Why is Army medic experience not valued for New Grads applying for ER jobs?

Specialties Emergency

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  1. Would you hire a new grad in the ER with Army medic experience?

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I am a recent graduate from a BSN program and have been trying desperately to find an ER job in Central Ohio. I have been an Army medic for over six years including a tour in Iraq as a flight medic. I also have worked the past three years as an aid on a med-surg floor. I have done 2 interviews for ER jobs but the result was the same, "you have no nursing experience".While I'm not saying that veterans deserve special treatment, I am frustrated because I feel some of my experiences may outweigh those of any other nurse. Please let me know how to sell my army medic experience and get my career started on the right path.

Specializes in med-surg, post-partum, ER, psychiatric.

I cannot say that I am surprised. I have had the same thing happen to me. Same sort of response of not being RN experience, yet they will hire newly graduated RNs with ZILCH emergency medical experience right out of nursing school. Go figure. I would always hold my tongue from saying things such as "Can you intubate? No! Didn't think so, 'cause I can!" (In ERs nurses do not intubate for the most part, and it usually a respiratory therapist or anethesiologist for the most part. That is for starters. I further want to say/ask: "What about critical thinking skills? WHO do you think gets the patient stabilized BEFORE being sent off to the ER, working under very nasty conditions, sights, sounds, smells, chaos, etc.? Ahem.......me! Do you think that takes critical thinking skills to decide load and go or stay and play - i.e., TRIAGE! especially if is a mass casualty situation." It is just not toward military medical veterans that this mentality prevails but also towards any EMS types. I was not a combat medic (even though I put in nearly 39 years military non-medical service in), but I was a medic and did the medic-RN bridge. I am so fed up with this sort of mentality to say the least and seeing "baby" nurses getting these positions. The only thing I can think of, in lieu of the "canned" response it is not nursing experience, is that there is that perceived threat of the medic having more experience, knowledge, and skill base than the RN(s). I feel that is a lousy reason, but that is probably the reality of it. I do wish you the best of luck and hopefully somebody will hire you and see the true value you have to offer to them overall. I am no longer pursuing going into an ER (even though I still work part-time paid position for a major county as a RN/medic) and remain with psychiatric nursing that I am doing now. My goals have somewhat changed overall in what I want to do in nursing IF I remain in nursing. Well wishes to you!

My babysitter left us to be an army medic (with our full support, we are both MPs) and she learned things that an RN will never due (field intubations, etc) and I would LOVE to work with her as an RN in the hospital. You learn to remain cool, calm and collected. You have the mentality that a 24 hour work period is normal, so a 12 hour shift wont freak you out. No, being a medic wont help you tell the difference between a STEMI or a panic attack, but that's what your RN schooling taught you. As a military person (medic or not) you have had YEARS of experience in the controlled chaos that IS the ER. Make sure you are selling yourself right. After the military and before nursing school I landed a job that I had ZERO experience in (no degree either) just based on the fact that I was a SSG in the military. During the interview, the hiring person said, and I quote, "Who am I kidding? You were an MP, you are a SSG, to me, that means you can do ANYTHING that I ask, and if you dont know how, you will figure it out. When can you start?".

Make sure you are selling yourself right, that's the key.

I think the are some most excellent responses here, and at the risk of stating what I hear in your c/o, I will give you the truth in what I 'hear you saying that heck I have more experience than most of them! This is not a coveted attitude in the er. I have been, and worked with paramedic/firefighters as techs that all they wanted to do was the fun stuff and leave the wiping butts to the RN or someone else. Tiresome really. Are you willing to take a Med surg position where you can shine as an RN and get some good recommendations and after putting in the time, step into the er? We've all payed our dues one way or another. The veteran part is commendable, my father was a screaming eagle and jumped on d day so i got nothing but respect for our military.

What some may be losing sight of is that Emergency Nursing is not just about trauma and codes. You've still got to be able to tell a STEMI from an anxiety attack, DKA from hyperglycemic, and numerous other issues. Personally, I think your background is a major plus but they might have policies against new grads in the ED. Not all hospitals are willing to percept new grads in critical care areas. Would you be willing to start out somewhere else in the hospital that you want to work at? Anything else catching your eye that you might want to do?

I am a nurse in ER and in the navy reserve, so I work with corpsmen all the time. Personally I think they have a good skill set on trauma and first aid, however the ER Nurse has to deal with anything from the pt on dialysis with peaked T waves, the STEMI you need to get out to cath lab stat, the polite old lady who needs a Foley, the mean old man who is combative, the drug seeker/alcoholic, the DKA of course, the list goes on and on. In combat, you are dealin with mostly young people with wounds/trauma - operative word being young. In ERs here stateside its all ages, all kinds of problems - some subtle. Don't get me started on pediatric pts or neonates.

Specializes in Clinical Research, Outpt Women's Health.

The only thing I can think of is maybe they are intimidated and/or feel you may not be, ahem, malleble enough?

Specializes in Trauma.
I am a nurse in ER and in the navy reserve, so I work with corpsmen all the time. Personally I think they have a good skill set on trauma and first aid, however the ER Nurse has to deal with anything from the pt on dialysis with peaked T waves, the STEMI you need to get out to cath lab stat, the polite old lady who needs a Foley, the mean old man who is combative, the drug seeker/alcoholic, the DKA of course, the list goes on and on. In combat, you are dealin with mostly young people with wounds/trauma - operative word being young. In ERs here stateside its all ages, all kinds of problems - some subtle. Don't get me started on pediatric pts or neonates.

Many Corpsmen work in base hospitals and deal with all the patients you just described. They are not combat only. While on shore duty I dealt with service members from 17-60, their wives, kids and also retirees. We also deal with all types of patients during humanitarian missions. Navy Corpsmen and Army/AF Medics do more than treat bullet wounds on 20 yr olds. Find an IDC Corpsman in your Reserve unit and ask what they did on Active Duty.

Many Corpsmen work in base hospitals and deal with all the patients you just described. They are not combat only. While on shore duty I dealt with service members from 17-60, their wives, kids and also retirees. We also deal with all types of patients during humanitarian missions. Navy Corpsmen and Army/AF Medics do more than treat bullet wounds on 20 yr olds. Find an IDC Corpsman in your Reserve unit and ask what they did on Active Duty.

I know Corpsmen are in hospitals, on the Blue side. On the green side I hear different stories altogether. As far as the Army I cannot speak to that topic at all. It doesn't make a difference if they are in hospitals, until the responsibility is 100% on your shoulders, its not the same to me.

First off, there has been some REALLY excellent advice in this thread!

OP, don't let this get you down or deter your ambitions to work in the ED. I am also a former combat medic in the Army, and a recent ADN grad in Florida (Post 9-11 GI bill, thank you!). I live in the Tampa Bay region and have had the absolute worst time getting interviews. When I was transitioning to the civilian sector, I thought that I would have no problem getting my foot into the door with my experience from the military. Boy, was I wrong! I couldn't even land an unlicensed CNA position! I was like, are you KIDDING ME?! It is what it is. I focused on school, and was grateful for the opportunity to get paid to continue higher education.

When it came time to building my resume, I highlighted my military experience next to my graduate nurse qualifications. I'm humble, but I have to joke that I feel like I sound so much better on paper than I come off in person, haha. That aside, there ARE facilities who appreciate this type of experience! I was prompted by an old NCO (who also became an RN after her service) to apply at a local hospital near my old duty station. Mind you, this is about 1000 miles away. I applied to only ER and ICU, as these were the only two departments that would prompt me to relocate. I didn't think I had a chance in hell. Two days later I received an email requesting a phone interview with their talent recruiter regarding my ICU app. After speaking with her for an hour, she suggested that I would be wonderful for their ED! I literally screamed in excitement when I got off the phone. The next day, another hour-long phone interview with the ED manager. It was blissful :) I was asked to come shadow the department, and traveled up that weekend to do so. I was a nervous wreck on the inside, but I have a stellar poker face compliments of the military (everyone remarks upon my composure, and yet I am just as nervous as any other new grad). It was a fantastic experience! It enticed me even more, as I long for the fast-paced, critical nature of the ED.

On my drive home I was contacted again to say that I was being offered a FT position in their ED....it is also a level II trauma facility. I am leaving Florida in only a few weeks to begin! I am over the moon, and the envy of many of my peers right now. My best advice is to look into relocation. Apply to facilities near military bases, as these are more likely to favor and appreciate your experience. Having a BSN is a total bonus, and I am SHOCKED that no one as picked you up yet. You are a gem; believe it.

You will prevail! No worries. Best of luck in your endeavors, and many wishes for a rewarding and successful career!

Specializes in ED.

I am sorry for what you are going through. When I was in nursing school I had two former Army medics in my class and a bunch of Navy Corpsman (Military Area). I learned a lot of valuable things from these people, especially when it came to triage and EKG reading, but by far the most valuable was skills. They had a lot of tricks for getting IV's started and a wide array of other things which I will always remember. As a veteran myself, I would hire you in a heartbeat!

Specializes in FMF CORPSMAN USN, TRUAMA, CCRN.

Congratulations on your new position, I have no doubts you will do an outstanding job.

Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.

Sorry this is off topic but there seems to be a lot of corpsmen and medics reading this thread. For their interest:

https://allnurses.com/government-military-nursing/corpsmen-medics-become-270082.html

Specializes in FMF CORPSMAN USN, TRUAMA, CCRN.

First off, I believe our medics and corpsman to be of more honorable stock than to apply for a position that they are less than qualified for. Having been stationed in a war zone, most will not have been assigned to the "band-aid brigade," or as you labeled them "hand out Motrin and tell them to drink water." Secondly, wouldn't anyone being hired for these positions be required to undergo an orientation process the same as any new hire to any of the units? Any shortcomings would most certainly be evident within a very limited period of time. I'm not saying these men and women deserve any special consideration, but they most assuredly do deserve every consideration. They are every bit as qualified as any 3 or 4 year nurse coming in and applying for a job and much more so in many considerations. As some have noted, they are not going to freeze up in a trauma or be afraid to jump in when someone needs to jump, and those are the people I need in my ER. The book stuff I can get through, I need experience. So, Welcome home all you guys and thanks for your service.

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