BSN Student w/ a Million Q's.

[Lisi_95]

Here's some background:

It will take almost 3 years to graduate. I am extremely interested in serving in any of the branches of the military. I currently have my EMT-B and am planning to obtain an EMT-P license after graduating with the BSN. My ultimate goal is to become a flight nurse. I know that I'll need plenty of experience before accomplishing that. Also, I hear that it seems to be getting increasingly difficult to get the ROTC scholarship due to the increase in selectivity and decrease in need for brand new RN's. While the scholarship would be great, I am more concerned with being guaranteed a nursing position. The AFROTC recruiter I spoke with stated that, even if I were to join AFROTC, a nursing position would not be guaranteed. I am hoping for a better outcome when I meet with someone from the Army ROTC.

1. What branch would be best for focusing on emergency care?

2. When a nurse is deployed in the Army, is she more likely to be working in conditions other than a hospital? Perhaps something like a makeshift medical station that deals with those from the front-lines?

3. Do flight nurses in the Air Force solely transport stable patients? Or do they work similarly to those in the civilian world and provide emergency medical treatment?

4. If I want more of the excitement, would it be better to try to become an Army medic, Navy Corpsman, etc.?

5. Do women have the ability to perform in those positions now?

6. Would it be better to get a year of experience as an RN before joining the military?

7. Do you know if it's possible to challenge the Paramedic National Registry Exam? Or of accelerated programs to obtain a medic license?

8. What steps should I take to better my chances of getting a position in the military that will supply the experience I need to become a flight nurse in civilian life?

9. Am I thinking way too far ahead for someone who is still just in the first phase of nursing school and is already way in over her head? Lol.

10. Am I even in the right forum? I'm talking about both military and flight nursing. Again, lol.

If you read all of this and have input on any of the above questions, thanks so much!

[Lunah, MSN, RN]

I have known more ICU nurses to do flight nursing in the Army than ER nurses, but that is just what I have seen while deployed.

Your EMT-P will probably have more civilian value than in the military. There are some RN-to-Paramedic programs, but I wouldn't recommend that route — I haven't seen good results with it because while nursing education is very broad and general, paramedic education is specifically prehospital and really outside the RN realm.

If you want to be a nurse in the military, don't join as a medic. It's not all excitement all the time. Many of the medics I deployed with spent a lot of time NOT being medics when not deployed.

The Army won't consider you for direct commission until you have at least two years of experience. That may change by the time you finish.

As an Army ER nurse I deployed with a Forward Surgical Team (FST), which is typically that "makeshift" set-up, further forward or closer to action. It was very austere, in a word. This is a less typical deployment, I think.

You might be a little ahead of yourself, but there is nothing wrong with planning and dreaming! To be attractive to the military, get the best grades possible — GPA matters. Ensure that you are physically fit. Experience and specialty board certifications are also desirable. With that said, the Army just cut a whole bunch of nurses, including ICU and ER nurses. The Army is overstrength.

I know this is random in order and content, but there it is. :)

[jfratian, DNP, RN, CRNA]

All 3 branches have flight nursing. I don't have specific numbers, but my branch (AF) seems to have quite a few slots for that role. We do direct commission experienced civilian critical care nurses (at least 1 year of full time experience) as flight nurses.

At least in the AF, we have 3 distinct teams for transport. TACIT teams include battlefield short-range transport via helicopter and include a CRNA and an ER nurse. CCATT teams move ICU level patients long distances (generally on a C-17); they include an ICU nurse, a respiratory therapist, and a flight surgeon. Flight nurses move stable med-surg level patients long distances (generally C-17s). You can fly as a flight nurse, a CRNA, an ER nurse, or an ICU nurse in the Air Force.

It would be smarter to get experience first, because it allows you to bypass the med-surg phase that military new grads inevitably go through.

[nrryan]

For #9, I would say that you are probably getting ahead of yourself. Yes, it is very good to have long term goals and all that. But your first step needs to be figuring out how your are going to get into the military to be a nurse. You talk about joining as a medic/corpsman. If you are doing a BSN program, do NOT enlist. The Army (and I'm guessing the other branches but the Army is what I'm familiar with) does not have enlisted BSN nurses. If you want to utilize your BSN in the military, you need to become an Officer.

Now, there are a few different ways to go about that but it sounds like you are pursuing ROTC, which is a great idea (I'm biased but I'm an ROTC nursing Cadet so that's why). Yes, the military overall is drawing down. But ROTC (and Army in particular) are still taking in almost the same amount of nurses as they were 5 years ago. They plan for ebbs and flows and that is why they can still take in nurses even during a "drawdown".

With all that being said, i think you should definitely go talk to that Army ROTC recruiter. If you have good grades and are in good shape and all that, you will most likely be offered a scholarship. If you decide to forego ROTC, the Army is currently NOT taking new grads for direct commissioning (if you don't know what that is, research it). So you would have to get your degree, get ~2 years experience, apply for direct commission, and be accepted. ROTC is really great for the reason that once you are contracted, you have then earned a commission and at that point you just do ROTC and your nursing program, and then you are an Officer when you graduate.

I know I rambled a bit but I wanted to offer those pieces of advice. If you need more help or have any questions, don't hesitate to ask! Good luck

[Lunah, MSN, RN]

ROTC is really great for the reason that once you are contracted, you have then earned a commission and at that point you just do ROTC and your nursing program, and then you are an Officer when you graduate.

One caveat: active duty is not guaranteed via ROTC. Some students are selected for active duty, others for Reserves.

[nrryan]

One caveat: active duty is not guaranteed via ROTC. Some students are selected for active duty, others for Reserves.

You're right, I should've mentioned that part. FWIW, almost everyone got active duty who wanted it this year. My brigade nurse counselor said they underestimated how many Cadets would willingly CHOOSE reserve/guard this year, so there ended up being more active duty spots than they first thought.

Of course, all of this could change depending on what happens in the world, but from what my BNC said, the Army will need plenty of nurses for the next few years.

[SnakeEyes]

If you can get ER and/or ICU experience and attain your CEN & CCRN certs you would be very marketable anywhere. The USAF & USN flight nurses I knew transported the sickest, most complicated & unstable patients. IMO: Flight nurses and CRNAs were the brightest and most proficient nurses I have ever worked with.

[ED Nurse, RN]

All 3 branches have flight nursing. I don't have specific numbers, but my branch (AF) seems to have quite a few slots for that role. We do direct commission experienced civilian critical care nurses (at least 1 year of full time experience) as flight nurses.

At least in the AF, we have 3 distinct teams for transport. TACIT teams include battlefield short-range transport via helicopter and include a CRNA and an ER nurse. CCATT teams move ICU level patients long distances (generally on a C-17); they include an ICU nurse, a respiratory therapist, and a flight surgeon. Flight nurses move stable med-surg level patients long distances (generally C-17s). You can fly as a flight nurse, a CRNA, an ER nurse, or an ICU nurse in the Air Force.

It would be smarter to get experience first, because it allows you to bypass the med-surg phase that military new grads inevitably go through.

Agree with all, except the CCATT teams are an RT, critical care nurse, and a critical care physician- like ER, not a flight surgeon. Most flight surgeons in the AF do not have the critical care experience needed to be CCATT and the training weeds out the incompetence quickly.