Correctional Nurse Just Joined Army Reserves

[LtLilRed]

I recently took my oath and am now awaiting orders. I know where I will be "stationed" so to say for drill, etc. (15 minutes from my home)They told me it would be about 9-12 months before I would go to OBLC.

My main issues, however, are what do I expect?

I have no ICU/critical care experience. This is not to say that I couldn't learn. I work in the civilian world in a large county jail working with adults. However, I switch roles multiple times during every shift. I go from human resources, to manager, to pill pusher, to social worker, to psych nurse, to emergent care nurse(such as fights, hangings, etc.) and mix that with minor to moderate acute and chronic care patients.

I would therefore say that I do have the ability to do it all.

But what might I expect on drill weekends,AT, etc? Working at a hospital when I have NEVER worked at a hospital?

Help! I'm feeling a bit worried!

One of the main reasons I joined was to possibly renew some of the clinical hands-on type skills that I feel have become rusty but I'm worried I will be thrown into things.

Anyone have any idea?

[athena55, BSN, RN]

hello lt!

welcome to the us army reserves nurse corps!

i can only speak for myself while i was in the reserves (i am now ac - active component/active duty) my tpu was a medical support unit and their metl (mission essential task list) was to be a "filler" for any other companies that get deployed and/or mobilized and needed extra bodies. during our ba's (battle assemblies or drill - old term) the 66h's would do teaching (how to take a bp, pulse; how to treat open abd wounds, stuff like that) to the other soldiers

you should be given a sponsor: someone who will "show you the ropes" your first few times at drill. or maybe you can go to the officer who showed you how to get your acus in order. since you are only 15 minutes away from your tpu (troop program unit) perhaps you could stop by and talk to the ua who is assigned to your company or to someone who is arng

i do hope you enjoy your tpu. let us know how things are going for you. by the way, as soon as you can, talk to your sponsor, the person who will be rating you for your oer (officer evaluation report), or another soldier in your unit and they can give you the "heads up" on what you can expect in the future. for example, if you are attached to a csh (combat support hospital) you will be assigned to a floor or unit in the hospital where y'all will do some drill weekends.

athena

[JDCitizen]

I recently took my oath and am now awaiting orders. I know where I will be "stationed" so to say for drill, etc. (15 minutes from my home)They told me it would be about 9-12 months before I would go to OBLC.

My main issues, however, are what do I expect?

I have no ICU/critical care experience. This is not to say that I couldn't learn. I work in the civilian world in a large county jail working with adults. However, I switch roles multiple times during every shift. I go from human resources, to manager, to pill pusher, to social worker, to psych nurse, to emergent care nurse(such as fights, hangings, etc.) and mix that with minor to moderate acute and chronic care patients.

I would therefore say that I do have the ability to do it all.

But what might I expect on drill weekends,AT, etc? Working at a hospital when I have NEVER worked at a hospital?

Help! I'm feeling a bit worried!

One of the main reasons I joined was to possibly renew some of the clinical hands-on type skills that I feel have become rusty but I'm worried I will be thrown into things.

Anyone have any idea?

This part I know:

Correctional health care oh the "fun"

Reserves I don't know:

I don't know much about the military way but if it's health care (nursing):

You will still switch roles multiple times during every shift. You will still go from human resources, to manager, to pill pusher, to social worker, to psych nurse, to emergent care nurse and add to that minor to moderate acute and chronic care patients...