This new thread is to ask for help in choosing what branch of the military to serve in as a nurse of my personality. They're so different in many ways, & it is becoming increasingly tough to decide when all the Recruiters (of course, because it's their job) make it seem all branches would fit me :).
I think I've ruled out Navy because I'm pretty sure I wouldn't do well having to go on a ship for 6mo at a time if I were deployed, & I feel the places I'd go wouldn't fit me in that I'd be stuck in a clinic or hospital for too long.
That said, now I'm looking at A.F. or Army. Can any of you help me decide by these personality guidelines? ....I am much more of an outdoorsy person, hate being stuck in a rut, will be continuing my education to a Masters, love to travel, believe I would be good at field work because I get pretty antsy when I feel I'm trapped in the "four walls" too long :chair: -thus not wanting to work in a "building" my entire life, love the idea of helping our men & woman in service & also w/ humanitarian work on the side. I want to learn how to have more leadership & assertiveness, & want to excel in my profession. I'm not married, no kids, thirty years old, obtaining my BSN right now, & have one dog. I love to do technical & eclectic things too -doesn't have to always be medical related, though I am a nurse number one.
:) So, what do you guys think would be better for me? Air Force or Army? I'd REALLY appreciate the advice & direction!
Also, how many days/hours do you typically work as a nurse in both branches (besides going to help whenever needed)??? And are there any downfalls to being a female nurse in the Army/Air Force?
I know, long request...but it's my life! ha! I'm trying to make wise decisions so that I won't regret which branch I choose, but will instead wake up everyday excited to get to work as a dedicated, educated nurse!
Specializes in Med/Surg;Hm Health;House Super; ER.
Hi Care and Joy,
Check out the meps website too, okay? I found it helpful, especially the advice from meps about to expect, what you will do and what they do and do not want to hear about. :)
You said that you received your 'unofficial' welcome letter, but I was wondering, how long after your meps physical did you you get the letter? I was curious what kind of contact I would get after I had mine (meps) earlier this week, even though my application is still in the process of being completed. I was chuckling when you stated all the addresses, etc, you had to review on your application, as I have tons of addresses, etc, also. I've moved so much that past few years. My recruiter was groaning at all the things he'd have to type down, ha ha.
You said that you received your 'unofficial' welcome letter, but I was wondering, how long after your meps physical did you you get the letter? I was curious what kind of contact I would get after I had mine (meps) earlier this week, even though my application is still in the process of being completed. I was chuckling when you stated all the addresses, etc, you had to review on your application, as I have tons of addresses, etc, also. I've moved so much that past few years. My recruiter was groaning at all the things he'd have to type down, ha ha.
Holly
Hi Holly i actually had my Meps done before my packet was even complete. Since I am older, 40, and my recruiter was new to recruiting for active duty and new to recruiting medical he figured it would be best for my entire packet if I could show that I would qualify even as a regular enlistee, (I took the ASVAB as well).
My first packet went before review and was rejected the very next day because it was applying for student nurse candidate program and they do not take Master's students as nurse candidates...YET.
So I was told to repackage and apply as Regular Army. Once my packet was complete and went before review a second time, they got back to my recruiter and said they wanted a copy of my state certification from 1989 of my nursing assistant certification. Since Illinois has not offered those since 1979, (they have a registry at IDPH) I sent them a copy of the information. That is when I got the unnoficial welcome, from the woman who had been the intermediary between my recruiter and the board. She told me that the next time she called me it would be to ask when I wanted to come and sign and so on. What a relief that was but, still, holding my breath a bit.
It is been two very long seeming weeks since then. :) I am waiting, she said sometimes it does take a bit and to relax for at least three weeks.
cohessian in the navy is always there, we are that big family, we do care. I would say abotu ur traveling, the navy is pretty good about that. For deployments, we dont get deployed until atleast our 2nd tour, so that ship thing migh tnot even happen for you. Alot of what you are looking for i think can be found in the navy, and i wouldnt rule them out just yet. those recuiters dont awlsys tell you the truth, no matter what ther service is.
Specializes in ER,ICU and Progressive Care Unit,Peds.
Navydavey07,
The navy is now deploying people in during the 1st tour! I am awaiting a deployment right now, and I work with many people who have been deployed during the 1st tour.
I didnt know they were. Well i mean i knew that you got attached to a platform and that could be activated and you could get deployed on that, but from what our detailer said and from what i was told on my cruise, i didnt think it was very doable. They wanted us to ge some time adjusting to the life and hospital and such. But I dont doubt it. And the few people who graduated from my unit havent gotten deployed yet on thier first tour, and they are on both sides of the country. But good old needs of the navy....
I didnt know they were. Well i mean i knew that you got attached to a platform and that could be activated and you could get deployed on that, but from what our detailer said and from what i was told on my cruise, i didnt think it was very doable. They wanted us to ge some time adjusting to the life and hospital and such. But I dont doubt it. And the few people who graduated from my unit havent gotten deployed yet on thier first tour, and they are on both sides of the country. But good old needs of the navy....
Hello,
I've read from other posters here regarding new Army nurses also being deployed before completing their first year bedside too.
The "needs of the military" take precedence, if one is able enough it seems that the year-long or more bedside is not going to happen.
Specializes in ER,ICU and Progressive Care Unit,Peds.
Also, just to add just...platforms don't really mean much. You can be deployed any where, any time. (regardless of your platform)
Also, just to remind others who are reading this the 1st tour that we have been commenting on is the 1st three yrs in service. Not just your 1st yr in.
Specializes in Med/Surg;Hm Health;House Super; ER.
Hello everyone! It's been a while since I've posted here, but I'll give you an update. WELL! WHAT a bummer!!!! I was supposed to be part of the STRAP program, where I would be commissioned into the Army Reserves w/ my ASN now while I continued on w/ my BSN program that they would pay for. Everything was going great, went through the whole process that took a couple of months...got my application packet finished & ready for the board, passed MEPS, & was alllll ready to hit the boards when my recruiter called & told me they wouldn't be able to pay for my BSN after all because my ASN nursing program I graduated from in 2002 was only accredited by the CA State Board of Registered Nursing & not "Nationally" accredited (which they never told me was a requirement for my BSN to be paid for in the first place -Especially since the BSN program I'm attending IS Nationally accredited). So, after that wholllllle process, there's no point in my joining until I'm finished w/ my BSN program in 2008! I was VERY bummed, because as a nurse you can't really make promises or commitments that far in advance in the future, as things cross your path, or other immediate opportunities may divert your goals out of necessity. I was pretty dang upset because I was really looking forward this. My recruiter said he was going to see if they can get a waiver through for me the next time waivers are processed (?), but I highly doubt it will work, as they've already tried to use the loophole that my BSN program IS nationally accredited, but the board or whoever wouldn't accept the loophole. Everything seemed to finally be going smoothly & falling into place & then BANG...nothin' :) Well, I'll just keep praying for direction & PATIENCE!!! That has been running thin lately in my life, ha. :offtopic:
Take care everyone!!! I hope this new year is starting out great for you all!!! :) Holly
Hello everyone! It's been a while since I've posted here, but I'll give you an update. WELL! WHAT a bummer!!!!
...Take care everyone!!! I hope this new year is starting out great for you all!!! :) Holly
Holly,
Hold up...hang on...go for the waiver, (my packet took THREE boards!!! and I felt the same way as you did for the first two times, I thought if they didn't take me the first time, well, then they didn't take me the second time...they DID take me the third time.)
Send that application through again and again and again. Don't accept defeat so easily, You can do it:monkeydance:
So your school wasn't AACN or NLN recognized....your California license will be recongized and your BSN program will be recognized...GO FOR IT again.
Specializes in Med/Surg;Hm Health;House Super; ER.
Holly,
Hold up...hang on...go for the waiver, (my packet took THREE boards!!! and I felt the same way as you did for the first two times, I thought if they didn't take me the first time, well, then they didn't take me the second time...they DID take me the third time.)
Send that application through again and again and again. Don't accept defeat so easily, You can do it:monkeydance:
So your school wasn't AACN or NLN recognized....your California license will be recongized and your BSN program will be recognized...GO FOR IT again.
Gen
Hey Gen,
What was holding up your packet? My problem is that I got mine all finished for the boards & then the day before the board review date or so my recruiter told me they couldn't pay for my BSN because my ASN school wasn't nationally accredited. Even though I'm already licensed in CA & now NM & am already in a BSN program that's nationally accredited (I repeatedly told them that the CA state board is very strict & highly respected, so it is just AS good as being nationally accredited -but it was falling on deaf ears). In other words, mine was never even allowed to go TO the board to even be reviewed, which was frustrating. So, I don't know what the waiver can do because my packet was never even allowed to go before the board in the first place to even be reevaluated via a waiver. When your packet was actually reviewed, what were some of the holdups that you had to keep putting it through?...if you don't mind me asking.
The way my recruiter put it in our last conversation: "it's probably better that you just finish your BSN (which isn't until 2008) & then we'll talk". I asked a couple of questions about how the waivers work, etc, via email, but I never heard from him again & my questions were left unanswered after the whole process we've gone through already. When I was pushing for waiver info., I was given the impression like they didn't think it was worth the work or that I was worth the work! So, I kind of feel like I've just been "written off" until 2008. I haven't heard from anyone since then, &, as I said, I'm not sure I can make a committment for the future like that not knowing what will fall in my path...even though I feel like I would have been an excellant fit for the ANC!
This new thread is to ask for help in choosing what branch of the military to serve in as a nurse of 
That said, now I'm looking at A.F. or Army. Can any of you help me decide by these personality guidelines? ....I am much more of an outdoorsy person, hate being stuck in a rut, will be continuing my education to a Masters, love to travel, believe I would be good at field work because I get pretty antsy when I feel I'm trapped in the "four walls" too long :chair: -thus not wanting to work in a "building" my entire life, love the idea of helping our men & woman in service & also w/ humanitarian work on the side. I want to learn how to have more leadership & assertiveness, & want to excel in my profession. I'm not married, no kids, thirty years old, obtaining my BSN right now, & have one dog. I love to do technical & eclectic things too -doesn't have to always be medical related, though I am a nurse number one.
I'm trying to make wise decisions so that I won't regret which branch I choose, but will instead wake up everyday excited to get to work as a dedicated, educated nurse!
You can do it:monkeydance:
IraBeaOasis
28 Posts
Best of luck, Care&Joy, let us know how it all pans out for you...
Eric