Army ?s

[huntergirl]

I am wondering what kind of unit you can be assinged to when you first join. Is it usually always a hospital or can it be a FST etc. What about working in a clinic? (I will not be entering into the residency program).

How likely is it to get one of your top 3 choices of first duty station? Is there certain places that you are more likely to get, conus vs oconus? Thanks for the help.

Does anyone know how competative it is to get into the public health nurse course?

[Staczse7]

Hi

I think you can be assigned, as a new nurse to a unit where there is an opening as a med/surg nurse and for that amount of experience. For example, I have one year or over 1500 hours of experience as an ER nurse, the unit that I am going to has an opening for a 66H5M RN (66H designates you as a RN in the Army and 5M as a ER nurse). I also because I have been a RN for over 12 years will be commissioned as a 1st Lt. It depends on where there is a slot. It is usually up to the officers to guide the less experienced nurses along, as it is in the civilian world. It is my understanding that the military offers very good training and opportunities to nurses/ medical professionals, such as the public health nursing course. The public health nursing course is offered after one year of being in the Army and it is 16 weeks long.

Hope this helps and anyone please feel free to help clarify

[athena55, BSN, RN]

If I may add my 2 cents (smile)

as runninmomof7 stated the needs of the Army come first. I was originally going to be assigned to Korea, but I asked that it be changed to CONUS, and it was! It generally depends on where the need is greatest.

Not sure how competitive it is to get into the public health course, perhaps you could ask your health care recruiter? If you really want to go make sure that is in your sign-on contract. If you opt to go to one of the Army courses (critical care, emergency, public health etc) just be aware that you will have a one year ADSO tacked on to your original contract

good luck!

athena

[just_cause, BSN, RN]

athena,

my understanding is that ER and Public Health are two courses you are not eligible to sign up for at the time of your contract as a guaranteed course... I think it is limited to OR, CC, OBGYN and PSYCH

v/r

I have heard other posters in this forum recommend that if you want to do public health.. and nothing else.. perhaps get your civilian experience and then commission when you have enough exp to go in with the identifier.

[athena55, BSN, RN]

just cause:

You are absolutely correct! CC, Periop, MCH and Psych are part of the GCSP (generic course selection program) and you will incur a one year ADSO upon completion of one of those specialty courses but only when you complete it.

Ya see what happens when my fingers get ahead of my brain?

Thanks!!

athena

[just_cause, BSN, RN]

I also believe the generic course would generate a 1 year ADSO which you can serve concurrent with whatever other ADSO you might have - such as your initial contract...or recent 1 year concurrent ADSO from a PCS.... so in that case it's something to be aware of but generally does not impact a scheduled obligation that much.