Future of Army Nursing

Published

I found this article at www.nursingspectrum.com and found it interesting.

Look forward to additional comments, links, insight.

v/r

J_C

Chief of the Army Nurse Corps Plans to Transform Army Nursing

Maj. Gen. Patricia D. Horoho, RN, the new chief of the Army Nurse Corps, has ambitious plans to transform Army nursing using lessons learned from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the best of military nursing research, and the latest advances in the nursing profession.

Her 15-year blueprint to revamp the ANC includes molding leaders who can adapt to the unpredictability of modern warfare, training new nurses who are ready to face the trauma of war, and educating RNs who can incorporate evidence-based practice at the bedside from Iraq to Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C.

"The plan will be driven by courage to do the right thing, innovation to meet the rapidly evolving war, fighting, and medical demands of the 21st century, and constant compassion for those we serve and those with whom we serve," Horoho said in her acceptance speech in July 2008 in Fort Lewis, Wash. "We will critically assess ourselves and the care we provide in every location along the continuum of care from the forward surgical teams in the thick of battle to the [combat support] hospitals under mortar fire and back home to our hospitals and clinics, where we care for warriors of all generations and their families."

The rest of the story here.

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Thanks for the article. I never knew that there are more civilian nurses than active duty employed by the Army. I never really thought about it though.

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Team nursing vs primary nursing vs nursing with IV/Med nurses. The hospitals I have been affiliated with have gone through these changes with the last being over 8 years ago. I would lean towards saying the changes came mostly due to two factors; costs and the nursing shortage. There was a year in each situation where the turnover of nurses had to have exceeded 70%.

- Nursing research with a quick turnaround for implementation.

- One year of orientation / training that is superb undertaking.

- 15-year blueprint? 4 years will accomplish their goals? Four or 15 years thats new for me most civilian hospitals / cooperations would think 15 months was too long. I would think by years 3-5, depending on loss levels, the backbone should be there.

- 60% civilian nursing staffing that surprised me but than again the last two major hospitals I worked at the agency nurses just as many times as not outnumbered the staff nurses. I wonder what the Army plan is for addressing this. Wouldn't that mean only 40% are prone to deployment???

Very good article thanks for posting.

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I was told that the 1 yr residency program is not in effect... Anyone heard about this? My recruiter never even heard of it.

Thx!

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Specializes in ICU-my whole life!!.
I was told that the 1 yr residency program is not in effect... Anyone heard about this? My recruiter never even heard of it.

Thx!

This is in full effect. Do not let that recruiter BS you!

Is this recruiter an AMEDD recruiter? Is he/she an officer? What rank? Captain, Major???

I could link you with someone who has just finished their residency not too long ago...

PM if you like.

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Thank you. She is an amedd recruiter I've been working with for 2 yrs now. I think she's a staff srgt. But I was shocked she said she had never heard of it and never mentioned it and she said her superiors never heard of it either. I have used this site to catch her in a few things like this, kind of disappointing. I would like to PM when I have a chance.

Thanks for your help!

Ben

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armyicurn,

There was an initial run of the Residency program - are you confirming that it is ongoing...?

Any information or links you can share - thanks.

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Specializes in ICU-my whole life!!.

Yes, there was a trial run. Now is on full course. I will have to talk to a colleague who just finished his residency for more info on a site or such...

Ben, you need to get away from that SSG (staff sgt) recruiter. You need to talk to an Army AMEDD recruiter that is of commissioned rank. PM me if you have more questions.

Robert

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Specializes in CVICU.
Yes, there was a trial run. Now is on full course. I will have to talk to a colleague who just finished his residency for more info on a site or such...

Ben, you need to get away from that SSG (staff sgt) recruiter. You need to talk to an Army AMEDD recruiter that is of commissioned rank. PM me if you have more questions.

Robert

My recruiter is a sgt of some sort. She is an Army AMEDD recruiter but just a sgt. What is the reason to avoid AMEDD recruiting sgts? I dont think I can send pms otherwise I would. I have filled out the application with my recruiter and shes sending me to the BAMC tour this month. I dont think I have any complaints yet. Do they mess up signing bonuses or school loan repayments? Or is it just that recruiters that are officers are better informed or something? Thanks for any insight and please PM me your awesome recruiter if you think it would help me. Thanks again.

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First off...I would like to say that I have been dealing with an enlisted recruiter in the AMMED office for some time now, and he is very on top of things... I think that it is unfair to make a blanket statement about enlisted recruiters like that... there are just as many recruiters that are Officers that drop the ball as there are Enlisted ones. In my particular office, there is a CPT who does the RA Nurse recruitment and a SSG who takes care of the Reserve side of the house... they have both been very helpful and prompt in answering my questions. Just like anything else, there are good and bad individuals in every position. But to label Enlisted recruiters as poor or incapable is not only unfair...it is a poor start to a career as an officer...one in which you will rely heavily on the NCO's under your command.

That being said... it is my hope that the poster of that comment was trying to say that you need to make sure that the recruiter you are talking to is indeed an AMMED health professionals recruiter, and not just your local general enlisted recruiter (who will most likely not have the proper information in regards to you as a potential AMMED Officer).

LA40

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LA40, I concur ;) Who do you think helps mentor that cpt/1lt who is brand new to recruiting ;) I don't know the previous poster - but couldn't disagree from them anymore then assuming the SSG doesn't know what he/she is talking about... LA40 is spot on by recommending that you have the AMEDD POC, which poster in question does have...

Despite the contributing posters comment on the residency program and their 'friend' in the program... I still have not seen any 'further' use of the Army's formal 1 year residency. Perhaps their friend was in the pilot as they have only had one program.........

There is a standard on site informal 'residency' or orientation time period that you gain at arrival of your first assignment.... the 1 year program, from what i have gathered, was a pilot program incentive/retention tool that has undergone 1 year - and had limited slots and is likely not to continue,.. and if it does probably would not be capable of handling all new nurses based on slots and loss of manpower etc. This is all my IMHO.

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Yes, I am assuming that the preceptor program is still in effect for all new grad nurses...but, like you, I have not heard any definitive information on the continuation of the 1 year, formal residency program. I also am very interested in learning more about the status of this program, and hope that some of our newly inducted nurse Officers will stop back in to update us on their experiences in the area...

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