Adult Nurse Practitioners?

Published

Hello,

Wondering if someone could clarify what they have heard about adult nurse practitioners in the army. I read on this site that the army does not use ANP's. I have spoken with a health care recruiter about possibly joining when I graduate (2010) and she said that the army DOES use adult np's. She said they can be deployed but are usually in leadership roles and see patients in clinics. Also, curious why on USjobs they have multiple posting for adult NP's with the army medical corp??? Any response would be greatly appreciated. Thanks:nurse:

-recommend looking at MOS available - there is not Adult NP MOS - (red flag if that is your goal). I don't think it is trickery - just not a slotted MOS.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
It actually doesn't matter what your contract says....if your command/chief nurse etc decide they don't need you as NP then you be working as an RN in any fashion they see fit.

That is one of many reasons I picked CRNA over nurse practitioner in the military. It is exceedingly rare for a CRNA to be pulled out of their primary job.

Wow: Probably/maybe short term but long term??? Would/could affect recertification....

Actually violation of contract can end service obligation. I have seen it happen within my own family and with friends family. In my family members case it took an attorney but in the end family member was out of the army, records expunged so not as to reflect negatively and the US government paid attorney expenses...

...of course the MOS thing would be something to really take note of to begin with.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Further searching this is from the Army site:

http://www.goarmy.com/amedd/nurse/corps_specialties_requir.jsp

There are multiple advanced practice and Master's prepared nursing specialties recognized within the Army Nurse Corps. However, Family Nurse Practitioners, Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioners, Certified Nurse Midwives; and Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists are the only specialties utilized as Independently Licensed Health Care Providers.

Found this discussion to be most interesting....

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Anesthesia.
Wow: Probably/maybe short term but long term??? Would/could affect recertification....

Actually violation of contract can end service obligation. I have seen it happen within my own family and with friends family. In my family members case it took an attorney but in the end family member was out of the army, records expunged so not as to reflect negatively and the US government paid attorney expenses...

...of course the MOS thing would be something to really take note of to begin with.

Actually it is not a violation of the contract, if your contract says that you are coming in as an Adult NP and then you are put to work as an regular RN there is no breech of contract. No where in your contract will you be promised to work as an Adult NP.

Under those circumstances it would be extremely difficult to get out of your contract for d/t breech in terms.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Actually it is not a violation of the contract, if your contract says that you are coming in as an Adult NP and then you are put to work as an regular RN there is no breech of contract. No where in your contract will you be promised to work as an Adult NP.

Under those circumstances it would be extremely difficult to get out of your contract for d/t breech in terms.

All could depend on the wording.... But anyway shirleyTX please keep us posted to what you find out.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Anesthesia.
All could depend on the wording.... But anyway shirleyTX please keep us posted to what you find out.

JD,

Are you military RN?

I have seen numerous APNs not allowed to work as APNs, because the chief nurse/squadron commander etc decided that they wanted/needed them to work somewhere else.

I would like to see one military contract that promises to let a military RN work as APN for the rest of their career. At most you might get it in writing to work as an APN for one tour which can be as little as 1-2yrs in the Army.

The other thing to remember as an APN in the military you will be expected to step out of that role at some point in your career in order to advance in rank.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

anecdotal comments: plenty of Soldiers have advanced degree's and will still only be utilized as their MOS allows - needs of the Army. The grunt with a psych degree works along side the grunt with the high school diploma if he's 11B... really makes no difference that he has a degree unless he happens to chosen by his command to work within his MOS in a realm that they find him useful in and is available....

I do not see any army nurse MOS that deals with APN as an MOS.. Yes the Army provides education routes for you to obtain that - but aside from FNP the APN status is not a requirement - if it is please toss me a link~

I think wtb's comments are spot on - especially with the idea that sooner or later you will be chosen to move out of your clinical responsibility and into some sort of command progression or other 'officer'-esque type job.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Needs of the military first... Yep know about that.

Common sense if they want you to be a APRN there has to be clinical time and continuing education. How many APRNs do you know that have not met the clinical requirements set forth by the certifying organizations and can still legally call themselves APRNs?

If the Army wasn't willing to make concessions they would not have come up with the 2 year older provider program.

A contract is a two way road... There are probably pleanty of people who did not get what they wanted and walked away (do you know that this has not happened)... So I garner every person in the miltary health provider or not has the same contract? This is not a draft it's recruitment.

I don't know how every branch operates but there are the contract years and there is the none contract years afterwards... Yep its true being in the miltary is not a sentence one can say bye-bye and as congressional testimony has been presented a big number do say bye-bye...

Are you pointing out that the Army will recruit you as an APRN with the intention of not using you in that shape or fashion? You did say numerous is there a percentage attached with that statement? Time frame?

Yep this discussion seems to be more interesting than I first thought....

Up Vote Up Vote ×

JD,

Perhaps I am not reading the OP correctly.

OP was Shirley who wanted to join the Army as and Adult NP... which she said her recruiter responded the army does use Adult NPs. (it was not stated that the Army uses Adult NPs only as Adult NPs....)

However, if you look at the specific MOS there is not "Adult NP MOS" within the Army. Perhaps the recruiter was simply stating that yes you are an adult NP you can join the army as a 66H. I don't know the specifics... I don't think any of us do.

Then it was recommended that shirley ensure that Adult NP is in 'her contract'. The contract is not tailored to the individual as to create a specific niche within an MOS - that isn't the job of the recruiter or within their scope. What they can do is pair a person up with an MOS who meets or exceeds the standards.

Shirley said the recruiter said the Army had nurses who were Adult NPs - not that all Adult NPs are able to perform that specific job role in the Army... I'm sure some do - but some likely don't... as it's not a specific MOS. I'm not sure how familiar you are with the Army/military - but I do not understand the real debate on this... if anything the OP is now likely much more confused.

Without additional input from OP - who sounds relatively new to the options - the continuation of this is all 'best guess'.

v/r

Up Vote Up Vote ×

That’s why I added these to comments in my previous posts:

...of course the MOS thing would be something to really take note of to begin with.

…There are multiple advanced practice and Master's prepared nursing specialties recognized within the Army Nurse Corps. However, Family Nurse Practitioners, Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioners, Certified Nurse Midwives; and Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists are the only specialties utilized as Independently Licensed Health Care Providers.

She might be more confused or maybe she now knows there is more to the story (just like I do). But I would presume one going in as an ANP would be looking to be used as an ANP. The discovery that “other use” may be surprising. If that other use is protracted well that discovery could also be surprising. Everyone does not know all the questions they need to be asking: I know I didn’t. I believe the muddy water may be somewhat clearer now....

I agree we are a "best guess" stage....

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in psych.

I have to say I am so thankful for sites like these. Yes, the military world is very confusing but I feel the responses have been very helpful. I understand the different points of views and feel I have gained a better perspective on things. I will definately ask VERY specific questions dealing with this subject. I love nursing first and foremost. I do feel however, if I am unable to function as an NP then I will probably not join. It's not that I dislike floor nursing, but it has been a struggle from the beginning to complete NP school and I feel once I graduate I should start developing those skills and responsibilities. I am curious though, are there not clinic type settings that are staffed with NP's like for Veterans Affairs and so on? Are these settings staffed with civilians only? Again, let me thank everyone for their responses. Joining the military is a huge decision for me like for so many others, not only will it be a life change but a huge personal sacrifice from being away from my son. I just want to know if the sacrifice is warranted.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Shirley -best of luck.

Also many of the listings on USA jobs are for civilians working for a branch as civilians - perhaps that is what was found online?

Look forward to hearing feedback from your additional questions, thanks!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion