Any Military psych NP? Needs some overview regarding military life

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Im a BSN, with 6 yrs of ICU exp, planning to transfer to the psych field then do my pmhnp and join the military. Just want to know hows your daily work, deployments, career advancements. Any input will do. Thanks

Stuff like that happens in the military. They need a nurse, they find a nurse. It's the "needs of the [Navy, Army, etc]". I see that sort of thing frustrate healthcare professionals, maybe more than your run-of-the-mill joe (although, as a linguist, my peers were pretty irritated too when they ended up doing stuff other than what they trained for).

That said, I have had incredible experiences in the military, and I don't regret joining. I just caution that people be realistic about expectations, especially people who come in with a high level of expertise. The military can be a frustrating environment when it comes to professional fulfillment - it's not like a normal job where you can reasonably expect to know what type of setting you will work in, or how you be employed. If you keep an open mind, though, and a positive attitude, it can take you amazing places (literally and figuratively).

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On 1/27/2016 at 2:24 PM, mmak said:

We see boarding psych patients every day, some of them stay up to two-three weeks at a time. It is really concerning to see what we do to patients in acute psychiatric emergencies in the ED: remove all belongings, strip them of their privacy, and place them in a bare room where they get no freedom. We have no therapeutic activities for them, no groups, a psychiatrist sees them once a day while they wait to transfer to an inpatient psych unit.

I voiced my frustration for the system and expressed an interest in filling a need. If we know that there are not enough providers for mental health concerns and I know that I am capable of helping fill that void, why wouldn't I do it?

Do you happen to know any Pmhnp whom have children ?

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