Are there no psych nurses for the military members stationed overseas?

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Specializes in Behavioral Health.

I'm graduating in May as an ADN. My ultimate goal is to become a Psych nurse practitioner. I've always wanted to live overseas and I want to provide psych services for our troops so I figured the best way to kill to birds with one stone is to become a psych nurse for the troops stationed overseas. I've watched usajobs.gov like a hawk since I began nursing school (August 2016) and I never see any psych jobs on military bases overseas. What does the military do for soldiers who start to have psych problems while stationed overseas? What about their families? Does the military not provide services for troops overseas?

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I'm graduating in May as an ADN. My ultimate goal is to become a Psych nurse practitioner. I've always wanted to live overseas and I want to provide psych services for our troops so I figured the best way to kill to birds with one stone is to become a psych nurse for the troops stationed overseas. I've watched usajobs.gov like a hawk since I began nursing school (August 2016) and I never see any psych jobs on military bases overseas. What does the military do for soldiers who start to have psych problems while stationed overseas? What about their families? Does the military not provide services for troops overseas?

There are psychiatrists. I would imagine that people who need in-patient psychiatric treatment would be discharged or at least put on some sort of leave. Interesting question.

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There are enlisted "behavioral specialists" that provide standard counseling services, but psychiatrists mainly deal with providing rubber stamping of discharge paperwork for local commanders. Short term inpatient encounters are limited to that necessary to provide substantiation for a discharge, same as for stateside duty stations.

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Doesn't the military require a BSN, anyway?

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I know my nation's military require RNs to have a degree. They are commissioned officers after all.

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If the OP is searching usajobs.gov, he or she isn't referring to an active duty military position. Having said that, I have no idea if a BSN is required for a DOD civilian nursing position.

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You're not finding nursing jobs overseas on USAJobs for several reasons. My husband was stationed in Germany and I worked for one of the largest (if not THE largest) military hospitals overseas. The military population alone was over 50k. This includes spouses, many who have their RN. Whatever jobs aren't filled by rotating active duty members are filled by dependent spouses. And it's even difficult for them to get the job. The way they get their foot in the door is by volunteering with the local on base Red Cross and then getting hired that way. Not saying it's impossible to find a job from stateside, but it's incredibly difficult even for someone who is stationed there. My suggestion would be to find a job at a base or VA stateside and get in the system that way. Then perhaps more opportunities will open up to you. Good luck!

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Specializes in Behavioral Health.

Not as a civilian and I'm enrolling in a BSN program that will begin this fall. Thanks.

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Specializes in Behavioral Health.

Darn! No wonder some of those jobs where only up for 2 or 3 days. Did the hospital you work at have a psychiatric floor?

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Specializes in Behavioral Health.

Guys thanks for the responses. Please keep in mind that I want to work overseas as a nurse practitioner that, as of now, is a minimum program. There is no need to tell me the military requires a BSN.

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Specializes in TNS, ECRN, CEN, TNCC.

Family Nurse Practitioner (66P) | GoArmy.com

Why don't you just go Army?

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Specializes in Behavioral Health.

Not making that mistake again!

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