ATTN: Military Nurses...Help!

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Hi everyone,

I'm new to the forum and am navigating my way around the site. Wanted to share a couple things about myself and hopefully get some help from more knowledgeable people. Basically, I am prior enlisted and am currently a nursing student. I am scheduled to graduate in May 09, and am in the military. I just heard that because I'm contracted with the military for the Nurse Corps, I can't do any kind of med school. I am very interested in furthering my education and although it might seem a bit early, I'd like to know what's out there. What I have also heard about is a program called DUINS. can anyone tell me more about that and any other options I may have to go to med school? Just curious about all my possibilities.

Thanks,

et2rn

Specializes in ER, Trauma, US Navy.

O.K., I can't email you, so I'll just post them here. Take a look, they came straight from the Nurse Corps website, doesn't get better than that. Hope this answers some questions.

LCDR Dan

BUMEDINST 1520 27E (21 MAR 2007).pdf

Ideal DUINS Timeline1[1].doc

What Every DUINS Applicant Should Know FY07.doc

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LCDR Dan,

Those are excellent resources you sent me. I want to especially thank you for the previous post about your experience as a Navy Nurse and your preferences. You really set out clear cut questions to ask myself to help make my decision. I, too, have a military spouse. I also have a 5 year old son. That has been my biggest question. You don't get straight answers from officers in person because those questions may be too personal for some. Thank you for that straightforward response. I DON'T want to be away from my family. Truly, I feel I want to be a doctor because it was the next best thing to nursing in my mind. I think I want it for the reputation, honestly. However, as we already know, I have NO experience in the medical field as an ET2. So, all my experiences are coming from my clinicals right now. I don't have enough experience to truly know what the nursing field is about. I'm acting on impulse and frankly, trying to get into medical school when I have not been through nursing school is rather exhausting. I want the flexibility you speak of, I want to be attached to my family and not my job just the same. If I have to choose between the prestige of being a doctor and a fulfilling life with my family, the choice is clear. You have no idea how much help you have been to me. Really, the advice you've given is never something I'd find by walking up to an officer at random in Portsmouth Naval. I think I'm going to focus on school for now and wait until I'm out in the fleet as a nurse to really decide if it's med school or DUINS I'm fit for. That's the only way I can make a truly informed decision. Keep in touch. Sorry, you've made a career-long pest of me! haha! I'm going to review those documents you sent in detail and get back at you with any other questions. Oh, one more: I've heard there are some not so good first time billets as a new nurse and avoid them when picking orders, only because certain billets make great training facilities as far as first timers. I have no idea where I'd want to go and orders will be due in about a year.

R/

ET2

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Specializes in ER, Trauma, US Navy.

ET2-

As far as prestige and reputation goes, you can earn that. As you can tell, I'm not the run of the mill LCDR and actually I just put it on in August. However, I've learned that the Navy does have a certain stigma that goes along with being an officer, I don't like it. So, my career long goal is to make a change no matter how big or small. For some reason when people get rank they forget that they are a person and I think that's a problem. We're all people, we all have issues or concerns outside of the Navy. I never bought into the "Navy owns you" principle. I was here for 22 years before I joined the Navy and I'll be here for plenty more once I leave the Navy, so they don't own me. It's that type of ideal that I live by in hopes that I can make a difference in the Navy. To me it's what makes me a true officer, for you it may be something different, you decide. As for knowledge base with being a doc, my DUINS program is for ER/ Trauma Clinical Nurse Specialist/ Nurse Practitioner, the ultimate in flexibility. I can teach while I'm in my Navy capacity and then when I want to be a provider (like a doc) I can work on the outside as a practitioner, doesn't get any better than that. As far as you being a pest, never, always glad to help. I graduate in December and will get stationed in Bethesda. If you get a break from school or need a preceptor, let me know, be happy to help. Although, ODU is pretty far from DC isn't it? Regarding duty stations, generally you'll get a big 3, Portsmouth, Bethesda, or San Diego. Since you're in VA already, you probably don't want to move, but I offer this. Bethesda has too much brass walking around, so you really have to work to shine there. Portsmouth is well, Portsmouth, place seems to have gone the can a little in the last few years, but I've never been there, just never heard nice stuff about it. San Diego, that's where I went, was great. West Coast commands are less high strung than East Coast, not sure why, just my experience. I had a great time there, learned tons and was able to make myself known with little effort, but the choice is ultimately yours. I would try and go somewhere where you will be exposed to as much as possible. Also, get used to the fact that you will be Med-Surg first, the ADM's big thing is for everyone to have a base knowledge for the field. Don't fight it, use it to your advantage and LEARN, then branch out. Take acre and I'm here if you need me, now get back to studying, Ha-Ha.

LCDR Dan

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LCDR Dan,

No truer words have been said. You're a gold mine! You're right, I gotta stop all this yappin' and get back to studying ;). San Diego it is, though. Talk to you soon.

ET2

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Oh, didn't catch you're offer about DC the first time around. ODU's not too far, about 3-4 hours. Definitely, though, if I get a break and am in the area, I'll be sure to contact you. Right now, I'm only exposed to a lot of civilian nurses and would love to see it from our military side. Thanks again.

R/

ET2

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Specializes in ER, Trauma, US Navy.

ET2-

No problem, anytime, take care.

LCDR Dan

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