what is army nursing really like?

just_cause, BSN, RN · Sep 17, 2008

2soldiers44,

there are some links to army nurse blogs in the forum - as well as a few personal accounts - which you can do a quick search on. Sounds like you are in a good situation - good luck~

Care&Joy · Sep 17, 2008

I am in the process of joining the reserves as a critical care nurse. At 44 years of age and 23 years of critical care experience I have finally decided to do what I wanted to do when I first graduated nursing school. I do not have my bsn but will work on it once I join. One doctor I talked to recently told me horror stories of being an army nurse. Is it so much different than working at a regional hospital or city hospital? (I am currently at two regional hospitals working with cardio-thoracic surgery and other general icu patients at the other hospital ie vent care, neuro disorderes, sepsis etc. I hate to say this but he really discouraged me from joining on a number of reasons. But, he was a military M.D. in the approx years of mid 1970's to 1980's. (I am guessing by his experience for he is about my age or slightly older). So, can anyone please tell me what it is really like!! I have already contacted a recruiter and have all the info and paperwork to enlist. This is the last thing holding me back. Thank you!!
p.s. I did not want to talk to my recruiter about this due to a biased opinion.

You have a great background, 2soldiers44, & I'm jealous you can jump in w/ so much experience. I've only been a nurse since 2002 & still need CC experience. You know, you're always going to hear some bad experiences among the good, but you have to weigh them out. I've read & researched a lot myself & am hoping to finish my Army processing in the next few months; &, sure, there are people who have had horrible military experiences & they will gladly tell you their bitter story. However, if you hear what I have heard, you will find the good outweighs the bad in so many ways. It's a big committment, you will work hard -but you will form awesome friendships/teams, you will feel good about what you do, you are serving God, your country, and others, & you will learn a lot. Not at all discounting some of the really bad experiences some people have had, I recognized a pattern for many who complain about their bitter military experience. They were the ones who were surprised that it was actually hard work & not a facade, that it was a nitty gritty job that sometimes made them get literally dirty (these people are usually those who never were outdoors-type people :) ), & they were the ones who lived a care-free life beforehand never really structured with rules, guidelines, and regulations...& they hated that & rebelled against the ones they encountered once they entered the military. Those are many of the "bad" stories I have gotten...again, NOT discounting those few who really have had a yucky time of it by some unusal twist.

Peruse through this GREAT forum by topics & see, read, & look for yourself. Judge from that & then make your decision. Yes, it's good to beware of biases, so don't be afraid to keep asking LOTS of questions (like I'm STILL doing!) until you feel good about whatever decision you jump on. Good wishes! :rolleyes:

GetnPhD · Sep 17, 2008

Care,

You definitely described what my experience with complainers has been. I have to admit that I am not the outdoorsy type, as far as camping goes, but I am willing to learn. Plus, I will do whatever it takes for my soldiers, veterans, and families...as I am sure those of us who are called to this life do.

2soldiers44 · Sep 18, 2008

care

thanks so much for your responce. Yes I am used to the comforts of life ie: air conditioning , but loved to camp in tents when my kids were younger. Not to say I'm an outdoors kind of person, just that I'm not a princess. I'm new to the forum so I have my work cut out for me in the research dept. I agree what you said about the ones that usually complain. They are usually the lazy ones we all have dealt with. I have till my youngest graduates high school to finally decide. I'm just afraid that at my age I'm not going to be able to handle it. Have already started my workout routine for pft. Wish me luck as I wil you

Itshamrtym · Sep 19, 2008

care
thanks so much for your responce. yes i am used to the comforts of life ie: air conditioning , but loved to camp in tents when my kids were younger. not to say i'm an outdoors kind of person, just that i'm not a princess. i'm new to the forum so i have my work cut out for me in the research dept. i agree what you said about the ones that usually complain. they are usually the lazy ones we all have dealt with. i have till my youngest graduates high school to finally decide. i'm just afraid that at my age i'm not going to be able to handle it. have already started my workout routine for pft. wish me luck as i wil you

welcome to allnurses!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :yeah: :yeah: :yeah: :yeah: :yeah: :yeah:good luck to you!!!! you won't enlist, but receive

a commision into the army nurse corps.... hope that it all works out for you. :nurse: :redbeathe:nurse:

olderthandirt2 · Sep 19, 2008

I am in the process of joining the reserves as a critical care nurse. At 44 years of age and 23 years of critical care experience I have finally decided to do what I wanted to do when I first graduated nursing school. I do not have my bsn but will work on it once I join. One doctor I talked to recently told me horror stories of being an army nurse. Is it so much different than working at a regional hospital or city hospital? (I am currently at two regional hospitals working with cardio-thoracic surgery and other general icu patients at the other hospital ie vent care, neuro disorderes, sepsis etc. I hate to say this but he really discouraged me from joining on a number of reasons. But, he was a military M.D. in the approx years of mid 1970's to 1980's. (I am guessing by his experience for he is about my age or slightly older). So, can anyone please tell me what it is really like!! I have already contacted a recruiter and have all the info and paperwork to enlist. This is the last thing holding me back. Thank you!!
p.s. I did not want to talk to my recruiter about this due to a biased opinion.

Hi 2s44,

I am a recent 1Lt (AR-ANC 66H8A---icu nurse).

You know you are obligated to drill one weekend a month and 2 weeks a year. So, what you will do on your BA (drill days) depends on what unit you are assigned to (TPU, IMA).

I am with the 396th Med Combat support hospital. Our job is to set-up shop in very large tents and attend to patients. So, on my drill weekend, we take down and put up (reconfigure) wards (in tents). We also attend education, meetings, etc. No patient care....

However, if you are not near a unit, your assignment might look very different. You can look to see the closest base or unit near you....ask your recruiter.

I (of course) work full time as a civilian rn. So far, being a reservist is not that much different to my life before commissioning. However, if I (or my whole unit) deploys, it will look different. Many people want to deploy and some don't in my unit. Deploying is not a slam dunk ...(at least, in my unit)

hope this helps. Check out Athena's postings..... she has great info on AR nursing.

cindy

2soldiers44 · Sep 20, 2008

Hello olderthandirt2! Thank you for your input. Would you suggest that I go to the unit I would be assigned to? From what my recruiter said it is not that far from where I live. I was going to ask her if it was possible. That way I could really find out the scoop on Army nursing life. Anyway, any info would be great: What is living conditons like? What kind of hours/week? Where do you go if deployed stateside? Can you request overseas deployment? Basically, what is it really like? Thanks so much, hope to hear from you soon

2soldiers44

olderthandirt2 · Sep 21, 2008

Hi 2s44,

Here are some answers to your questions:

Would you suggest that I go to the unit I would be assigned to? From what my recruiter said it is not that far from where I live. I was going to ask her if it was possible. That way I could really find out the scoop on Army nursing life.

1. Sure. Whats the harm? Ask your recruiter for the unit administrators phone#. Or look it up online. If they say O.K., then you are set.

I don't know if you are interested in active duty, but you might be able to shadow a nurse in a military hospital near you....for a view of the active life.

Anyway, any info would be great: What is living conditons like? What kind of hours/week?

2. You live whereever you want. You don't live on a base as a reservist, that option is for active duty soliders. The work hours for Battalion (drilling weekends) depends. Sometimes its 0700-1700, sometimes it longer or shorter.

We recently went for weapon qualifications, which was a 3 day event in another county, the days started early and finished late.

Where do you go if deployed stateside? Can you request overseas deployment?

3. It depends on who is needed where....Some of our unit backfilled in Wisconsin as case managers & at Madigan --Ft.Lewis......others have volunteered for the Gulf war, Bosnia, Guatamala, Iraq & Afghanistan. Others didn't volunteer and were chosen to go...and some have been volunteering for years & haven't gone anywhere !!

Yes, after you complete OBLC, you can volunteer....

For more indepth answers, search deployments in the allnurses archives or search window!

Good luck,

cb

olderthandirt2 · Sep 21, 2008

Hi 2s44,

After posting my response, I realized I was answering your question from a "non-deployment" perspective.

Then reading another thread,--- it sounds like you are more interested in deployment information---sorry about that!

Having not deployed, I am not much help to you. But I know, when our unit nurses are oconus--they work 12s, maybe 6 days a week.....

cb

jbrecon2 · Dec 31, 2008

hi.......not sure what day to day life in the army is like as a nurse. however, i went to OBLC this summer and had a blast. i was in the army 11 years as an enlisted guy and never had so much fun. great people, great city/post and great times. i am now thinking of going active duty.

GenXRN · Dec 31, 2008

I am in the process of joining the reserves as a critical care nurse. At 44 years of age and 23 years of critical care experience I have finally decided to do what I wanted to do when I first graduated nursing school. I do not have my bsn but will work on it once I join. One doctor I talked to recently told me horror stories of being an army nurse. Is it so much different than working at a regional hospital or city hospital? (I am currently at two regional hospitals working with cardio-thoracic surgery and other general icu patients at the other hospital ie vent care, neuro disorderes, sepsis etc. I hate to say this but he really discouraged me from joining on a number of reasons. But, he was a military M.D. in the approx years of mid 1970's to 1980's. (I am guessing by his experience for he is about my age or slightly older). So, can anyone please tell me what it is really like!! I have already contacted a recruiter and have all the info and paperwork to enlist. This is the last thing holding me back. Thank you!!
p.s. I did not want to talk to my recruiter about this due to a biased opinion.

I, too, am considering joining either the reserves or full-time enlistment. I am 39 years old. My area is Medical-Surgical nursing. I am not afraid of getting dirty or working hard. As a matter of fact, I welcome structure and discipline, which I feel is seriously lacking in the civilian realm of nursing. I have also encountered many individuals with horror stories about the Nurse Corps and the military in general. One was actually a retired Lt. Col. from the Air Force Nurse Corps. She gave me both pros and cons, but more cons than pros. She accentuated the "negative" aspects of my age and the fact that I have a small child (3 yrs old). Another individual told me that I would wind up divorced and potentially separated from my family for up to 18 mos. Wow. Really positive information, huh?

My recruiter has been great. No pressure and very realistic. I also have a 17-year-old who will be graduating in May of 2009, so I too, have a while to consider my options. I realize that joining the Army Nurse Corps would be a huge commitment. But, what an honor it would be to serve our troops and their families. To me, this would be the ultimate way to give back in addition to what I already do as a nurse.

I notice that this post was written back in September. What have you decided to do? Have you gathered any new information. Good luck to you with whatever endeavor you choose!