Army Med-Surg to civilian work

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Specializes in Surgical.

Hi, I'm currently at a level one trauma surgical unit. I'm near the point of my army career when I need to start thinking about what to do when I near my ETS date if I want to stay or get out. I was curious how civilian hospitals rate military experience. By that time I'll have 3 years of combat medic experience with a deployment and 4 years of nursing experience. Any help would be great. Thanks in advance.

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Depends where you live for pay but I don't think there is a military vs civilian difference. You would be paid as a nurse with 4 years experience.

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

I've heard that deployment always looks good to employers. Would you try to work for a similar nursing unit in the civilian world, or would you want to change it up a little?

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Specializes in EMT, ER, Homehealth, OR.

Are you are RN or a M6? I could not tell by your post. Depending on which is how the civilian world will look at you. In the civilian world LPNs are not used like they are in the military and are more restricted on what they can do. I have worked in 6 civilian EDs and only 1 used LPNs and that was for the fast track area.

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

Sparticus391 is an RN with prior service as enlisted. :)

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Specializes in Surgical.

Hey thanks for the quick responses. And yes I am currently a RN. As for my experience and what I want to do. So far I have about 2 years of surgical experience (post op not OR) and right now I'm looking to be a WTU case manager.

Just seeing if the civilian world cares if I was an army nurse or not.

Also to clarify. My deployment was when I was a medic. I have yet to deploy as a RN

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Specializes in EMT, ER, Homehealth, OR.

I could not tell if you were a RN or still enlisted by your original post. I don't think your military service will make much of a difference one way or the other.

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The GS world will probably care but for the regular civvy world I don't think it makes a huge difference.

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
The GS world will probably care but for the regular civvy world I don't think it makes a huge difference.

Not true. The civilian world loves to see Army nursing experience.

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Depends on where you apply. Most civilian hospitals look at experience in general degree and certifications. They usuallly only look at military as a tax break for hiring vets

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Not true. The civilian world loves to see Army nursing experience.

I think that's a really broad statement. Most hiring managers have no clue what those military positions or schools mean on your resume or in my case were discouraged after I left my AD/mob rotation (which consisted of mostly invaluable leadership and management positions) because my nursing experience was not as high. As we know the Army rotates us in and out of the clinical environment based on our job.

I am not going to say it hurts you but I won't say it helps. It REALLY depends on the hiring manager. If the hiring manager is a vet then sure but if its just another clueless person to the military world it won't or it might even hurt you. I have even read personal experiences/columns on the internet where employers were intimidated by mil exp.

For most cases I think they would just see it as general nursing exp and give you some veterans points while in general it is inconsequential. It's not a WOW factor.

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

Yep, it is a broad statement, but that is what I have encountered in conversations with hiring managers in various civilian ERs as well as at national ER leadership conferences. Your mileage may vary. :)

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