ER Army Specialty

[JavelinO]

I will receive my ABSN in June 2010 (already have a BS in Biology) and wondered what the difficulty was of getting an ER specialty slot. Do those tend to "fill up"? Also, when is the earliest my packet could get boarded? Thank you.

[jeckrn, BSN, RN]

For all Army specialized areas you will need 1 year of Med-Surg Nursing first before you can attend the course for that area.

[JavelinO]

I was under the assumption that you sign up for one of 5 specialties. If selected, you complete one year in med-surg, for example, before going to your specialty school. Is this true?

[just_cause, BSN, RN]

as a note: you are currently able to get a 'course guarantee' so that you will be able to attend a specialty army course and then gain the identifier/specialty code and then most likely work in that area...

however those guarantees are only limited to four areas... psych, ob, icu and or. Otherwise you would want to enter directly into your specialty area which requires experience as a civilian nurse.

You cannot get the ER course guaranteed and i've read other stipulations ie course guarantee is only available for those with first duty station that is conus - now you can have ER experience and enter directly with that qualifier... or enter army and work to gain exp and then attend ER course.

[JavelinO]

I just spoke with a recruiter who explained that ER is a 5th specialty area one could go into as a new BSN grad. Could this have been recenty added? Ps, I mean no disrespect just cause.

[lifeafter40]

this is from the army website:

there are four 16 week courses available as a generic course guarantee:

• critical care nursing course
  
• operating room nursing course
  
• psychiatric/ mental health nursing course
  
• obstetrical/gynecological nursing course
  

there are two other courses that require a nomination from the chief nurse of the military treatment facility after you complete one year on active duty. the chief nurse can nominate you for the army public health nursing course or the emergency room nursing course. (this means it is not guaranteed upon entry).

it is always good to get verification of anything your recruiter tells you... and to see it in writing before you accept it as the complete truth.

[JavelinO]

Thanks for the response lifeafter40. For example, if I decided on the critical care course, is there a good chance I could go through the ER program after that first year? Is it highly desired by others, difficult to get into, etc.? Thank you.

[just_cause, BSN, RN]

.... as with everything in the military it is 'situationally dependent'. I would say if you are dead set on ER then work as a civilian for a few years and gain the base line ER requirements that enable you to enter the Army as an ER nurse off the bat and therefore you won't attend that course as you will have that MOS specialty or code identifier... if it were me I'd join and select an alternate course guarantee... establish myself on my first job.... be a good LT.... impress my CDR and work towards changing from my initial guarantee to ER specialty course and a year or two down the road... it may work out - if not I'd have the experience and the guaranteed opportunity in a different course.

v/r

[JavelinO]

I completely understand that you go where the Army needs you. However, I thought that once you went to a specialty school (ob, mental, critical, or), you would be bound to that type of nursing for your time within the military. So you can switch to a new specialty after a few years?

[lifeafter40]

I think what JC is getting at is, as a new grad nurse, you will first be in a med/surg position. once you get that basic experience, you will then be able to go to the course guaranteed in your contract. During that year or so of med/surge, you could also be working with your chain of command towards your goal of the ER course. If you get recommended and selected for the ER course, then that is great and you are on your path to your goal, but if you do not get recommended/selected, for whatever reason, you would still have the specialty course guaranteed in your contract as a second option.

Follow your dreams, but have a back up plan;)

LA40

[carolinapooh, BSN, RN]

I just spoke with a recruiter who explained that ER is a 5th specialty area one could go into as a new BSN grad. Could this have been recenty added? Ps, I mean no disrespect just cause.

I hate to say this, but be wary of recruiters...be VERY VERY wary of recruiters...

Not just because they may be unscrupulous, but because sometimes they're given dubious information by those above them (yes, it happens).

[CASTLEGATES]

I did 10 years of military; ANC is highly political, you'd be better off joining regular combat or civilian. My grunt/combat medic days were far more rewarding. ANC relies heavily on civilian training when not full time and pulls expectations without proper means to meet them in some cases. You're at the complete mercy of a single superior to write what they please on your reviews and you can't just make it up later...that will follow you forever in your government career-I've seen that affect many others (any slight comment even if appealed and not true).

It's a strange system that's difficult to adapt to. ICU course, ACLS, IABP, LVAD courses were all easier the first time than figuring out government paperwork and depending on it to get a raise. You can't just work and be recognized; you have to focus on paper pushing and really get into the politics to get any significant raises or promotions. 10 years was enough for me!

Just my two cents.

If I could do it all over again, I'd move to Australia and work there (they're not as much of a war machine corporocracy like the US) plus they're far higher on the quality of life list of countries and far less income disparity.

Just my two cents!