Navy Vs. Army Nursing?

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First of all I wanted to extend my greetings out to the allnurses.com forum I've been a member shortly and I have learned a great deal just reading these posts.

This is my first post and I've been having trouble on deciding which option or route I should take. I'm a junior level college student taking clinicals upon accepting my application in the fall and I'm not sure which branch of the military I should declare for. I know Army is more field work and I know Navy is more the role of the nurse practioner, But it still hasn't helped which option I should take. Anybody that can relate or has any opinions on this would be a great help.

Thanks

Pino

Specializes in Telemetry, OR, ICU.
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.

Hey Miranda, love your avatar! I grew in the Austin [TX] Hill Country where bluebonnets thrive.

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I'm new here, and also considering the USNR and the army/NG nurse corps.

Tough to get an appreciation of how each branch is different when one is not in the service. My experience - I live in Chicago - is that the USN healthcare recruiters are top-notch and very professional. very forthcoming with information. The army AMEDD people somewhat less so but that's a generalization. ARNG seems pretty desperate to make a sale. Do they have a bad shortage?

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

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Specializes in ER, Trauma, US Navy.

GeorgiaBoy-

I give the Navy side of your questions and let CorvetteGuy handle the Army stuff.

You stated you wanted some exciting missions, how exciting do you want to get? Do you want to pick up a gun and rush off into battle in a blaze of glory? Not going to happen as a Navy nurse. For that matter shouldn't be that way for any nurse, however, we do get stationed where the action can get hot and you may have to discharge your sidearm, it all depends. Getting stationed as a medical officer with the Marines is a good way to do it for one. To assist you in your quest I suggest getting into some critical care area, ER/ ICU/ CCU stuff. This will maximize your chances of getting closer to any action. I too came into the Navy with some basic nursing experience, asked for the ER/ICU and have been able to stay ER/ICU all 9+ years of my career. Your individual experience may vary, but that is how it worked for me. If you can get into these areas before you come on active duty, it will make your chances of staying there much greater when you come on active duty. As far as not hearing much about Navy nurses, generally you won't. We are the barrier between the corpsmen and the doctors and the corpsmen rely heavily on our expertise to make sure they're not getting into trouble. Navy nurses do act in more of a supervisory role for a good part of the time, basically doing situation awareness and deligating what needs to be done, for most of the minor stuff. When things get complicated and it gets out of the realm of what corpsmen learn in their 14 weeks of training, that's where you come in. Navy nurses serve to educate the corpsmen and help mold them into good providers so when they go out into the field, they are prepared. Don't get me wrong, we get our hands plenty dirty, thing is you get to decide how dirty you want them. I have been in the Navy 9+ years and I have plenty of experience to go around in ER/ ICU. Our hospital I'm at now is not too busy, so I have the time I need to educate and teach the corpsmen about things. I've been at bigger commands where I haven't had the time and that is where I busted my tail. In the Navy you can do it both ways, you decide. Right now we have about 3,000 nurses in the Navy and still need more.

Personally, I love what I do. I've been in the field and I've spent time in the hospital and have enjoyed both. I don't know where I'd be without my corpsmen and I have worked with some of the finest men in women in the military. I have helped them in their career and they have helped me in mine, it has been a great experience and I won't trade it for anything. To make me more educated and capable of assisting our corpsmen and be more mission ready, I'm heading to grad school to get my master's in ER/Traumna as a CNS and an ACNP. After that, I'll have an operational tour somewhere in the world.

If you have more specific questions I can be of more help, this is basic general stuff.

LT Dan

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Specializes in Telemetry, OR, ICU.
...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

Hello Pete,

First of all its great that you have an interest in serving this great country of ours as a military nurse. Do me a favor, please. Whenever you type Army, Soldier, Navy, etc. be sure to capitalize the first letter, okay? ;)

As an RN in the Army Nurse Corps [Army Medical Department (AMEDD)] you will provide direct primary nursing care if your a critical care nurse [66H8A]. You will work in an Army Medical Center, Army Community Hospital, or when deployed over-seas with a Combat Support Hospital [CSH]... similar to television show M*A*S*H. These are just a few of the places you could work. Yes, the enlisted Army nurses, LVN/LPNs [91WM6], are given way more responsibility in a nursing capacity than in civilian healthcare. Nonetheless, an RN in the AMEDD is still providing direct nursing care.

IMHO, RNs are given more responsibility, respect, and courtesy in the AMEDD than in civilian healthcare. If you like, send me a PM and we can exchange emails for more info.

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Specializes in pure and simple psych.
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

Lt. Dan, I did not hear any "digs"...Why the paranoia???:confused:

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Specializes in ER, Trauma, US Navy.

Sanctuary-

Please start reading from the beginning, thank you, it should be obvious. Besides, this issue has been settled, no more input needed.

LT Dan

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Im a Junior in High school. And I am a STNA trainee. I want to go into the military to get the best set up and education possible. But Im not sure which one I should do, cause I dont know much about and Army nurse, and a Navy nurse. Can someone PLEASE! help me out?

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Well having done a lot of research myself it really depends oh what you want to do in the military. This is a nursing forum, but I'm not familiar with "STNA trainee". If its nursing then do a search on here for Army RNs and Navy RNs. Each branch offers different incentives to sign on. So if its financial help then you'll have your answer. Contact recruiters and ask for a site visit to the local base of each branch you're considering. That'll give an asnwer too. After you investigate all of your options write a Pro's/Con's list and then you'll have your answer. Bottom line - you have to research this for yourself and make your own decision based on what you find and what you want..... Good luck

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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

LT Dan,

How can i get into a STP? I would like to right up front with our boys takin care of them. I am going into my freshmen year in college and am either going to do Army ROTC for nursing or the Nurse Canidate Program for the Navy. However, I was wondering how hard it is to get into a STP. Do you volunteer or what? Also what kind of training do you receive prior to being deployed in a STP? Thank you.

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