how's life as Rn in the Military????

Specialties Government

Published

You are reading page 2 of how's life as Rn in the Military????

rn_happy

36 Posts

Yes, of course, me being in the military did have one positive.....unexpectedly I met my beloved husband and we're living happily ever after.....yes, the experience also humbled me in more ways than I can count...I witnessed first hand the true price of freedom....sacrifice and committment..

NursePamela

330 Posts

RN Happy,

Was there any one thing that made you feel this way?

ArmyMSN

71 Posts

Army Nursing can be very tough. The hours can be long, and staffing can be bad. I've been an Army Nurse for 16 years. I've worked in outstanding settings - with a lot of autonomy and job satisfaction. I've also worked in jobs where I've thought long and hard about leaving.

The Army has allowed me to earn a graduate degree while getting paid full time as an officer (as a full time student). The Army sends me yearly to national nursing events/conferences (AACN usually). I've enjoyed the travel to Europe and Central America and all parts of the USA. The retirement benefits (medical coverage, 50% of my base pay after 20 yrs of service) is unbelieveable. I've never worked in civilian hospitals - but I doubt that many offer the type of retirement that the military does.

But you've got to be flexible, withstand the hardships, deploy to warzones, etc.

If you want to help your nation, but can't tolerate the hardships of Army life, I'd seriously recommend civil service nursing.

fbmom

25 Posts

Specializes in Peds, Home Care, Cardiology, Pulmonology.

Army MSN

Just to let you know after retirement medical care is not FREE. You must enroll on Try-and-get care [Tricare] and hope you can get an appointment at the base. You can still get your meds at the base pharmacy [if it is on formulary] and lab work done. It has taken our MTF over one YEAR for hubby [who is a ret LTC CRNA and 100% disabled ] to get a ROUTINE appt for diabetes follow-up.

So it is not a great as it is supposed to be.

clc19k30

26 Posts

Specializes in MED SURG PACU ER TRAUMA ICU (ALL) BURN.

Hey all,

My DW found this forum and lo and behold I have been a member since I was in Nursing school. I am a Army Nurse. I have been enlisted (12 years in Armor), Active Duty and Reserve. After being commissioned as a New LT I have worked in small hospitals to major Medical Centers. Medical Surgical Nursing to NeuroTrauma ICU. If you want experience the Army is where you will get it. I also moonlight on the civilian side of the house and I perfer the Military side. Patient to nurse ratio is lower, the facilities have always been better, I could perform patient care without worrying about cost or time being spent. Am I biased? Maybe. I know that when I go to work in the Army I don't dread the day. I feel like I make a difference.

janae0704

7 Posts

Specializes in ICU, Med/Surg.

Hello all,

I just got a call from my recruiter stating my package was a go for the boards. I'm excited and at the same time confused. I'm a single parent of four and not sure if an Army nurse is the best for my family. Can I have some advice from some commissioned Army nurses?

Corvette Guy

1,505 Posts

Specializes in Telemetry, OR, ICU.
Hello all,

I just got a call from my recruiter stating my package was a go for the boards. I'm excited and at the same time confused. I'm a single parent of four and not sure if an Army nurse is the best for my family. Can I have some advice from some commissioned Army nurses?

Single parent with four kids! You need to think long & hard about your decision. BTW, you are not an Army nurse until you take the oath & sign the paper work afterwards.

Did your AHC Recruiter explain to you about the Family Care Plan?

janae0704

7 Posts

Specializes in ICU, Med/Surg.

No, my recruiter sucks. I changed over to a new recruiter in between paper work. So the recruiter I'm dealing with now is new to recruiting and to the military. I thought about may just trying ARMY reserve.

Corvette Guy

1,505 Posts

Specializes in Telemetry, OR, ICU.
No, my recruiter sucks. I changed over to a new recruiter in between paper work. So the recruiter I'm dealing with now is new to recruiting and to the military. I thought about may just trying ARMY reserve.

A Family Care Plan is a document that states who will care for your minor children whenever you go OCONUS [unaccompanied tour].

Keep us posted and if I can help out with any of your concerns please don't hesitate to holler.

:)

wileoutgirl

15 Posts

I'm thinking of going air national guard afrer I finish school and was wondering what NG Rns thought of their experience. Also how long do you guys normally get called up for. That's my biggest concern. My fiance doesn't believe in the service and I'm not sure how he would handle me being deployed if that came up. Not making a decision til bush is out of office though so....

ArmyMSN

71 Posts

Army MSN

Just to let you know after retirement medical care is not FREE. You must enroll on Try-and-get care [Tricare] and hope you can get an appointment at the base. You can still get your meds at the base pharmacy [if it is on formulary] and lab work done. It has taken our MTF over one YEAR for hubby [who is a ret LTC CRNA and 100% disabled ] to get a ROUTINE appt for diabetes follow-up.

So it is not a great as it is supposed to be.

That's right. Medical care isn't free. The current war in two countries is really making the CONUS medical care suffer, I'm sure.

Sorry to imply that medical care was free....there is a cost share. Still a better deal than many civilian hospitals can offer their retired nurses in retirement plans (In fact, I'd be surprised if medical care was part of many retirement packages).

ArmyMSN

71 Posts

I'm thinking of going air national guard afrer I finish school and was wondering what NG Rns thought of their experience. Also how long do you guys normally get called up for. That's my biggest concern. My fiance doesn't believe in the service and I'm not sure how he would handle me being deployed if that came up. Not making a decision til bush is out of office though so....

Anyone entering today's Army will probably deploy. I wouldn't come into the military (active or reserves) unless you're ready to face that fact. If you have children and can't find someone to provide care for them for up to a year at a time, you shouldn't come into the military. Looks like we'll be in both wars for awhile - some nurses are seeing their second and third deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan.

+ Add a Comment