1st assignments for army nurses

Specialties Government

Published

Is there certain hospitals you have to go to first like the Navy and USAF, if so where are they?

Specializes in Neuro/Med-Surg/Oncology.
FT Wainwright, Alaska is about one mile east of Fairbanks.The Army assumed command of this post in 1961 from the Air Force. The post was first established in 1940 as an Army Air Field, then later designated Ladd Air Force Base.

The military units on this post are; 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry; 4th Battalion, 9th Infantry; 172nd Infantry Brigade; 11th Field Artillery Battalion; 4th Battalion, 123rd Aviation; Cold Regions Research & Engineering Laboratory; Bassett Army Community Hospital

Did you check out the website?

Don't forget the Stryker forces too . . . . ..

0 Votes

Gen,

So you say you prefer fairbanks to Anchorage? At any rate I will hope for the best and hope you get what you want.

Good luck!

0 Votes

This BIG "Thank you" goes to all of the military nurses, and medical support.

I am an RN, work Rehab. My son is in his 2nd tour of Afghanistan--career Army MP. I'm so proud of him, and even though I worry, I do appreciate the fact that you all are there to take care of him, if needed, and the rest of our soldiers.

Thank you for your service.

I know this isn't a part of this thread, but didn't know where else to let you know how much you are appreciated.

0 Votes
Specializes in Ortho, Med surg and L&D.
Gen,

So you say you prefer fairbanks to Anchorage? At any rate I will hope for the best and hope you get what you want.

Good luck!

Hello NursePamela,

Well, that ~is~ where the Bassett Army Hospital is and even though Fairbanks is pretty popular and has the summer temps of my hometown, Chicago, my preference is highly skewed. :) I was not given the option t choos Anchorage yet, for all I know, by choosing Fairbanks I might indeed end up in Anchorage because the clinic is associated with the hospital.

From what I read, Anchorage gets much more humid than Fairbanks, I still have no clue.

The proximity of Fairbanks to the Arctic circle and the frequency of the northern lights there is attractive to me too.:penguin:

I promise to update the minute I find out about anything regarding my application packet.

Hoping,

Gen

0 Votes
Specializes in Telemetry, OR, ICU.
This BIG "Thank you" goes to all of the military nurses, and medical support.

I am an RN, work Rehab. My son is in his 2nd tour of Afghanistan--career Army MP. I'm so proud of him, and even though I worry, I do appreciate the fact that you all are there to take care of him, if needed, and the rest of our soldiers.

Thank you for your service.

I know this isn't a part of this thread, but didn't know where else to let you know how much you are appreciated.

Thank YOU for your military support & appreciate your son's military service, too! BTW, thanks for capitalizing the word Army. ;)

HOOAH!

0 Votes

Thoughts from a career Army nurse. I'm currently in the Army (16 years as an officer). From my experience, the Army tries to send new, less-experienced graduates to one of the Army Medical Centers (MEDCENS -Tripler, Walter Reed, Eisenhower, Madigan, Brooke, Beaumont, Landstuhl) to get their best experience.

New nurses are can also be sent to the smaller community hospitals (MEDDACS). Some are very busy such as Fort Campbell, Fort Hood, Fort Benning. Others are very "quiet" such as the overseas hospitals such as Heidelberg, Germany.

If you're a new graduate and want to become the best nurse possible, I'd recommend asking for a MEDCEN or a very busy MEDDAC . The first year may be tough, but your nursing skills will likely be better due to exposure to sicker, more complicated patients. MEDCENS are teaching institutions, also.

However, there are some good things about being in a MEDDAC (small hospitals). In smaller facilities, you tend to know everyone in the hospital. You may have a chance to "stand out" and be recognized - good for career progression and opportunities for advanced education. In MEDCENS, some new nurses feel overwhelmed - so many nursing sections, often your bosses don't really know you from the other nurses. MEDCENS are teaching facilities and you'll work with residents and interns - the opportunites for learning are limitless there.

Good luck in your Army career. I've been deployed three times (Afghanistan, Croatia, Honduras). There are difficult times, but the opportunities are limitless -

0 Votes
Specializes in Ortho, Med surg and L&D.
Thoughts from a career Army nurse. I'm currently in the Army (16 years as an officer). From my experience, the Army tries to send new, less-experienced graduates to one of the Army Medical Centers (MEDCENS -Tripler, Walter Reed, Eisenhower, Madigan, Brooke, Beaumont, Landstuhl) to get their best experience.

...

Good luck in your Army career. I've been deployed three times (Afghanistan, Croatia, Honduras). There are difficult times, but the opportunities are limitless -

Thank you for replying so quickly!

My packet is already turned in and my base preferences went as FT WW first, FT Sam Houston second and Walter Reed, D.C., third.

After nearly 18 years, (not as a nurse) in civilian hospitals, (four of which were teaching) I am really looking forward to working in a Military hospital.

Deployment is definately something that I not only anticipate but, would consider it almost "transcendant", (for lack of a better word) to care for our wounded young soldiers and would volunteer to go if asked.

From what I read on the website Bassett only has a 20 bed Medical Surgical yet they do have an ER and a Women's health ward, which are both interests of mine. It didn't dawn on me either to think that they would not be able to handle some trauma as they are in Fairbanks and a flight to any other medical center would be lengthy.

I will keep you guys updated.

Gen-time for nursing school homework for me

0 Votes
Specializes in Telemetry, OR, ICU.
Thoughts from a career Army nurse. I'm currently in the Army (16 years as an officer). From my experience, the Army tries to send new, less-experienced graduates to one of the Army Medical Centers (MEDCENS -Tripler, Walter Reed, Eisenhower, Madigan, Brooke, Beaumont, Landstuhl) to get their best experience.

New nurses are can also be sent to the smaller community hospitals (MEDDACS). Some are very busy such as Fort Campbell, Fort Hood, Fort Benning. Others are very "quiet" such as the overseas hospitals such as Heidelberg, Germany.

If you're a new graduate and want to become the best nurse possible, I'd recommend asking for a MEDCEN or a very busy MEDDAC . The first year may be tough, but your nursing skills will likely be better due to exposure to sicker, more complicated patients. MEDCENS are teaching institutions, also.

However, there are some good things about being in a MEDDAC (small hospitals). In smaller facilities, you tend to know everyone in the hospital. You may have a chance to "stand out" and be recognized - good for career progression and opportunities for advanced education. In MEDCENS, some new nurses feel overwhelmed - so many nursing sections, often your bosses don't really know you from the other nurses. MEDCENS are teaching facilities and you'll work with residents and interns - the opportunites for learning are limitless there.

Good luck in your Army career. I've been deployed three times (Afghanistan, Croatia, Honduras). There are difficult times, but the opportunities are limitless -

ArmyMSN - Thank you very much for the post. I noticed this was your #8 post on allnurses.com. Please, post up often! BTW, I sent you an email.

HOOAH!

0 Votes
Specializes in Ortho, Med surg and L&D.
Is there certain hospitals you have to go to first like the Navy and USAF, if so where are they?

Hello,

I just recently came across another link which details information for new nurse graduates in the Army.

http://www.chron.com/class/jobs/industries/nursing/3.html

The ones that I have posted on this forum have been helpful to me and hopefully will be helpful to others.

Gen

0 Votes
+ Add a Comment