Army Nurse deployment?

Specialties Government

Published

Hello,

I have mentioned this in two threads already but, think it deserves its own thread.

As someone who is just going through the recruitment steps and interested in active duty I am very, very intersted to know whatever I can about deployment. It seems to me to be nearly a gaurantee but, I still am very curious about it.

Would my base preference give a clue to where my potential deployment would be? How long are nursing deployments? Looking forward to replies.

Thank you,

Gen

Help!!! Is it true that nurse deployments are only 180 days now? If so, how many should I expect in a 3 year service commitment. Also, can they guarantee critical care after being in for a year??? Just would like some assistance, I am going through the process now and don't know which branch to choose. It seems to me like the Army offers the best in regards to critical care experience but who the heck wants to be in IRAQ for 15 months!! Also the loan repayment program, that seems too good to be true, is it?? Thanks to whoever can offer some assistance!!!!

Yes, deployments are now 6 months for nurses. I know some nurses leaving this April, and they were told it would be a 6 month deployment. As for how many times you can expect to go in 3 years, I can't answer, but more than once is definitely possible. As for the course selection, yes, you can apply for a course after you have at least a year in, but keep in mind that you are competing with everyone else who is applying for that course, and a board chooses the best officers to go. So it depends on who you're competing against. If you don't make it the first time, though, apply again. Sometimes its just timing. About the loan repayment program, they withhold taxes from it, so you will owe that portion. For example, you have a $25000 loan. The Army pays $18000 & withholds $7000 in taxes, leaving a balance of $7000 on the loan that you owe. It's still great to have $18K paid, of course.

Help!!! Is it true that nurse deployments are only 180 days now? If so, how many should I expect in a 3 year service commitment. Also, can they guarantee critical care after being in for a year??? Just would like some assistance, I am going through the process now and don't know which branch to choose. It seems to me like the Army offers the best in regards to critical care experience but who the heck wants to be in IRAQ for 15 months!! Also the loan repayment program, that seems too good to be true, is it?? Thanks to whoever can offer some assistance!!!!

The Army cannot guarantee the ICU course after one year because of several factors. The most likely reason they can/have given individuals such as myself is that after going to the Army ICU course they want you to work in an ICU at one of the busy medical centers BAMC,WBAMC,TAMC,WRAMC,LRMC to name a few. If you are not at one of these MEDCEN's prior to applying to your course then you must wait two years time on station before going to the course because they will then have you move following completion of the course to one of these centers. (Have to wait two years because it costs the military a lot to move you)

The Army ICU course is an exceptional program that in 14 weeks time provides graduates with graduate level credit and exceptional critical care theory and skills. Upon completion you are very well prepared to pass your national CCRN exam.

Also The Surgeon General has issued a policy that all individuals who are deployed in a PROFIS slot which is essentially all new nurses will only deploy for 180 days. I have been begging to deploy since I came on active duty and after two years I'll finally get my shot this fall.

On a side note. Only two nurses have been KIA since vietnam. One killed by indirect fire (a mortar) and the other when their vehicle was hit by an IED. Family, friends etc ask me if I am scared to deploy. To be honest I am more scared about driving down the road than I am about going there. From speaking with my coworkers that just got back I know that it will be one of the most horrific and wonderful things that a nurse can possibly experience. Where else can you work with your family every day in an environment where you are influencing foreign affairs by taking care of civilians in humanitarian ops, detainees and the most deserving patient of all: the american soldier. This probably sounds like a bunch of propaganda but it is what I believe. It does not matter if I believe in a conflict. I believe in providing outstanding clinical and therapeutic care. I believe that it is my duty to be the best nurse I can be because when I want mamma and papa JOE to know their son or daughter is receving the best possible care they can in their moment of need.

I can engage 300 meter targets with an M-4 just like any other soldier. I am a certified combatives instructor. I am AIRBORNE qualified and ready willing and able to jump out of a perfectly good airplane if the mission dictates. I have held dying people's hands and ushered them out of this world with compassion and dignity. Only to do it all again the next day.

I guess you could say I am Army Strong.

Specializes in ICU-my whole life!!.

For those of you trying to get your loans paid off, if you can deploy for longer than 6 months do it. When I was on my last tour, the army paid off my loans and all the taxes I paid from the money given by the army came back to me when I filed. It sure was a nice amount.

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