Army Nursing

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I just joined the army nurse corp and I will be leaving for training in July. The Mthat will be giving me my first duty station called and asked where I would like to be stationed for my first assignment (she told me I will most likely get my first choice). I told her Landstuhl, Germany, however, I am afraid I may have made the wrong choice (I am in between Hawaii and Germany). I would like some advice on where I should request to be stationed. Has any one been stationed in Germany. Where would I live (on or off base). Will I be living with Americans and see them around often. Also, I am a little nervous about the weather ( I heard it is cold and rainy ; is that true). Also, I am a very outdoorsy person and like to be active which is why I was thinking of requesting Hawaii. I am single and 21 (if that changes anything). Will I be working with patients coming from Iraq and Afganistan? I appreciate all the advice that I hope I recieve. I am just a little nervous because it is for the next three years of my life! Thanks for taking the time to respond!

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Specializes in Anesthesia.
I just joined the army nurse corp and I will be leaving for training in July. The Mthat will be giving me my first duty station called and asked where I would like to be stationed for my first assignment (she told me I will most likely get my first choice). I told her Landstuhl, Germany, however, I am afraid I may have made the wrong choice (I am in between Hawaii and Germany). I would like some advice on where I should request to be stationed. Has any one been stationed in Germany. Where would I live (on or off base). Will I be living with Americans and see them around often. Also, I am a little nervous about the weather ( I heard it is cold and rainy ; is that true). Also, I am a very outdoorsy person and like to be active which is why I was thinking of requesting Hawaii. I am single and 21 (if that changes anything). Will I be working with patients coming from Iraq and Afganistan? I appreciate all the advice that I hope I recieve. I am just a little nervous because it is for the next three years of my life! Thanks for taking the time to respond!

Check out the military forum there are several Army nurses on there that can probably help you out.

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Hey there!!! I'm surprised you didn't put this in the government/military discussion board... they will probably move it there because you will get more responses. Well, I've never been to Hawaii or Germany, but I find myself in the same situation as you do.... I joined the ANC in September and will graduate nursing school in May 2010. My choices are Germany, Hawaii, and Fort Lewis, WA. I'm now having second thoughts about my first two, thinking that I may do better living a little closer to home being I've never lived outside the state of FL. BUT, I think Hawaii would be an awesome experience and it's beautiful there! However, I've heard the good and bad, one being that it's an island, so you can only go so far and see so much. It's great if you like the outdoors, the beach, and hiking. I've heard you really have to be active to not become depressed there. I've heard nothing but the best about Germany... get to travel Europe and experience a whole different culture.. say no more!

If you are single w/o children, you will live off base in Germany and Hawaii.. I think Germany may have single officer housing on post, but I'm not sure at all. For Hawaii, I've heard there is a large Fillipino population and a lot of military there, and I haven't heard too much about Germany as far as culture, but I would bet it's a mixture. Landstuhl is one of the hospitals that treats the wounded soldiers, so I would say yes to your question. Not too sure about Hawaii, but Germany for sure.

So were you a direct commission? When did you graduate and hear which choses you received? When you were contacted, did they just tell you that you got your first choice, or were you offered all three? I have know idea where I want to go and I just am trying to stay patient.

Would be nice to keep in contact with ya!

Renee

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Well, my army /Germany experience is 33 years ago, but I try to keep current. Hawaii is fun, but Germany is a life changer.

Landstuhl was cool, I did a few weeks there learning ENT follow-ups. Great food and a never ending choice of things to do. I never-ever get bored in Europe. I love America, but I'm in love with Europe. In the summertime it is warm and reliable enough that I'd ride my BMW motorcycle into Italy/Venice on long weekends. I'd often add 2 days leave to a weekend or holiday making my time off pay. I lived in Garmisch, our Ski resort there, so I got to play almost all the time. But know you'll probably be working your butt off.

I hope this doesn't get moved, because we should all have to ponder the load we ask. I think I owe my deep appreciation for history and living to my experiences in the military there. I pull my hair out at times for the things that we ask our military to do, and am frequently chagrined at the tough talk of those who would never do as you're about to. Make no mistake, you will be making a huge sacrifice and shouldering an inordinate amount of our nations burden. But if you're lucky--- you'll come out with a few life long friendships like no other, and a depth of nursing experience to build your life upon. I envy you!

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Let me move this to the military forum where you will get more answers but also, where you can search for this topic - there are several threads about Germany.

Take care, thanks for your service and good luck.

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

I grew up around Landstuhl (Ramstein AFB). I would go back in an instant. There is so much to see and do in the area, and you are just a few hours from several countries. Can't beat Europe for that experience! Germans love outdoor activities, and it isn't cold and rainy year-round -- mostly just in the winter. It's been a while since I've been in Germany (1992, wow), but I encourage you to embrace the experience!!

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Hey there!!! I'm surprised you didn't put this in the government/military discussion board... they will probably move it there because you will get more responses. Well, I've never been to Hawaii or Germany, but I find myself in the same situation as you do.... I joined the ANC in September and will graduate nursing school in May 2010. My choices are Germany, Hawaii, and Fort Lewis, WA. I'm now having second thoughts about my first two, thinking that I may do better living a little closer to home being I've never lived outside the state of FL. BUT, I think Hawaii would be an awesome experience and it's beautiful there! However, I've heard the good and bad, one being that it's an island, so you can only go so far and see so much. It's great if you like the outdoors, the beach, and hiking. I've heard you really have to be active to not become depressed there. I've heard nothing but the best about Germany... get to travel Europe and experience a whole different culture.. say no more!

If you are single w/o children, you will live off base in Germany and Hawaii.. I think Germany may have single officer housing on post, but I'm not sure at all. For Hawaii, I've heard there is a large Fillipino population and a lot of military there, and I haven't heard too much about Germany as far as culture, but I would bet it's a mixture. Landstuhl is one of the hospitals that treats the wounded soldiers, so I would say yes to your question. Not too sure about Hawaii, but Germany for sure.

So were you a direct commission? When did you graduate and hear which choses you received? When you were contacted, did they just tell you that you got your first choice, or were you offered all three? I have know idea where I want to go and I just am trying to stay patient.

Would be nice to keep in contact with ya!

Renee

HeyRenee

I am direct commission. I graduate in May also and right after passing boards I leave for Texas! I am not 100% guarenteed Germany, however she told me that I will most likely get my first choice. So I guess you are in the same boat? Do you think you will go to the July training? Anyway, I am obviously really confused on what to choose. I eventually want to work in the ED and I hear that I will most likely get selected for that training if I am stationed in San Antonio. HOwever, I figured that while I am young, I should take the opportunity to travel. And I know what you mean about trying to be patient, it is hard! Anyway if you hear of any other little facts about duty stations etc.. I would really like to know too!!! We should keep in contact. Good luck with your last semester of nursing school!

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Hi, I am kinda in the same position as you. I received an email asking for my assignment choices, too. I have been a nurse for almost 4 years so my choices were a lot different. I wish I had chosen Germany as one of my choices. I was scared about going so far away, but as I think about it now, Germany would have been wonderful. Hopefully, we will all get into the July class!

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HeyRenee

I am direct commission. I graduate in May also and right after passing boards I leave for Texas! I am not 100% guarenteed Germany, however she told me that I will most likely get my first choice. So I guess you are in the same boat? Do you think you will go to the July training? Anyway, I am obviously really confused on what to choose. I eventually want to work in the ED and I hear that I will most likely get selected for that training if I am stationed in San Antonio. HOwever, I figured that while I am young, I should take the opportunity to travel. And I know what you mean about trying to be patient, it is hard! Anyway if you hear of any other little facts about duty stations etc.. I would really like to know too!!! We should keep in contact. Good luck with your last semester of nursing school!

When did she call you about your choices? I received an email last month, but I think I received it in error b/c it had a graduation date of Dec 2010, which I think was intended for Dec 2009 b/c it had March and July OBLC dates on there. I messaged her back with my choices anyway, but never heard anything back. Did she say when she will let you know what you got?

Yes, I'm in the same exact boat as you now!! I guess all we do now is wait! I hear San Antonio is a great hospital to work at because you see a lot. I actually went there in July to tour the base and hospital (BAMC) and get my physical done. It was AWESOME! It's a huge hospital and they are building, if not already completed, a brand new ER. I got to talk to a lot of the nurses and it really sealed the deal for me. If you go to BAMC, i bet you would definetely get the ER course ( I hear it's very competitive, but I don't think it's impossible to get the course if you go to Hawaii or Germany.

I'm hoping to go to OBLC in July if everything goes as planned with taking my NCLEX in May. If not July, I'm hoping for July. Do you know anyone else going in?

PeachRN2B: Hi there!! What stations did you choose?

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I just spent 6 years in Hawaii and it was great. There are lots of outdoor activities, the weather is great, and the culture is fabulous. It did get a little old after a while though. The cost of living is pretty high so we lived in a smaller house than we were used to. The traffic can be bad so you learn to plan your time wisely. I loved Tripler though, actually had my daughter there. I have several friends in Germany and they are absolutely loving it! I hope to go there one day myself. It is so easy to travel and see the rest of Europe while there. Hope this helps. :)

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I just joined the army nurse corp and I will be leaving for training in July. The Mthat will be giving me my first duty station called and asked where I would like to be stationed for my first assignment (she told me I will most likely get my first choice). I told her Landstuhl, Germany, however, I am afraid I may have made the wrong choice (I am in between Hawaii and Germany).

I was stationed in Germany in the 1990's.

It was a great experience.

I would get locked into an overseas assignment: Germany, Korea, Hawaii...etc.

Then, here is the important part, get out of the Army.

Do your initial 3 year commitment then take your experiences and use them in the civilian world.

If you'd like to be an administrator and not take care of patients, stay in the Army.

If you like patient care, be a civilian.

Again ANC officer=administrator

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Thanks so much for replying. When you lived in Germany, did you live off base? Also, I heard there is less of a chance I would be deployed if I was stationed in Germany (I want to be deployed)..do you know if that is true?

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