66HM5 Question

[NickG, MSN, APRN]

I have posted before about looking into the Army Reserves and am almost finished with my application. Today my recruiter told me that he would process me as a Med/Surg nurse. I explained to him that I have never set foot on a Med/Surg unit as an RN and have only worked in the ER my whole career. He stated he would find me a Critical Care Nurse position in the reserves but I would not be eligible for any loan repayment options. Has anyone heard of this before? I thought ER and other specialties were in demand and would be eligible for extra incentives to include loan repayment. If I was to go in as a Med/Surg nurse would I be able to transfer in to an ER role in the future? Would doing this negate my initial contract and cause me to incur a penalty of sorts? Thanks for any info.

[migz]

I have posted before about looking into the Army Reserves and am almost finished with my application. Today my recruiter told me that he would process me as a Med/Surg nurse. I explained to him that I have never set foot on a Med/Surg unit as an RN and have only worked in the ER my whole career. He stated he would find me a Critical Care Nurse position in the reserves but I would not be eligible for any loan repayment options. Has anyone heard of this before? I thought ER and other specialties were in demand and would be eligible for extra incentives to include loan repayment. If I was to go in as a Med/Surg nurse would I be able to transfer in to an ER role in the future? Would doing this negate my initial contract and cause me to incur a penalty of sorts? Thanks for any info.

I just started the process last week, and my recruiter told me that there are no incentives for ER nurses this year. No bonus cash for me!

[NickG, MSN, APRN]

Oh well that's no fun. I wonder how hard it would be to get into the ER once you are in. Or, what the med/surg units are like, might not be that bad considering the population.

[jeckrn, BSN, RN]

This could be something to do with 66HM5 & 66H8A being converted to a 66T and they just might not be taking any M5's or 8A's in at this time. At one time I was a straight 66H in the reserves and applied for my M5 and got it. When you are a M5 or a 8A you are considered a med/surg nurse (66H) with a skill indentifier(SI) of either a ER nurse or ICU nurse. If you turn the 66H down now the chance for you getting in later will be if not impossible.

[NickG, MSN, APRN]

Well then like I asked before, would it be possible to get my identifier once I am in or am in stuck in the med/surg role? I'd hate to say it but not being in the ER may possibly be a deal breaker for me.

[jeckrn, BSN, RN]

Ask the recruiter what is going on with the 66T nurse. Also, before I became a M5 I was assigned to the EMT section of 2 different Combat Support Hospitals. Most reserve units are still going use your skills. Even if you are a M5 or 8A you can still be assigned to work on a med/surg floor since you are still a 66H.

[NickG, MSN, APRN]

Gotcha, so it's more or less what the needs of the unit are. I will ask about the 66T and see where that goes. Did you become an M5 after you joined?

[jeckrn, BSN, RN]

About 18 months after I joined

[Lunah, MSN, RN]

Right now they are trying to decide if all 66HM5s and 66H8As are going to be combined into just 66T, or if we'll be 66TM5 and 66T8A. Right now I believe they are leaning on the side of keeping the special identifier, not just plain 66T.

[migz]

what is a 66T?

[jeckrn, BSN, RN]

Trauma nurse who works in the ED and ICU. A med/surg nurse is a 66H, Perioperative nurse 66E, etc.

[chudder]

I have heard talk of a few new AOCs... possible 66T and 66I... trauma and critical care. I don't think any final decisions have been made. LPNs are getting their own MOS again, though... 68C