AD Navy nurse here, and I want to tell it to you all straight. Keep in mind these are my opinions, not the Navy's.
Overall, I see many people asking about benefits, minor details, can I go here, do this, yadda yadda bla bla, and I have to give you all a word of warning. Do not join any branch or part of the military for the benefits, pay, lifestyle, etc.
-The pay and all that is not worth it. You are expected to literally be on call 24/7, and I am not joking. This is not my hospital's policy, this is NAVY POLICY. That means when you are asleep because you are on night shift and they call you in the middle of the day, you must answer and come into to do whatever stupid thing they make you do, or else you'll get a good chewing-out.
-30 days of leave? HA! Good luck getting the leave when you want it, and when you do get it, it may very well be arbitrarily rescheduled and you'll lose your airline tickets (seen it happen twice already).
-You better check your earning statement extremely well, because if the government overpays you (happens all the time), they will underpay you accordingly on the next pay check, regardless if you have bills to pay (this is happening to two of my corpsman, they got paid only $400 one month).
-You will come in on many of your off days. We work Wed-Thur one week, then Mon Tue Fri Sat Sun the next week. For example this week I had to come in on Monday and Tuesday for collaterals, work wednesday and thursday night, then stay until 11AM for training on Friday, and I may get called in to work this weekend if one of our civilians calls in sick (bug is going around). Next week I will literally be at the hospital every day, Monday through Sunday. On my two off days I have numerous items to attend to. And you know what? I just suck it up. Everyone here does. Many fellow navy nurses are miserable, simply because they joined because they thought this or that and didn't consider that you will sacrifice an immense degree of personal freedom to serve our nation.
The point I am making is that one must join simply out of the desire to serve. I love the Navy, but it kinda sucks sometimes. It's supposed to suck - it's the military. Know what I mean?
If you want to proudly serve your nation by putting on the uniform, working hard everyday for your sailors marines dependents and retirees, at other times risking life or limb, or even dying for your country (see: 2 nurses killed in Iraq), then go for it. Otherwise go work for Christus St. John's.
I have to agree with everyone on here. I guess we all have our life lessons. If I had to offer any advice, it would be to not believe ONE WORD anybody in your direct chain tells you. I have been yanked around, lied to, misled, dumped on by every chain I have had (I have been in for 12 years) all for the sake of their own promotion chasing. The AMEDD branch will lie and sell their children to get to that next rank at the expense of YOUR family. So my advice .. STAY AWAY FROM THE ARMY! (and yes- I hope somebody higher up than myself reads this and knows that the nurses in the Army are getting let down by their commands!)
Also, dont be to quick for your M5 or 8A identifier. It pigeon holes you and sets you up for failure!
your results will vary... I can't speak with 'babygirls' specifics, (ps thank you for your service)... but not everyone should be in the Army or enjoys it.. That being said i DO agree with her M5 / 8A identifier comment.. its a 'small world' and having those identifiers, makes your world that much smaller. Some opt to not get the identifier for that specific reason.. it might not make sense until you are in the system
After reading this thread,my confidence in joining the army become to falter. Being a new licensed nurse, it was really my dream to be a navy/air force nurse. But reading all you're experiences,I guess I'm not that ready to enter the military world. It's like I'm torn between 2, My dream and my capacity of accomplishing all the boot camps, trainings, etc etc. Being a female,I didn't saw it as a hindrance but because of my past health issues ( 2 operations and asthmatic when I was a kid).
Thank you guys but please enlighten me if indeed it will be worth it in joining the military.
As a RN who's trying to join the Reserves Nurse Corps, I appreciate the honesty. I often read about the benefits & rewards, but I don't often hear about the insider stuff or the downside. Thank you for sharing your experiences!
Military nursing is like Civilian nursing. You are going to highs & lows, good & bad leadership, good & bad coworkers. I have worked civilian nursing for 10+ years before returning to active duty and have seen both sides. For the most part I prefer the military side. As far as higher ups in the Army lying to you to futher their careers at the expense of yours as babygirl states that also happens in the civilian world. As other posters have stated military nursing is not for everyone, just like ED, ICU etc is not for every nurse. As far as new nurses leaving the military after 3 years how many new nurses are still at their 1st or 2nd job after 3 years? With nursing there will be a high turnover the 1st few years of your career until you find your nitch.
As Just Cause has stated if you are coming in for the money, schools, etc and not for the service there is a good chance you will be unhappy.
Also, what I have learned from military & civilian nursing is only you have take care of your career. Others including your supervisors are taking care of theirs even when they are helping you.
Not to say that none of you are not RN Officers in your respective branches. But Im just wondering.....
If you see this type of conduct, administering multiple drugs that dont correspond with your drug book, why havent you alerted your Head Nurse or higher ? Not that you havent but it wasnt stated that someone was alerted and ignored it. To go along with it and not report it (if you havent) seems to me that its irresponsible on your part as well. I understand that one wants to protect their career but if it costs the life of another then it isnt a career worth protecting. Just my opinion .
Speaking as an AMEDD Recruiter. Before you type that the military pays Recruiters to lie if need be - check yourself first. I DO NOT LIE, I dont have to lie to get Medical Professionals to join. Granted I am Recruiting for the Reserves and not Active Duty. As a Recruiter I ALWAYS have my applicants speak to their peers prior to even scheduling them for a physical. I always have my applicants speak to a common peer as well i.e., nationality, sex, profession. Combining everyone into one ball is WRONG, plain and simple. True - there are those Recruiters that lie and give Recruiters a bad name just like there are Good and Bad RNs, Police Officers, Drs, Lawyers (lol, well theyre not all bad lol)etc....
No one on here can speak for your experiences but you and no one should assume to know how you were treated or mentored as well. Just like you shouldnt phrase that Recruiters lie.
Its sad in my opinion that you feel as you do because if you are as good a Nurse as you say you are the Army will truly miss you.
As it was posted by others, the Military (Army, Navy, Air Force) is not for everyone. It is a way of LIFE (more so Active than Reserves) and I portray that during my meeting with applicants.
As a Recruiter I apologize for your Recruiter lying to you if he/she did so.
As a Recruiter I recruit those that have a high moral, ethical and professional foundation as those Officers may one day treat me and my family. Some Recruiters do try to recruit anyone that walks and talks and has a degree but those are very few.
The only thing I would offer you is that through your bad experiences in the Army you could take that and learn how to NOT treat others when youre in that position. The Army does teach Leadership values and Im sure that you learned the value of having quality Leadership even if you didnt experience it.
Sometimes you just need a change of scenery to put things in perspective. If things are as bad as you portray them, have you talked to you Commander about resigning your Commission. If piece of mind is worth it and you dont mind a Dishonorable Discharge (before your initial 3 years are up) then that may be an option for you. If you have completed your initial tour then you will be fine. Just a thought.
However, if you still have a remainding balance owed on your initial contract (4 years) then I would suggest that you talk to the RCCC NCO at your installation . Going Reserve is your best option and you should also speak to an AMEDD Recruiter assigned to your area. If you tell me what base you are at I can give you their contact info. If you join the Reserves they will deduct half of your remaining years owed 4-2=2 year that you will have to serve in the Reserves and you obligation will be fulfilled. ALSO, they will give you 2 years stabilization from mobilizing. You couldnt ask for anything better. If you go IRR then you are subject to being called up during your 4 years.
p.s. I can tell you this - when I first left Active Duty I HATED the Army because of my Commander. He was as useful as a gnat, not to mention that he lied to me many times. I joined the Nat'l Guard (because of a bonus) and was around amazing people that I am still friends with today. I left to join the Reserves because I wanted to further my career, which I did. I have thought back to those early days (21 years, 1 month) and laugh when I think I almost gave away a great career.
If you join the military, in any branch, I think you should realize that you are to be an officer first and a nurse second. Not everyone agrees, and that's fine. Having been on the line side of the military (enlisted and infantry), there is a lot to be said about how officers should behave. I don't think anyone should paint a picture of any job that is all sunshine and roses...and if that's the only picture you get from your recruiter (military or civilian) then you should be leary.
I have been a nurse in the civilian world in different ICU's, the ED, trauma services and currently to flight and ground critical care transport...there are parts about each and every one of those jobs that suck. Not a little bit, but a lot. But not more than the postitives. I love this job. I love getting people that are knocking on death's door...grim reaper standing in the room...while I work with the MD's and RRT's and everyone else to put the puzzle together to figure out how to stop the disease process and get them back to health. And if that isn't going to happen, then I will be there to translate all the technical mumbo-jumbo for the family, so that they can concentrate on saying good-bye, making peace with their loved one and themselves.
What I do in the AF is fly. I'm a flight nurse and I love that job, too. There are parts that drive me to the edge of insanity because they are inefficient, archaic, or downright ridiculous...I have come to the conclussion that military nursing will eventually be paperless...because they have run out of paper, not because they made it computer based! I make more copies of things that I've done because people lose the last copy I gave them over and over. As far as 1 weekend a month and 2 weeks a year...I haven't seen that yet! I have 2 full time jobs right now! And I wouldn't trade either of them for anything! The patients I carry for Uncle Sam are mostly stable, heading to another hospital or back home for continued inpatient or outpatient care...they are not the sick-sick, critically ill patients that I love taking care of in my civilian job. But every single one of them has EARNED the best care I can give them...they have VOLUNTEERED to serve this amazing country. The first live mission I did we landed at Andrews on our way back from Germany...the men and women I was charged with caring for were Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines coming back from war...some of them were high school students a year ago, with 2 legs and 2 arms. Now they are hardened veterans, with one leg, or none. Being able to tell them "Welcome home" and watching as they teared up was the most satisfying moment in my nursing career.
I love this job. There is BS in every job I have ever had...from lifeguarding to Little Caesar's to the Marine Corps to civilian nursing. It doesn't stop in the AF Reserves (or active duty)...but it's worth it to me. Is it worth it to everyone? Of course not! There are at least 2 nurses I work with on a regular basis that are on the fence or pursuing other options now...ready to resign their commissions or at least go into inactive status.
To be an officer in the US military is not easy. It is not a right. It isn't even available to most people, even with a degree. It is an honor, a decision that can't be taken lightly. There is more responsibility here, on duty and off, than there is as a civilian nurse. Upon swearing in you outrank the majority of the military...the vast majority. You should be an example every time you leave your house. The right uniform, worn the right way, properly adorned and cared for. Your creases should be perfect, your hair should never be out of regulation, and you should never need an excuse as to why it's not. No junior personnel should ever get in trouble and point to you as the example of why the did or didn't do something.
Sometimes it's lonely at the top. Even if your at the low end of that top. It's not for everyone...but if you can love it...it's amazing!
Specializes in ED. ICU, PICU, infection prevention, aeromedical e.
Rgh,
That is so incredibly well said I just want to hug you!!
I was prior enlisted army and now I'm an AF nurse. You are right when you say we are Airmen first and nurses second. Someone asked me recently what I did for a living. And I was stumped. For so many years I've said I'm a nurse. But as an AF nurse (or any military RN), we are so much more.
I've been back in only since May. I've been to 2 primary military education schools (ECAC is like SERE in kindergarten format). I've been to 3 ongoing education classes and have another 3 weeks in CStars coming up. The opportunities I've already had have been amazing.
But it is not easy at all. I thought I was mentally prepared for the transition back to the military. It still slammed me for a bit. I'm glad to say my head is back in the game and I'm all in!!
I love the idea that the military is going to run out of paper!! That is so true and hysterical.
If you join the military, in any branch, I think you should realize that you are to be an officer first and a nurse second. Not everyone agrees, and that's fine.
I have come to the conclussion that military nursing will eventually be paperless...because they have run out of paper, not because they made it computer based! I make more copies of things that I've done because people lose the last copy I gave them over and over.
If there is any doubt whether you are an officer or a nurse first then check the Geneva Convention and then second don't renew your nursing license and see how long you are still an officer in the military.....
I love this second quote! It was about two years after the AF announced it was going paperless that the amount paperwork had actually found to have doubled AF wide. In my own job we switched from 1 page form front and back to record our anesthesia assessment and peri-operative VS/meds etc. When we finally go to complete computer charting we will have replaced that 1 piece of paper with 9-10 pages minimum since you have to have a paper copy too.....you know just in case...
Not only do we have to know how to use CHCS and AHLTA but now we have to use essentris and starting next year Innovian will be implemented for charting in the OR. My anesthesia machine is going to end up going from having one monitor for VS/monitoring to having 3 monitors with two separate computers attached because Innovian and Essentris don't talk to each other.......
just_cause, BSN, RN
1,471 Posts
your results will vary... I can't speak with 'babygirls' specifics, (ps thank you for your service)... but not everyone should be in the Army or enjoys it.. That being said i DO agree with her M5 / 8A identifier comment.. its a 'small world' and having those identifiers, makes your world that much smaller. Some opt to not get the identifier for that specific reason.. it might not make sense until you are in the system