I'm a civilian RN working in an ICU unit, as a new grad, and I'm thinking about joining the military instead of continuing nursing as a civilian. I was once enlisted in the Navy, so I know the military life pretty well, but I have some concerns and questions for any military nurse of any branch of service if you would be so kind as to share your thoughts.
My biggest concern is deployments. I'm not opposed to them at all, but I have a strong opposition to the Iraq war, and deploying there would be dangerous for myself and difficult for my family. This kind of information is often left out by the military nurse recruiters, and I'd really love to hear about the way things really are from those that are living it. Obviously I know military members cannot speak against the Iraq conflict, but I would like to know what your experiences are in your branch of service as far as deployments go.
Also, I haven't seen an awful lot about what the average work week is for most nurses. I'd assume its roughly 40-50 hours per week, but I'd like to hear if those numbers are made easier or more difficult in terms of staffing levels. Where I work there are nearly no Nurse techs or LPNs, so we're often on our own and our work week is quite strenuous. Any thoughts on this as well?
Again, any branch of service I'd love to hear your thoughts and experiences. I would greatly appreciate it.
I could be wrong, yet seriously doubt the ANC has Certified Nurse Midwifes.
Old thread, but yes, the ANC has CNMs. Lots of them. They work in the OB clinics on post and deliver babies in military and civilian hospitals. I think all branches of service have them. Their AOC is 66G8D.
To answer another question, when they deploy they deploy as nurse practitioner generalists. Working in a TMC, dealing with troops and their problems.
I'm a civilian RN working in an ICU unit, as a new grad, and I'm thinking about joining the military instead of continuing nursing as a civilian. I was once enlisted in the Navy, so I know the military life pretty well, but I have some concerns and questions for any military nurse of any branch of service if you would be so kind as to share your thoughts.
My biggest concern is deployments. I'm not opposed to them at all, but I have a strong opposition to the Iraq war, and deploying there would be dangerous for myself and difficult for my family. This kind of information is often left out by the military nurse recruiters, and I'd really love to hear about the way things really are from those that are living it. Obviously I know military members cannot speak against the Iraq conflict, but I would like to know what your experiences are in your branch of service as far as deployments go.
Also, I haven't seen an awful lot about what the average work week is for most nurses. I'd assume its roughly 40-50 hours per week, but I'd like to hear if those numbers are made easier or more difficult in terms of staffing levels. Where I work there are nearly no Nurse techs or LPNs, so we're often on our own and our work week is quite strenuous. Any thoughts on this as well?
Again, any branch of service I'd love to hear your thoughts and experiences. I would greatly appreciate it.
i am not a military nurse but feel i have some basic knowledge to share here as my son spent nearly 3 of 4 yrs in Iraq - anyhow - if you disagree just hit the foreward button - i can not give advice on the medical jobs as my son was infantry however i do have some advice.
first off - no matter what you think of the Iraq war - if you can do your job there THAT is what matters ( in my humble but non military opinion. ) there are those i know who agree and those who dont and without regards to thier feelings they did their job very well. ( and some i know that are still doing thier job very well. ) being medical i would assume you would have to take care of not just the US but the combatants and even civilians - that is something only you can decide if you can do.
second off - if you have ANY concerns about being deployed my opinion would be do NOT join - not that you WOULD be deployed but that is always an option and why tempt fate and then have problems later cause you do not want to go.
third - i work per Diem so my work week is whatever i want it to be - but i know with short staffing all the full time people feel overwhelmed often working in our small town NH. I'm not exactly sure what your asking there but i do feel that the shortage of staff ads significantly to the number of hours one needs to work.
sorry - old thread - thought it looked familiar lol - dont know how to delete my posts and dont know why it came up as page one anyhow lol - usually comes up at last read section - sorry.
Was something that Canan said untrue? My suspicion is that you seem to think so. I'd like as much input as possible.[/quote
Being an ICU nurse with atleast one year's experience, no matter what your rank, you will be going to one of the high need areas if you are deployed. For the Air Force that is Balad airbase, Kirkuk airbase, or Landstuhl hospital in Germany. Balad and Kirkuk are both in Iraq.
I currently am an active duty Air Force nurse with an ICU identifier.
As far as length of deployments......
Air Force 4-6months
Navy 6 months
Army 1yr(sometimes longer)
One more thing for you here is the link to the Airbases/medical centers in Iraq.....most people have a misconception of what it is like over at the medical centers....http://www.afnews.af.mil/iraq/kirkuk.htm
thank you for your service!
and ill say it again to all our forces on this board -thank you for ALL your service.
Old thread, but yes, the ANC has CNMs. Lots of them. They work in the OB clinics on post and deliver babies in military and civilian hospitals. I think all branches of service have them. Their AOC is 66G8D.
To answer another question, when they deploy they deploy as nurse practitioner generalists. Working in a TMC, dealing with troops and their problems.
Lots of them [66G8D]? I know the AMEDD has cut way back on the OB/GYN side of the house. I know Field Grade ANC Officers that started out in OB/GYN type AOCs, but not anymore. However, I can see them being utilized as an NP Generalist.
Lots of them [66G8D]? I know the AMEDD has cut way back on the OB/GYN side of the house. I know Field Grade ANC Officers that started out in OB/GYN type AOCs, but not anymore. However, I can see them being utilized as an NP Generalist.
Well, relatively speaking I guess. I know 6 personally and that is just from two duty stations. Not all places have them in their clinics, but many do. In order to become a CNM you must have an MSN in midwifery. It's a very specialized degree so I think many may opt not to do that in their field grade years in light of limited future assignments and civilian career options. BTW I am a former active duty 25A who is now in the reserves and pursuing a civilian career in midwifery.
Well, relatively speaking I guess. I know 6 personally and that is just from two duty stations. Not all places have them in their clinics, but many do. In order to become a CNM you must have an MSN in midwifery. It's a very specialized degree so I think many may opt not to do that in their field grade years in light of limited future assignments and civilian career options. BTW I am a former active duty 25A who is now in the reserves and pursuing a civilian career in midwifery.
Are you Signal Corps in the RC, too? Thanks for your military service & good luck with your midwifery civilian career.
Specializes in Med/Surg;Hm Health;House Super; ER.
I'm just glad there are finallly some answers available to the questions I posed in the beginning of the thread. This kind of info was hard to find.
Amen to that! That's been half my problem in the "decision-making" realm, as most Recruiters can only give me Generic info, & I need to know what branch will fit me on an individual basis. So, needless to say, I've been very frustrated in trying to choose what will fit me better! It helps to see some of these answers to your questions! Thanks!
Hello. I am new to this forum and looking for information. I have read many of the previous posts trying to get specific information but I guess I just really need to outright ask what I want to know. Here goes.
I am a ADN student graduating in May. I have recently begun talking with a healthcare recruiter for the Army reserves (Nurse corps). He has lots of promises to make and some don't sound realistic. Anyone here that can help would be much appreciated. I am told that I can enter the service as an officer, do 27 days training in Texas to learn how to salute and wear a uniform. He did say that a small portion of that time would be spent field training, learning how to shoot a gun, etc. Then, I will come back home and work one weekend/month and two weeks/year at the nearby VA hospital (the two weeks may have to be spent at another hospital in the US) while working at another civilian job and going to school (which the Army will pay for). I am told that as a student I am non-deployable, so I will spend all my time here at home working in the VA hospital. I don't think I would really mind being deployed so much, I would however like to know in advance that it is a possibility. If I join, I want to do it with my eyes open. I don't want to get set up at a civilian employer and then have to tell them that I am taking off to Iraq, sorry. I was also told that if by some rare chance that I was deployed, it would probably only be somewhere in the states. I am very interested in serving my country and gaining the experience that a military nurse receives, but I don't want to jump in without all the facts (the true ones). Thanks in advance for your input.
i am told that i can enter the service as an officer,
true
do 27 days training in texas to learn how to salute and wear a uniform.
not true, the training for reserves is changing to being completely alongside the active duty army, minimum of 9-13 weeks. you can access the obc information page from here: http://www.dns.amedd.army.mil/anpd/obc/obc_index.html click on obc and then follow the links to it
he did say that a small portion of that time would be spent field training, learning how to shoot a gun, etc.
not necessarily true, that "small time" will be three full weeks
then, i will come back home and work one weekend/month and two weeks/year at the nearby va hospital (the two weeks may have to be spent at another hospital in the us) while working at another civilian job and going to school (which the army will pay for).
i cannot speak for the reserve componant
i am told that as a student i am non-deployable,
this depends...until you pass your pre-licensure nursing program and nclex then it is true, you will likely be on inactive ready reserve or on sustainment, currently i am pre-nclex and not necessarily deployable either, i am not yet a nurse...now, once you are a nurse then you will indeed be deployable, regardless if you are in school working towards your bsn, you will be a nurse-i am pretty sure
so i will spend all my time here at home working in the va hospital. i don't think i would really mind being deployed so much, i would however like to know in advance that it is a possibility.
it is a likely possibility, very likely
if i join, i want to do it with my eyes open. i don't want to get set up at a civilian employer and then have to tell them that i am taking off to iraq, sorry.
?what? if you do not want to tell your employer that you are "taking off to iraq" do not commission...sorry, but, the employer is supposed to recognize this and it is illegal for them to fire you. there is actually a company that did fire a nurse after her orders for the third deployment arrived. currently she is sueing them.
i was also told that if by some rare chance that i was deployed, it would probably only be somewhere in the states.
hmm, the chance that you will be deployed is not "rare", i suggest you not commission if you do not want to "risk" being deployed. while you may nevr be deployed, it is unwise to not expect it, especially as we are currently in the midst of a conflinct
i am very interested in serving my country and gaining the experience that a military nurse receives, but i don't want to jump in without all the facts (the true ones). thanks in advance for your input.
you are giving conflicting words. you want to serve your country and get the experience of military nursing yet, you are not interested in telling your civilian employer that you may or may not be deployed. if you are not willing to even consider the odds of being deployed, do yourself a big favor, think about the military a lot longer before commissioning. it may not be for you
gen
edit to add: possibly this miltiary forum will have some more information to guide you in making this big decision http://forums.military.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/837191012/m/9490072401001 please keep reading here, there are lots of helpful posters here and allnurses military nursing forum and its members have been highly helpful to me during my five month long application processs!
Gennaver, MSN
1,686 Posts
Hello,
After reading MSNRN's update to this thead I see I never thanked you for posting the link!
Thank you!
Gen