Army/Military Nursing

DanznRN, RN · Dec 20, 2007

Does anyone know how much of a guarantee a new graduate has in what base they will be assigned to? I know the Navy can guarantee in writing where you go, but not too sure about the Army?

The Navy will give a list of choices when you sign. From that list you pick 3 "dream" duty stations. The Navy will "guarantee" that you will get one of your 3. That's how it happened with me, I picked (1) Portsmouth, VA, (2) Penscola, FL, and (3) San Diego, CA, I got San Diego. So don't expect to get your first choice.

I am really interested in going overseas (Germany or Korea) as my first duty station. How likely is this?

In the Navy, nearly impossible unless you have multiple years of nursing experience, which I believe you said you're a new grad. I had been in the Navy 5 years when my wife came on active duty. Her first duty station, my 3rd, was overseas, that was because we could go overseas with my experience plus she had been a nurse for 4 years before coming to the Navy. Overseas duty stations require A LOT of nursing experience, there just isn't the support you need. In my entire facility, including management, we only had 30 nurses or so for the whole facility. Most of the time you worked alone with the corpsmen, no one to back you up. Kind of intimidating for a new grad and sets up for failure, so the Navy prefers you do your first duty station stateside, then you're fair game. Do not know about the other services.

I am a new graduate nurse, but aspire to get my FNP degree. Is any one service more likely to need FNP's (i.e. I can go to graduate school sooner?)?

In the Navy you're going to wait at least 3 years, your first duty station, before they will consider sending you back to school.

Hope this helps, may not be what you wanted to heard, but at least it's the truth. Let me know if you have more questions.

LCDR Dan

midwesternboy · Dec 21, 2007

LCDR Dan,

thank you for your honest reply. I've noticed that you have been a wealth of knowledge for those seeking information on military nursing. From previous threads, I know that you attended DUINS with the navy. From your experience, what branch do you see the greatest opportunities for FNP's?

After an initial tour stateside, how difficult is it to be assigned overseas?

Thanks,

DanznRN, RN · Dec 21, 2007

Mid-

Once you get your first tour out of the way, getting overseas is not very hard at all, you just have to want to go where they send you. As far as FNPs, the Navy is beginning to use them more and more, have a friend in DUINS now for FNP. It's harder to keep MDs in the Navy because of the war, so they are beginning to make more opportunities for FNPs. I can't honestly tell you which service you have a better opportunity to be an FNP, the Navy's DUINS program is pretty competitive. Hopefully someone else can give you more insight into the Army/ Air Force, don't want to tell you something that isn't true.

LCDR Dan

Tanker · Dec 28, 2007

The Army is going to be very similar to the Navy. You give 3 choices for assignment and you will most likely get one of them. You have to be reasonable as well. If you are a new nurse and new to the military you will not go to a small clinic or base where you wouldn't really be able to develop your skills. If you are a newbie select a larger post where you can get good experience and have support. I have seen new LTs get Trippler in HI. I assume that Germany would be an option for a NG as well. Landstuhl would be a good assignment to learn.

As for FNP, the Army has a great Masters program. There are requirements to be met and application to be filled out. Main thing is 2 yrs on station before going. You can apply earlier but can't go until at least 2 yrs. It is a competitive process. You actually PCS for 2 yrs while you attend school. You then owe 2 for 1 yrs after school. Its a great way to get your avanced education. I am planning on doing this program as soon as I figure out what I want to do.

The Army also has a program called Generic Course Selection that you can opt for when you sign your contract. This program allows you to choose from ICU, OR, Mental Health, or OB schools to attend. You have to make a choice within about a year. So, after getting your feet wet on the M/S floor you may have a good idea of where you want to go. You do not have to make a selection if you do not want to but it is better to have it and not use it (you can always apply later) than to not have it at all. Keep you options open.

spawnupe · Jan 7, 2008

Tanker thanks for your reply to the previous post. I spoke with a healthcare Army recruiter this morning. He simply said exactly what you have mentioned. So thanks for that. However, i would like to pose a question that presented to the recruiter. What is the overall probability that a new nurse would get deployed to IRAQ after 1.5 yrs of service? I know that there are other missions right now( i.e. North Africa, Afganistan), but would be interested in knowing your thoughts. Thanks!

Jarnaes · Jan 7, 2008

You don't even need 1.5 years. We went it Iraq with nurses who had just a few months of experience. It's not the ideal, but it happens.

cobber · Jan 17, 2008

I'm at my first duty station as an Army nurse in Hawaii...and there were at least three nurses (probably more but three in my platoon) from my basic trainning class who went to Germany as their first duty station....but Germany is in pretty high demand which lessens your chances...but you may have a pretty good shot at korea....there aren't as many wanting to go there but as far as I know it is an unaccompanied tour (meaning if you have a spouse, kids, or any other dependants, they can not come with you) As for deploying, around here they very seldom send a nurse with less than a year of experience (although they can send you after 6mo if they need to) but most of the nurses I know that may deploy within the next 6mos have been here 1.5-2yrs.

Itshamrtym · Jan 19, 2008

cobber:

Thus far how do you like being a Army Nurse? Was the process for you to get your commision long? What did you think of OBLC? Was there many people there in the upper age bracket?? (I'm 42).. Were they pretty fit upon arriving @ OBLC?? Thank you in advance for your help...

tallone123 · Jul 28, 2008

I thank all of those who have posted good comments that new people like myself really value.

I am seriously considering an online educational nursing commitment. I have an interest in the AF in particular. I have not been contacted by an MSC recruiter yet, but wanted to ask some basics before I have thought this whole decision through.

I'm a completely new person to this, so I'm still trying to compare/contrast military and civilian nursing commitments, rewards, schedule, etc.

Due to the nursing shortage being so dire in the non-military world, nurses have essentially unlimited overtime (as I understand it). Does this also extend to military nursing or not? (I know each of the 4 branches can work much differently, but I thought I'd ask a basic general question about this and see what more experienced military nursing staff would say.)

I would also like to acquire even more nursing education and would like to become a nurse anesthes., but with the service requirement being between 2-3 years before a person's eligible for advanced education, this would seem to hold a candidate back. Can this be done, or what? How much educational and clinical time would be involved in this decision?

Just on a basic note...does a military nurse still have to pass the same RN/BSN credentialling process or not? How does the military's experience help/hinder this process of licensing in their state, if/when they decide to leave the military?

By the way, just an additional question on acquiring totally 'free' access to *Military Medicine* journal. Is this possible? I really enjoy the medical literature and find this one helpful to understand more about the military's functioning in their medical operations, but I'm on a really tight budget.

Any additional publications that would assist a candidate in getting a better idea as to what to expect for a nursing career in the military?

Thanks a lot for any/all responses! Keep up to good work folks?!

athena55, BSN, RN · Jul 30, 2008

Hello tallone123:

You're talking about AMSUS: Association of Military Surgeons of the United States, correct?

Check out: http://www.amsus.org.

The registration page is https://www.ingentaconnect.com/register/personal BUT I am not sure if you need to be a subscriber to the journal in order to gain access to the on-line stuff:crying2:

Try this website: http://www.ingentaselect.com/activate.htm

but I think you may have to purchase on line access for this.....

If you live close to an Army Medical Center/Hospital and you have a CAC then you can gain entry to the Library during regular hours and check it out there.

Geez, I wish I could help you out.....

athena

tallone123 · Jul 30, 2008

Athena--hey, thanks for replying back. Not to beat 'ya at the punch, but I had already accessed those two sites. One of those sites had most articles in *Military Med.,* but not all issues. I was just curious if they made it more accessible, that's all.

I'm trying to balance all the decisions out in relation to taking the plunge into the military health services or not. I like the nursing area and like the recruiting ease I'll work with once I get there, but I still have to take all the hard-core nursing classes before I even get that far. I think being a nurse anes. would be a good calling, so I'll have to put it all together.