Go Parkland or Go Army??

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I'll be graduating with my BSN from University of Maryland this December and I'm trying to decide where I want to start my career. For a while now, I've been very interested in the Critical Care/Trauma Nurse Internship at Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas. From what I've heard, I'll get absoulutely the best training available in critical care at Parkland, which will be very beneficial in attaining my career goal of CRNA. However, I will have to wait for the program to start in August 2007 (and that's assuming that I get accepted into the program) and commit two years to the hospital after the 6 month course. Lately, I've gotten very interested in the Army (and the military in general). I like the leadership/management experience that Army nurses get. Though I want to be an expert clinician, I'd like to be doing more than just taking care of patients (even as a CRNA) in 20 years. I was an Eagle Scout as a kid and I've always liked being in charge, earning rank and respect, etc; I would take a lot of pride in wearing our country's uniform! All the perks of the military are nice too (free healthcare, opportunities for free education, etc). I'm young and single, but I worry about "signing my life away" and missing the prime of my life!

I'd appreciate advice from anyone who has been in similar situations...especially those of you who've considered both Parkland and military service!

rob

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Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.

I would take a lot of pride in wearing our country's uniform! All the perks of the military are nice too (free healthcare, opportunities for free education, etc). I'm young and single, but I worry about "signing my life away" and missing the prime of my life!

*** Hello I am in your situation backwards! I am currently an ICU RN. I spent 8 years in the army. 4 years as a combat medic in Ranger units and 4 years as a 91-C (LPN) in army hopsitals. I can speak to your fears of signing your life away. Maybe you don't know this but soldiers can have a LOT of fun! I had the time of my life while in the army and the only reason I got out was that I missed the infantry and the infantry was great when I was single but didn't really work as a married man with small children for me.

You will make the best friends you have ever had, go places you never thought you would get a chance to go to and do things you didn't know you could do. Army training is top notch. For example as part of my army LPN school we had 6 weeks of A&P taught by Sgt.'s. 10 years later when I wanted to go back to RN school I took the A&P challege exam and scored 93%! thus getting out of 8 units of A&P without spending a single hour studying for the exam. I didn't learn anything in my RN program that I han't already learned in army LPN school. I really feel that if I had been able to challenge the RN NCLEX I would have passed.

Only you can decide if the army is right for you but please be assured your life will go on while serving and you will make great friends and have a lot of fun.

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Specializes in ICU.

I have not considered military service. But, I wanted to add something to this particular thread.

The Parkland program requires a 24 month commitment that includes the 28 weeks spent in the internship.

The Army and Parkland have excellent reputations for preparing critical care nurses.

Good luck with your decision.

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Only you can decide if the army is right for you but please be assured your life will go on while serving and you will make great friends and have a lot of fun.

Thanks for your advice! I've heard that Army training is excellent (I believe the anesthesia school is ranked #1??) and I don't doubt that Army nurses share a lot of camaraderie. Part of my fear is that I'll be stuck on a Med/Surg floor (no offence Med/Surg folks) for 20 years! I really like critically ill patients and high-adrenaline situations. I'm sure you got plenty of this as a combat medic...do you think there are places like that for RN's?

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Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.

Part of my fear is that I'll be stuck on a Med/Surg floor (no offence Med/Surg folks) for 20 years!

*** That's not going to happen. The army is short of nurse corps officers and will not risk losing a good one by making them do what they do not want to do. That said most NC officers I knew did spend a year or two in med-surg before moving on.

I really like critically ill patients and high-adrenaline situations. I'm sure you got plenty of this as a combat medic..

*** Uh, yes, that's an understatement.

.do you think there are places like that for RN's?

*** Absolutly. The NC officers that served in our battalion aid stations (all men) did most of what we Rangers did.

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Specializes in Telemetry, OR, ICU.
Thanks for your advice! I've heard that Army training is excellent (I believe the anesthesia school is ranked #1??) and I don't doubt that Army nurses share a lot of camaraderie. Part of my fear is that I'll be stuck on a Med/Surg floor (no offence Med/Surg folks) for 20 years! I really like critically ill patients and high-adrenaline situations. I'm sure you got plenty of this as a combat medic...do you think there are places like that for RN's?

I'm nearing the end of a very intense 14 week critical care nursing course at Madigan Army Medical Center. Included both didactics & clinicals. Plus, before this phase 2 portion we were required to complete the AACN ECCO online course, which is an excellent prep for the CCRN certification.

So, I'd imagine the Army Medical Department would love to train you to become an 66H8A critical care nurse in the Army Nurse Corps. Post up here on the public boards if you have anymore questions.

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