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.
Oh, no, not necessarily. For me the choice between the services is a matter of duty stations. I have 16 years of service left before a 20yr retirement, and if I have to be in the military that long, I'd like to have some nice options as far as duty stations. And the AF seems to be the best there. But I'm very open to all branches as my mind isn't made up yet.
I'm prior service AD AF 6yrs EOD...I went to the Navy for the duty stations...boy am I glad...
Hey, I never heard of the PHS...it looks interesting. I can't tell though, is it like the military in that you can get orders to some out of the way Indian Reservation, or do you really get to choose your location? Looks interesting.
I really want to go to Travis, and maybe eventually to Mcchord. Travis would be great for me because there are a lot of horse riding opportunities there, which many places don't have. California is overpopulated, polluted and kind of dangerous sometimes, but I think it would be a good place.
The promotion rates are kind of bothersome for the AF, but the Army worries me more. I just can't shake the feeling that if I did that I'll be filling a coach class seat for Baghdad before too long at all. To me its about duty stations. Fort Lewis/Madigan would be ideal, but I don't know if its worth it. I have seen they do have civilian nurse jobs there, though.
As an AD AF living in Arizona and Nevada I spent plenty of time on indian reservations...there is a reason why people don't want to live there...I didn't realize 3rd world countries exist within our borders...as far as prisons go...lol
I hope to run into you at Ft Lewis some time in the future for a cup of java. I do hope all is going well with you & your family. Susan & I love it out here in the South Puget Sound area.
HOOAH!
I'm glad you like the Pacific Northwest.I can't imagine living anywhere else. If you and your wife get a chance you should take a drive down the Gorge the falls and the mountains are beautiful.
As for the Java i'm not sure when we will be in the area next. My AT is back east this year.
Thats cool! It will be good for you to have AT in a different area in order to be somewhere you never been before.
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 haven't read the other responses yet (I'm kinda late for school) so forgive me if this has been said already....Joining the military means that you go where they tell you to. In the end, no matter what rank you are, you still have many "bosses" and there's only one guy that doesn't, and I'm guessing you dont' like him much? Me neither, and I'm pretty opposed to the Iraq war, but when I joined the Army, I knew it wasn't my personal opinions I had to consider. When I took the oath, I said I'd obey the orders of my commanding officers, and if that meant participating in and maybe dying in a war I didn't agree with, that had to be just fine.
One thing I've learned about the military (and you probably know this) is that if you're willing to sign your name on the dotted line, they pretty much give you about anything you want, but you have to be willing to give it all, at any time....so if you're joining to get the bonuses, more college for free, etc, it's not really worth it because as a nurse you'll most likely spend some time overseas away from family and friends.
I haven't read the other responses yet (I'm kinda late for school) so forgive me if this has been said already....Joining the military means that you go where they tell you to. In the end, no matter what rank you are, you still have many "bosses" and there's only one guy that doesn't, and I'm guessing you dont' like him much? Me neither, and I'm pretty opposed to the Iraq war, but when I joined the Army, I knew it wasn't my personal opinions I had to consider. When I took the oath, I said I'd obey the orders of my commanding officers, and if that meant participating in and maybe dying in a war I didn't agree with, that had to be just fine.
One thing I've learned about the military (and you probably know this) is that if you're willing to sign your name on the dotted line, they pretty much give you about anything you want, but you have to be willing to give it all, at any time....so if you're joining to get the bonuses, more college for free, etc, it's not really worth it because as a nurse you'll most likely spend some time overseas away from family and friends.
As an almost new grad. 23 days and counting to graduation. I am Commissioning into the Navy. If you have prior experience, one year is usually what the Navy wants you will have one year after OIS in Newport, RI at either Norfolk, VA, Bethesda, MD or San Diego, CA. Most new grads must do 2 years state side prior to be deployable. From what a friend whom is stationed on the U.S.S. Comfort right now as a ICU prepared nurse you are most likely looking at 6 months afloat, not necessarily in the theatre. She has previous Navy enlisted experience, and says this is almost like her other floats. I'm hoping for ICU if I'm lucky for my first unit at Bethesda, but I'll probably end up in ICU stepdown for 6 months. I have a masters school contract after two years, so they are telling me I'm not deployable until I finish my ACNP course. Yet, I'm well aware that I am easily still deployable after my two year hold off. Hope this helps a little.
91W M6, medical discharge due to back problems, which kind of sucks, I enjoyed the military.
Soldier Nurse Vet, thank you for your military service! Sorry to hear about your back. Are you pursuing your ADN or BSN? Don't forget to use your VA benefits.
As an almost new grad. 23 days and counting to graduation. I am Commissioning into the Navy. If you have prior experience, one year is usually what the Navy wants you will have one year after OIS in Newport, RI at either Norfolk, VA, Bethesda, MD or San Diego, CA. Most new grads must do 2 years state side prior to be deployable. From what a friend whom is stationed on the U.S.S. Comfort right now as a ICU prepared nurse you are most likely looking at 6 months afloat, not necessarily in the theatre. She has previous Navy enlisted experience, and says this is almost like her other floats. I'm hoping for ICU if I'm lucky for my first unit at Bethesda, but I'll probably end up in ICU stepdown for 6 months. I have a masters school contract after two years, so they are telling me I'm not deployable until I finish my ACNP course. Yet, I'm well aware that I am easily still deployable after my two year hold off. Hope this helps a little.
Sailor Nurse [soon to be]/Texan, thank you for your decision to serve this great country of ours via the Navy. BTW, take good care of my Marines.
You are prohibited as a medical officer, per the Geneva Convention, from doing security details etc. The military members that are getting killed/injured over there right now are mainly d/t IEDs when they are out doing patrols etc. As a medical officer you will be in a military compound and probably never leave that compound as long as you are in Iraq.
I was in Iraq for one year with the Army during OIF 1. As a soldier you do whatever needs to be done to accomplish the mission. That includes nurse corps officers pulling guard duty, manning gates, and towers. That includes riding the road like everyone else. Fortunately, in our unit, the nurses were allowed to volunteer for convoys. There were usually the same group that wanted to get out every time to do the sightseeing and the souvenir shopping or just not be around the same place every day, but we were fortunate. I am sure not everyone is given that choice. Fortunately, only a handful of medical personnel have been seriously injured. No deaths from enemy fire that I know of, although some accidents and natural causes.
I am not saying it is great or it is awful. Just make an informed decision. The service you join is a significant factor in what you will be doing. There are advantages and disadvantages to each.
The Air Force is good that their deployments are about 4-6 months. What they call deployments, the other services wish they could. The Air Force has some nurses in Iraq, but you have a more likely chance of going to Germany or Qatar. It could also be Kuwait, Turkey, Cuba, Honduras, or other vacation destinations. The disadvantage is that compared to the Army, you will wait forever to get promoted past Captain. The Air Force is also incredibly slow to accomplish things in addressing personnel issues or taking care of their people compared to the Army.
The main disadvantage to the Army is possibly deploying for a year ot more and then having the potential to go right back. It is a lottery. Some people seem like they live there permanantly. Other people have never been deployed yet. You take your chances. Promotions are quick and getting even faster due to so many people leaving. We would joke that the new LT would be the chief of the nurse corps in a few years if they stayed in because they would be the only one left. The Army is also good at taking care of business. Whatever the problem, it is taken care of on the spot. (Probably because you will be deployed tomorrow! Just kidding) They also have a bigger budget for getting the nice things for your work area.
Either way, just make an informed decision before you commit yourself. There are good and bad of everything. One more important thing is that if you serve a day in the Army there own you for life. They have some backdoor programs to involuntarily bring you back after you get out, regardless of how long you served, retired, whatever...
[The Air Force is good that their deployments are about 4-6 months. What they call deployments, the other services wish they could. The Air Force has some nurses in Iraq, but you have a more likely chance of going to Germany or Qatar. It could also be Kuwait, Turkey, Cuba, Honduras, or other vacation destinations. The disadvantage is that compared to the Army, you will wait forever to get promoted past Captain. The Air Force is also incredibly slow to accomplish things in addressing personnel issues or taking care of their people compared to the Army.]
The part about Air Force nurses usually going to other destinations besides Iraq is just not true anymore. We have taken over a significant number of the medical missions from the Army and are working side by side at many places. Balad Air Base is the busiest trauma center in Iraq and is mostly manned by Air Force nurses. Also, starting in January the Air Force is taking over 40 more nursing critical care slots from the Army. Doesn't sound like a lot, but considering the size of the Air Force compared to the Army that is significant number with the Air Forces' small number of critical care nurses. Currently about 60-75%+ of the nurses that deploy in the Air Force will go to Iraq. Most of the others will go to Landstuhl in Germany.
This is just my personal experience at my last two bases. The Air Force is no longer the medical branch that stays at the "back". The Air Force is totally reshaping/reshaped the way we deploy in the medical field. Except for the type of facilities we often have ....the deployment areas are the generally the same for Air Force and Army.
Now as far as personell issues between the Air Force and the Army...I would be willing to say that is probably true based on my latest professional/educational problems with the Air Force.
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.
again, any branch of service i'd love to hear your thoughts and experiences. i would greatly appreciate it.
okay, all, the person was just asking about what its like to be a military nurse.
as a former army nurse and a fomer air force nurse, i can only say i enjoyed all my time i spent in both branches of the service. i also worked in critical care - working at ddeamc and the old fitzsimmons amc. i also worked in ed's when the brac lists closed many icu units.
go talk to a recruiter, he/she can probably answer most of your questions adn concerns on deployment. if it doesn't suit you or your concerns, don't join, but good luck with either. we need good nurses everywhere!!
kookinitreal
35 Posts
I'm prior service AD AF 6yrs EOD...I went to the Navy for the duty stations...boy am I glad...