army nurse specialty training

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hello everyone

1. Does anyone know, is going to nurse specialty training MANDATORY, or is it optional?

2. and while your there for 4 months, can husband and children come with you and live?

3. Also, does anyone know, is 6month civilian ER nursing before joining the army enough experience to get me into the EMergency specialty?

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Specializes in EMT, ER, Homehealth, OR.

1.- do not know

2.- yes they can, but you will not recieve any money from them to be there. Your per diem will cover you only.

3.- no, but that is why you ask for the ER course in your contract.

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....also note the location of your choice of duty station and where your training for preferred specialty is.. (they may be the same). Also note you don't attend training for about 1-2 years after arriving at duty station.

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My contract is written up and I have gone over it, but supposed to be signing today. The ER option is not in the contract at all, just the 4 options psych, OB, CC, and the 4th one that I cant think of right now. I mentioned that ther was no ER option to my recruiter and he jsut told me that it is an option.. Should I have her write i in the contract that it is an option and initial it?

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.....the 4th option is OR / perioperative nursing.

Ask why its not on the contract? Google your own question. There are briefings to Health Recruiters available if you look... As of a few months ago ER has never been a course guarantee option - as you can see by looking at your contract it still doesn't seem to be.. regardless if you had initials.. on a hand written note I'd be hesitant.. then again I'd recommend joining the Army if that is goal or being ER nurse first then joining the army if that is your de facto goal.

v/r

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as i posted in another thread, the er course requires recommendation from your chief nurse after one year of active duty service...it is not one of the guaranteed course choices... but still an opportunity to work towards once you are in the army.

from the army website:

there are four 16 week courses available as a generic course guarantee:

  • critical care nursing course
  • operating room nursing course
  • psychiatric/ mental health nursing course
  • obstetrical/gynecological nursing course

there are two other courses that require a nomination from the chief nurse of the military treatment facility after you complete one year on active duty. the chief nurse can nominate you for the army public health nursing course or the emergency room nursing course.

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Hi everyone!

I've been trying to find any info what an Army Perioperative Nurse does? Could someone give me a snapshot of this?

Also, what things do you learn in perioperative training?

Thanks!! :) I'm seriously considering this as my option when I board in October.

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perioperative nurse = OR (operating room) nurse

As far as the army goes its % of mens is higher then other areas... there are 'cool' options to be part of a small forward surgical team....

I'd say training from my 'best guess' is very similar to learning the fundamentals of OR nursing.... I will also comment that the health sciences university that could be an army funded future masters program for you has the only perioperative CNS masters focus degree currently available...

v/r

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I'd check with the recruiter. I would think perioperative (around the OR) is preop, postop, and pacu. OR is OR circulator.

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Here is the course 66E (perioperative nurse) specialization course description:

This course is designed to prepare junior Army Nurse Corps Officers to function as entry-level staff nurses in the operating room clinical environment. During the sixteen week course, a variety to topics are focused on in the didactic and clinical arena, such as; principles of microbiology, sterilization, disinfection, principles of sterilization and preparation of surgical supplies, environmental control of the operating room, practice of perioperative role, operating room nursing practice in various surgical specialties, and operating room nursing in the field environment. Upon completion of this course, the officer will be prepared to assume the role of an independent operating room practitioner in any of the Army’s medical treatment facilities, worldwide.

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Thanks for getting back with me!! The perioperative course sounds like a great opportunity and so does the clinical nurse specialist at the military's university.

Can I request going to Fort Sam to attend that course or is it up to the service to decide where I go to school for this (Fort Lewis or Fort Bliss)?

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You don't get to pick necessarily.

First you submit packet to army, along with duty station preference and course specialty selection. If you get picked up you go do your officer basic course and go to first duty station.. you do 1-2 years (approx) of time in a as needed slot (likely med/surg) then depending on several factors outside of your control you get sent to your course (course dates, duty station location, # of peers in line ahead of you, commander, etc...).

The only way I see you having control of where you go on your course is IF your first duty station pick is one of those locations... or next to one of those.... then that is likely where you'd go ie you are stationed at fort lewis and the course is there.. well that is likely where you will go. Otherwise I'd be flexible ;)

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