A day in the life. Military Nursing

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Would you active duty nurses share with us hopefuls what a day in your life as a nurse is like?

Please Include your service, station, and area you work.

Thanks in advance for anything you care to share!

That being said... you can look at organization of nurses, you can then see the number that are MTOE units vs TDA. I think you will find a very % of nursing billets that by design unable to deploy.

I think you will also find, especially reserve the waiting listing of volunteers trying deploy exceeds the opportunities available. my 0.02

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Specializes in ED. ICU, PICU, infection prevention, aeromedical e.

You know, I may look at it slightly differently. I'm a critical care and ER nurse. So I think my path may be more along the lines of deployment.

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Specializes in Pediatric Emergency.
That being said... you can look at organization of nurses, you can then see the number that are MTOE units vs TDA. I think you will find a very % of nursing billets that by design unable to deploy.

I think you will also find, especially reserve the waiting listing of volunteers trying deploy exceeds the opportunities available. my 0.02

it's looking good~ my hippy hair days will be a thing of the past~! :smokin:

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That being said... you can look at organization of nurses, you can then see the number that are MTOE units vs TDA. I think you will find a very % of nursing billets that by design unable to deploy.

I think you will also find, especially reserve the waiting listing of volunteers trying deploy exceeds the opportunities available. my 0.02

This probably depends on your branch of service - the AF sees an RN as an RN - my clinical director is a retired Lt Col and a cancer specialist (RN) and she went to Afghanistan as a med-surg RN when she was active duty....OB RNs have been known to deploy as M-S RNs and not OBs....

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Specializes in ED. ICU, PICU, infection prevention, aeromedical e.

Changing the topic ...

What do you wear at work? I'm wondering if I should keep my scrubs or give them away to my friends. And did I read somewhere that men's abu's are a better fit?

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Yes - men's ABU pants fit better than the women's. No one knows why and it makes no sense.

I gave my scrubs away and kept four of my tops for sentimental reasons for my cedar chest. You'll more than likely go to work in the uniform of the day (which means blues on Mondays and ABUs every other time unless otherwise directed) and you change when you get to work.

HOWEVER, you're an NP if I remember correctly, so you may wear your duty uniform at your facility. Oh - you're coming here - I'll see if I can find out! It might depend on if you're coming to Big Willie or if you'll be at the Kelly Clinic or on the 37 Training Wing side, where the folks wear the uniform of the day all day and not scrubs.

As far as I know, you can wear whatever shoes you want to wear with your scrubs as long as they're conservative, but even then commanders vary. I wear the Sketchers (not that I think they work, but they are super comfy) and alternate them with a pair of Danskos. I bought the compression ABU socks by UnderArmour and they work really well.

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Specializes in Anesthesia.
Changing the topic ...

What do you wear at work? I'm wondering if I should keep my scrubs or give them away to my friends. And did I read somewhere that men's abu's are a better fit?

I would keep your scrubs in case you decide to work part-time somewhere once you get in.

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Specializes in ED. ICU, PICU, infection prevention, aeromedical e.

I'm not an NP. I'm a critical care nurse. My master's is an MBA in healthcare management.

I already had your suggestion about the underarmour socks from another thread. (told you I've been taking notes. lol). I have the skechers too. I don't think they work so much, but they are comfy.

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
I have the skechers too. I don't think they work so much, but they are comfy.

I have them as well. Agree that they are comfy! I recently had a syncope patient -- she was in her 90s, and was wearing the Skechers Shape-Ups when EMS brought her into our ED. She informed me that she was certain her rear end looked better after wearing the Shape-Ups. :D So cute!!

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I would keep your scrubs in case you decide to work part-time somewhere once you get in.

Who has the time or energy to do that? Seriously.

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I'm not an NP. I'm a critical care nurse. My master's is an MBA in healthcare management.

I already had your suggestion about the underarmour socks from another thread. (told you I've been taking notes. lol). I have the skechers too. I don't think they work so much, but they are comfy.

Then you'll definitely be wearing scrubs. I had it in my head you're an NP.

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Specializes in ED. ICU, PICU, infection prevention, aeromedical e.

Do I wear my scrubs or change into others when I get to work? Do I need to buy new scrubs? eeek! More expenses.

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