Army Perioperative Nurse (66E)

williams84 · Nov 30, 2015

I am a 66E in the reserves and we are preparing to deploy. In my unit, I have two scrub techs and an LPN below me that are all assigned to the OR portion. I will only circulate when we have cases, as will the LPN. I don't think the Army wants to pay an officer to do an enlisted job duty.

OR_RN_2016 · Nov 30, 2015

I am also looking to join either

the army or Air Force. I finish my BSN in 7 months and have a job lined up in the OR as I am a scrub tech currently. What made you join the reserves verses active duty? Do you know if you can go active duty if you initially sign up for the reserves? Or do you have to wait until your commitment is fulfilled? How does army OR nursing compare to your civilian OR nursing career? Also, do you have you CORN? Thanks for your comments and thank you for your service to the country.

jeckrn, BSN, RN · Nov 30, 2015

As an OR nurse in the Army you will circulate 99% of the time when you are a junior officer and will decrease over time as you advance in your career. There are times that a RN will circulate at a Army facility but not very often.

You can go from reserves to active duty but it is not easy, you have to go thru the whole boarding process again. Depending on the needs there is the possibility that they will not even take any applications from reservists. If the are taking application from reservists you do not have to finish your initial obligation but will have to have a release signed by your unit that they will release you if you are picked up for active duty.

If you decide to go active and are picked up and you are not a 66E already have it written into your contract that you will be sent to the course. If not it will have to wait 1-2 years to apply for the school along will command approval.

burnetmw · Dec 1, 2015

I originally wanted to go active duty but the spots were limited. I joined the reserves because I wanted to get started in the military and the army took me despite a health concern that needed a waiver. I guess I didn't really have a preference for which branch I served in. I am currently a 66H or med-surg nurse because that is my background, however, I was interested in changing specialties if I ever had the chance to go active. Periop nursing seemed very interesting to me. How do you like the OR?

burnetmw · Dec 1, 2015

williams84, BSN, RN

So scrubbing in is not part of the training for army generic course guarantee for 66E? Also, are you assigned to an FST?

williams84 · Dec 1, 2015

I didn't go to the course for the Army. I've been a periop nurse for about 2 years in the civilian world. I'm going to assume that there won't be any scrub training in that course.

And yes, I am part of an FST.

jeckrn, BSN, RN · Dec 1, 2015

There is limited scrub training in the course.

jeckrn, BSN, RN · Dec 1, 2015

I see you are from PA, which FST are you with? I used to be with the 339 CSH out of Erie when I was in the reserves.

williams84 · Dec 2, 2015

691st out of Utica

RN293 · Dec 3, 2015

williams84, can you please private message me? I'm an O.R. nurse who is considering joining the Army reserves.

RN293 · Dec 3, 2015

As an OR nurse in the Army you will circulate 99% of the time when you are a junior officer and will decrease over time as you advance in your career. There are times that a RN will circulate at a Army facility but not very often.

Does that mean that non-junior Army OR nurses are charge nurses instead of circulators?