider those that are constructive. Thank you. R.

[NRSKarenRN]

Since this last post has taken the thread so far away from the OP intent, info provided that salary at most is 1/2 first named.
Closing thread at this time...