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.
Those ideas are not mutually exclusive. I'm sure ANC_Maj you might agree. Just my observation.
I find it interesting that you would presume to know my thoughts on the subject. AND I do get the distinct feeling you are "fishing" for opinions and responses to spark a debate. A debate, I might add, that no military member currently serving should entertain.
I can't speak for TX-RN-FNP, but while I was deployed (also OIF1), the ANCs helped out with all additional duties as well - TCN guard, night AOD, sandbag duty, and whatever miscellaneous duties came up. We actually had a "duty platoon" each day that each ICU/ICW was responsible for sending 2-4 people out for each day. For me it was a nice change of pace to be out doing the various duties, gave me some perspective, and I think it helped build camaraderie especially as the BOG days (and the temperature!) hit the triple digits and kept climbing.
ANC_Maj
We all do extra duties, but I did find it interesting to hear that the other sister services having their nurse/medical corps officers doing guard duty.
I, also, really liked to hear from the Austrialian's service members perspective. I hope he/she will post more often!
I find it interesting that you would presume to know my thoughts on the subject. AND I do get the distinct feeling you are "fishing" for opinions and responses to spark a debate. A debate, I might add, that no military member currently serving should entertain.
I'm sorry, it really isn't what I wanted. Sometimes I take the bait and I know I shouldn't. I didn't presume to know anything about what you're thinking...just that it didn't seem like an unreasonable statement and I didn't want to presume that you for sure would agree. I don't want to give the wrong impression, I just don't always word things the way I mean them.
This topic has gotten stupid. At this point it has ceased to be helpful to anyone considering military nursing.
I didn't want this thread to be about this, but I will say that a lot of military people do feel the same way, but they can only say so amongst close friends as opposed to public forums such as this one.
I agree this thread has gotten to have too much politics/opinions in it about the Iraq war. (Partially my fault)
There is hopefully one thing we can all agree on.....Only an mentally unbalanced person likes war. What we do in the military overshadows any particular war/conflict, it reflects our particular committment to our country and in smaller part to our chosen professions.
I find it interesting that you would presume to know my thoughts on the subject. AND I do get the distinct feeling you are "fishing" for opinions and responses to spark a debate. A debate, I might add, that no military member currently serving should entertain.
ANC_Maj - I will definitely take heed & abstain from any Thread on allnurses.com with discussion of a political nature.
Hello everyone, I am new to this webstie and I have enjoyed reading all the posts. I went to MEPS on Wednesday and I passed. I will be one of the newest members of the ANC. I am so excited.
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.
my son is a marine - he went from boot to iraq at the start of the war and has been there a total of 3 times since the start and spent most of the last 3 1/2 yrs there. i am for the war. however i respect your right to not be for it :) i will say one thing - anyone who can not be "for war" for whatever reason and follow their commands and duties and do them well ( wether they support it or not) should not join. so you need to think - even though you dont support t - can you and will you follow the command and do your duties to your fullest potential - if the answer is no then dont join. you know its the same with nursing - there are a lot of things i dont believe in ( ike keeping folks alive ina a vegatative state or with no quality of life by tube feeding them for yrs and yrs - but i have to do it cause thats pat of my job and i do it well. ) and seeing as there is a very good likely hood you could and would be called upon to go you have to be firm in your decision. you also have to think of the other things that go woth war - perhaps not so much being a nurse but nurses do go to the front line at times and can you shoot to kill if being attackied. there is a lot for you to consider. good luck in your choice and semper fi.
first of: as a nurse you'd be a Ltn. 1 or 2 (depending on your degree; A.S. or B.S.) and very unlikely in 'theater', more likely in some place like in Kuwait, Saudia, or Germany. And that's "if" since you're in ICU, what do you think it's going to take the average DOD patient to 'reach' ICU in combat medicine :-/ seriously no pun intended?
Your opposition to the war, it is not of matter to the service. Your service is to the forces or any other pts that may come in (sometimes enemy), if you can look at it as a challenge and a test of your "faith" then you should be fine. Believe you me, I'm totally opposed to this 'war', too, and trust me most of the participants will be sooner or later, too (with the exception of the hardcore imbecillies, of course ;-D, but you have to make a decision for yourself. I'm already there! hooha and Good luck!
i beg your pardon but my son and his buddies are far from imbecilles - hardcore maybe lol but fr from imbeciles - they protect your right to call them that though and thank god for that. as they stand now they are doing a lot of great things in iraq and they are and should be proiud of themselves for freeing an oppressed people. but thank you for sharing your opinion. have a blessed week.
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 the link but more importantly thank YOU for your service. god bless you and your family tenfold.
Although I am not currently active duty (I am a Navy vet), I think I can address why folks join the military: to serve our country. Its not a political decision (at least for me), it was simply a way to give back to a country that has given me so much. I married while on active duty to another service member and we were stationed overseas in four countries for a total of 9 years. It was a real eye-opener and we must all be aware that many outside our borders envy us. We have the best place to live IMHO.
thank you fo ryour service as well. and to anyone i may miss on this line that is in the military thank you and big hugs and prayers for you all.
Hello everyone, I am new to this webstie and I have enjoyed reading all the posts. I went to MEPS on Wednesday and I passed. I will be one of the newest members of the ANC. I am so excited.
ANC_Maj
42 Posts
I find it interesting that you would presume to know my thoughts on the subject. AND I do get the distinct feeling you are "fishing" for opinions and responses to spark a debate. A debate, I might add, that no military member currently serving should entertain.