Navy Vs. Army Nursing?

Understood. But think how this all might sound to a 20-year-old newbie making his or her first post. Or to the rest of us who aren't used to having to take cover and dodge a hail of blazing testosterone molecules.

I'm not saying you can't do your respective chest thumping. Only saying that maybe you guys should start another thread. Then you can have a heck of a good rumble and no one will get hurt.

Think of the bartender saying, "Take it outside, boys. Take it outside."

Rn/writer-

Chest thumping aside, the initial post was indeed incorrect regarding lack of frontline action for nurses. Imagine a "newbie" as you put it thinking he/ she can join the military and not have to be where the action is? That is the real problem and could be misleading. As for the rest, I'm with my bud Vette Man, just standard military rivalry stuff, no disrespect intended. If anything, it should show how proud we all are of our military backgrounds and what a privlege it is to serve. That should be the take home message here. Still someone can learn from it. Also keep in mind it's not always about testosterone, plenty of estrogen in our armed services too.

LT Dan

Rn/writer-

Chest thumping aside, the initial post was indeed incorrect regarding lack of frontline action for nurses. Imagine a "newbie" as you put it thinking he/ she can join the military and not have to be where the action is? That is the real problem and could be misleading. As for the rest, I'm with my bud Vette Man, just standard military rivalry stuff, no disrespect intended. If anything, it should show how proud we all are of our military backgrounds and what a privlege it is to serve. That should be the take home message here. Still someone can learn from it. Also keep in mind it's not always about testosterone, plenty of estrogen in our armed services too.

LT Dan

Yeah, you wouldn't want someone coming in with that part misunderstood.

And you're right about the estrogen in the mix. One of my daughters was in the Army Reserves. Her brother was active duty Air Force. So I DO understand the friendly rivalry. Just thought it might be getting a little intense for someone new to the board.

I'd say carry on, men (and women), but then you probably would.

Thanks for your honorable service in whatever branch you're a part of. I am grateful to every one of you for your have contributions.

...Here's my question: How does civilian nursing differ from military nursing? It looks like to me that the enlisted people do a great deal of the direct care of patients, especially the Navy corpsmen. Perhaps this is my bias talking, but whenever I read about navy medicine, its corpsmen-this, doctors-that - no mention of the RNs. I don't care about recognition, but I do care about being able to do neat cases and get interesting missions. Please comment.

I tried to join the USNR as a corpsman because I know I'd love field medicine, and also because I'm a jock, but unfortunately I'm too old at 44.
Having said that, RNs are officers and corpsmen are not. But based upon some of the posts here, perhaps I can get some good exciting missions as an RN. Hope so.

Similarly, how do RNs function in the Army? Lots of questions there, too.

Basically, I gravitated to the USNR and the Army NG as they seemed to be the most friendly and open-minded about military service at my age. But I quickly found out that the Navy walls off RNs from other duties in the service. For example, I also have a degree in history and would like to intel work after a tour as an RN. No go said the Navy. One of my best friends is in the ARNG and he says that there is much more freedom to move around in the Guard than in the other branches of the military.

The Guard needs RNs pretty badly - lots of bucks. USN is offering some dough but not so much. I'm trying not to let that cloud my judgment.

Another issue is advanced training opportunities. I am only eight months into nursing after getting my RN. Have a BS and MS in biology/biochem, too, and ten plus years as a scientist to my credit too. I'd like to get qualified to do something in addition to med-surg nursing, which is all I have done since being out of school. Maybe OR or ICU. Always looking for chances to get out-and-about, get my feet dirty.

Anyway - I sure would appreciate input from those of you in uniform. I have two packets partly done and will have to make a choice soon between ARNG and the Navy.

Thanks -

Pete

Did someone forget about Shock Trauma Platoons? STPs for short. These are mobile trauma units that go where the fighting is, indeed up front with the Marines . I should know, I'm a Navy nurse and was training for such a job. So before we start making digs at what each other does, lets get the facts straight. And I don't want to hear about "well when I was in Navy nurses, blah, blah ,blah..." I've heard plenty of that before about how Navy nurses sit on their butt and all that. Been a Navy nurse for almost 10 years and I don't sit on my butt. If you've been woth nurses who have, I apologize for them, but that's not what we're about. And yes, you did just _____ in my wheaties this morning. I have worked very hard to get where I am, all stereotypes aside, and when someone generalizes about my corps, I get a bit irritated!!

LT Dan