Finally a Positive Note in my Career

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in ICU.

Well, I got the job I was trying to get. I'm working in the ICU at a military hospital. I was in the AF for 10 years active and 6 Reserve, my wife retired from the AF, and now, I'm working at the hospital on the base near where we live.

So far, I like it. They staff for the rooms they have available, not the amount of patients so there is no such thing as getting flexed or being overloaded with patients, and no one "call's off" and everyone comes to work on time. The MDs are all in the AF, and there's a real level of respect from everybody to everybody. Everyone is friendly.

There's no profit motive at all, so they don't act that way. If I'd taken a job I was going for in one of the civilian hospitals here, I would have made ten dollars an hour less, they would have flexed me if it smelled like a patient might get discharged, and I would have worked my butt off. Needless to say, I don't work my butt off here.

Of course they have 0 computer charting, which is a + and - at the same time, but get this, the techs and RT are enlisted people (some are even E-6's, Technical Sergeants), what that means is that they are professional in their attitudes, demeanor, dress, work ethic, competency, etc. These are quality medical technicians.

Oh, and here's the icing: I work for a contractor, but I'm an RN, so I get called "sir" alot. RN's in the military are officers. Heehee! Sorry, I'm all giddy.

My only worry is how long will the contract last. God knows I'm going to ride this wave as long as I can.

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Specializes in ICU/ER.

Sounds like a dream, enjoy it!!! Our military deserve the best!!

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Specializes in Cardiac step down unit.

I'm glad everything is going so well for you!:yeah:

I do have to say though, I think I am an extremely good tech, and as for the ones you "Ahem........worked with", I'm sorry you had a bad experience but we are not all like that and it was very insulting to read this post.:down:

Kelly

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Specializes in ICU.

If I had said you were all like that, I would certainly apologize for you being "very offended." If I had said "you" were like that, then I'd even understand why you are very offended. The fact is, I had an even lower opinion of the particular techs I worked with when I was a tech and working with them. Not all techs and CNAs are that way. I have also worked with some who were very dedicated to patient care and had solid work ethics as well, albeit those are quite rare, but I'm sure you are one of them.

Now, surely you would agree that you have worked with some people who shouldn't be in the medical field, and not just techs but nurses, too. The point I'm making is that the Air Force techs are highly trained and have military discipline on top of it. And I am very impressed by that.

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Specializes in ER, ICU cath lab, remote med.

Congrats on the job...sounds awesome. How'd you find it?

If you're in an AF hospital and you think your techs are great now, just wait 'til you meet an IDMT:D!

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Specializes in ICU.
Congrats on the job...sounds awesome. How'd you find it?

If you're in an AF hospital and you think your techs are great now, just wait 'til you meet an IDMT:D!

I did meet one when I was on Diego Garcia (a small British island in the Indian Ocean) during Desert Storm (1990). I had cramps from something, and she gave me a liter of NS and some loperamide.

For others who may not know: IDMT = Independent Medical Technician.

It's amazing the difference between what the state allows and what the Federal system allows.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Nursing Education.

civil service is great, right? i don't know why everyone doesn't jump at it.

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Specializes in ER, ICU cath lab, remote med.
It's amazing the difference between what the state allows and what the Federal system allows.

Ya...I was a med tech 94-97 and an IDMT '98-'05...I miss it sometimes. Nothing like doing an I&D in the middle of the jungle in with about 100 villagers watching your every move! Or teaching an 80 year woman with a mouth full of betel nut how to brush her teeth. Or working a trauma in a tent in the desert. Ahhhh...good times.

Unfortunately, the only military facilities nearby are just clinics :barf01:. Everybody who knows me knows I would be bored to death there. I would LOVE a critical care job in a military hospital. I Almost took one at the VA but didn't want to commute an hour each way. Anyway, just planning for my future and would like tips on how you found the job.

Congrats again!

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Specializes in ICU.
Ya...I was a med tech 94-97 and an IDMT '98-'05...I miss it sometimes. Nothing like doing an I&D in the middle of the jungle in with about 100 villagers watching your every move! Or teaching an 80 year woman with a mouth full of betel nut how to brush her teeth. Or working a trauma in a tent in the desert. Ahhhh...good times.

Unfortunately, the only military facilities nearby are just clinics :barf01:. Everybody who knows me knows I would be bored to death there. I would LOVE a critical care job in a military hospital. I Almost took one at the VA but didn't want to commute an hour each way. Anyway, just planning for my future and would like tips on how you found the job.

Congrats again!

I didn't really find the job. The base has always been here, I just looked up the contractor on the internet and contacted them. They had an opening in the ICU.

Tell me, did being an IDMT count when you got out? Did you go to nursing school in or out of the military?

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Specializes in ER, ICU cath lab, remote med.
Tell me, did being an IDMT count when you got out? Did you go to nursing school in or out of the military?

A warning to all but the OP...this is off topic! (sorry this is so long!)

I did my nursing degree after I separated. I had tried for PA school while AD but deployments kept getting in the way. The funny thing was, once I made up my mind to separate and do nursing, my commander came to ME and offered to recommend me for the AECP/nursing. This was 1 week before my separation date. By that time, I was so beaten down by constant deployments (and suspicious of the timing) that I had to graciously decline her offer.

My IDMT ed. helped in a lot of ways. When I separated, it only took 1 semester to finish the pre-reqs for my BSN program (I had 2 AS degrees ((thank you distance learning)) when I separated). I had a head start in school...didn't have to study as much as my classmates but found clinicals frustrating (wanted to do more).

My experience helped my get into the ICU as a new grad and my starting pay was higher. I brought my OJT recs with my CFETP to the adminstrator and once she saw what I was capable of, she raised my starting RN salary to that of an LPN-RN with 7 years experience.

Parts of my first year as an RN were still very tough. I'd never done inpatient critical care so I had to kind of reframe the way I think. I was used to doing more focused assessments on pts. Now (as you know), I have to assess EVERYTHING. I still have trouble wrapping my brain around how many things are wrong with my patients. In the AF, when a guy came in with an ingrown toenail, that was it...it's just an ingrown toenail...numb it up and cut it out. But now, that ingrown toenail is a result of poor circulation from poorly managed DM which has wreaked havoc on the circulatory system so now their kidneys are failing and they've had an MI so now they're hemodynamically unstable and blah blah blah.

Thanks for asking...you can tell I love to talk about my experiences. And thanks for the tip on how you found your job. I hope I find something similar someday.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Nursing Education.
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