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Discussion

Bored and thinking

I am and OR assistant nurse manager at a level 1 trauma facility. ADN, BSN, BS, and working on MSN ARNP or ACCNP. I am also a former fighter EMT from a large metro area, we ran EMS in addition to the fire fighting. I am bored and in speaking with a friend at work who is recently retired LC RN who used to be over setting up hospital units and various other jobs. He has suggested looking into military nursing. He thinks I def have the personality for it, and thinks I would do well.

At current the only cases I circulate are traumas, open heart, and stat emergency cases, I love thee cases as a I actually feal my skills are making a difference. Other that I coordinate the operation of the OR and PACU cases, personell, equipment, supplied and such.

I dont really have a desire to work in a hospital as an RN, I can do than now and get well to do so. I am just finding myself looking for more. I want a challenge and miss the feeling of stress, when working at a bad MVC or structure fire.

Anything more in military nursing than basic role and function of hospital nurse?

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    • Featured Replies

    Forward surgical teams, flight nursing, ccat and pararescue are a few I can think of. Your friend probably supervised a combat support hospital or something like it.

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    First question how old are you? If you are over 42 you would need a age waiver. Most OR nurses work in the OR with some assigned to CSH or FST in the Army. Once you have your ARNP their is a good chance you will work in a clinic if that is what you come in as. Life in a field unit can be extremely boring even when deployed and most nurses spend most of their time working at the base hospital or clinic depending on where they are assigned.

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    • Author

    33Yo 162lbs and fit.

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    • Author

    after doing a bit more research FST is what really interest me. The patient population and procedure type would better match what I circulate now and the logistical side would match more to what I do as the weekend ANM. I guess the next step would be finding a recruiter that could answer question and figuring out which branch of service Army or Air Force.

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    • Experts

    The problem with FST, CCATT, MFAST, etc is that they are just deployment groupings. That isn't your full-time job. Your full-time job as a military nurse is almost always working in a bedded facility. I think you'll find nursing in the military very boring if blood and guts is what you want full-time.

    If you want point-of-injury bang, bang shoot-em-up medical experience, then I would recommend Air Force pararescue. It's an enlisted career field, but it is the special forces medical career field. Your full time job is to go medivac soldiers from hot zones in rotary-wing aircraft.

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    • Author

    Dont want shoot em up band full time that would be a great way to burn out I would think. I am just tires of working on people who don't give a S*** about them selves, in a system that does not have a patient focused purpose. The idea of helping those protecting our country would be much more rewarding. When I worked for the Fire Department we had clear goal and objectives, everyone was motivated profesional we were there for a purpose. Now Im baby sitting adult children, in a system that really doesnt give a damn, with a patient population thats about the same. I used to feel like I made a difference in peoples lives now im just stagnant and waiting on the next smoker drinker with metabolic triad to have a wreck. I had more autonomy and job satisfaction as a FF medic.

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    after doing a bit more research FST is what really interest me. The patient population and procedure type would better match what I circulate now and the logistical side would match more to what I do as the weekend ANM. I guess the next step would be finding a recruiter that could answer question and figuring out which branch of service Army or Air Force.

    FST's can be very boring when they deploy. Most are lucky to have one or two surgeries a week. They are only there for the patient that can not make it back to a CSH or for local nationals who are related to someone.

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    • Author

    Thank you all for your feedback... would I be better off benefit wise waiting till I pass my ARNP boards?

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    • Experts

    Having the advanced degree alone will be helpful for your starting rank. I believe you'll have the option of being a nurse or being an NP when you join. FYI, most NPs that I've seen work outpatient clinics, especially family health and pediatrics. I really don't know what they do with NPs in a deployed settting. Maybe someone else can shed light on that.

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    • Author

    after lots of talking with the wife and the recruiter I am planning on going into the reserves after I pass my boards. Wife does not want to move the kids. Id get the higher rank, train locally, and the opportunity to VOL for deployments. And uncle sam would chip in to the debt I've now acquired, while I get to serve those who serve our country.

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