Navy Nurse Questions

[belabelisa]

I'm sure this question has been asked more than once, so please bear with me. I've been sifting through all the information I can find, but I still don't quite understand...

I've just started toying with the idea of Navy Nursing. I graduate from a BSN program in December. But have very little knowledge about the military in general, less about the Navy specifically, and even less about Navy Nursing.

Specifically, I'm wondering about the following:

1.What are the requirements for being accepted?

2.What is the minimum length for which you can sign up?

3.After being accepted, what happens as far as training? (What kind, where do you go, how long etc)

4.After training, then what? What kind of setting do you start off in, how long will you be there, and do you get any real choice at this point in where you'll be?

5.What about deployments? How often and how long? Do deployments differ for nurses and if they do, how so?

6.What other things do I need to know but I don't know enough to know that I need to know them?

Thank you so much for any insight. I'm planning on speaking with a recruiter soon, but I want to be a little more informed first. You know... wouldn't want to have “sucker” written on my forehead.

[DanznRN, RN]

Kookinitreal-

Since you have not offered your rank I have o clue when you went to OIS, my wife went in 2003 and it was no knife and fork school. It was when I went in 1997, but things have changed. The experience is more closelyt matched with that of boot camp, no, they are not the same in the least. you have to keep in mind that a teenager out of high school requires a different structure than an adult who has just spent 4,5, or 8 years in a university.

As for work stations, I'm all ER/ Trauma/ ICU. Started there in NMCSD in 1997 in the ER, went to Great Lakes in the ICU, then to Sigonella, Italy to the ER. I agree that people in the Med/ Surg floors have it rough, as for the schedule, I worked the same as you. I had every other weekend off or worked every other weekend, depends on your perception. As far as call, been there done that too and I didn't get paid extra for it. Alos have done the NOD too. Have you ever been a civilian nurse? I got in 2002 for 11 months because I thought the grass was greener, trust me it wasn't. My wife was a civilian nurse before she came in the Navy and she had the same requirements of being on call. I don't doubt you're overworked, we all are, just read an article in the paper about how overworked the military nurses are, it's a tough time right now. I've been where you are at, contrary to your belief, the specialty areas require as much work if not more. No I never had 20 patients to pass meds on or assess, but the mental demands of the specialty areas can be quite high.

I too am sorry your having a bad experience there, it happens, I've had them everywhere I went, including the civilian world. Having stuck it out and been in 10+ years, now in DUINS it's starting to pay off. I put on LCDR in August and life has never been so good. I met with a CAPT the other day whose been in for 33 years and still likes it, actually both him and his wife have been in, her for 26 years. Once you pay your dues you start to get the rewards and the yearly raise, promotions, and other benfits don't hurt either.

As for time to do personal stuff at work, never heard of that, that's why it's called work, not personal time. you may have a time management problem there. As for the charge nurse hounding, they obviously don't recognize the need for you all to have your full 30min. for lunch, you need the break. That's just poor management on his/ her part and probably a lack of willingness to cover your patients, but that's a guess.

LCDR(s) Dan

[navynurse06]

I'm don't understand why you feel the need to attacked me, but if that makes you feel better about your situation go right ahead.

I've always told everyone on here that I work in Peds. I've never said I worked in med/surg. So I dont' understand where you are getting that I'm not telling people the truth on here.

I know I don't work as hard as you guys up there on the 5th deck; I've never claimed to. My job pretty easy compared to what you is I"m sure. But I didnt' ask for peds when I came it; I didn't want to go there b/c it was easy. I was told that would be a good path to the ER so I took it. You just could have easliy been put in the areas that you talk down about just as I could have been put on the 5th deck. That was just how the cards were dealt.

Also, I'm deployed with many people who work on th 5th deck that aren't as bitter about navy nursing as you are!

ENS PM

[CSHarriganRI]

Much of the topics your complaining about kook are present in the private sector as well. In all of my clinical rotations nurses are few and far between, resulting in an increase of workload, stress, and decreased efficiency of nursing care. Although you are experiencing these in the Navy, and may not be receiving comparable pay for this, there are many other benefits that you receive that you aren't considering.

I am not a Navy Nurse, however, I plan on becoming one... and I think before you trash what you have you should better analyze the situation of your peers.

CH

[navyspouse]

I just wanted to make a quick comment. I'm currently a 44 year old Navy Spouse who is going back to school for a second degree in nursing. My DH is still active duty, will retire Oct '08 with more than 30 years of enlisted service. He is a corpsman and we have been stationed at every Naval hospital on the east coast, plus a majority of all the branch health clinics and the Comfort at one point or another. I have the utmost respect for everyone that works in one of these fine establishments. I just wanted to say to those of you who are thinking about joining the Navy or military, just make sure your doing it for the right reasons. Having been in the Navy this long, and yes I can say that, you either like it or you won't, there is no in between. I have made the sacrafices of my DH being deployed for 3 months, 6 months, and as recent as 14 months to Afghanistan, in the end what it all boils down to is you are the one to make it what it is. Just the same as working in the civy world. I'm truly going to miss active duty, I'll miss when that 2-3 year period comes and I can say ok what are our choices of where we're going, I'll miss the commroderie that only seems to be in a military family, I'll miss alot. But I can say thank god we live in a Navy town and are close to our Navy friends!

Kudos to each one of you and Thank You for Your Service!~

[navynurse06]

Well said Navyspouse! And thank you for your post!!!

[DanznRN, RN]

I'll second that!!!!

LCDR(s) Dan

[kookinitreal]

I'm don't understand why you feel the need to attacked me, but if that makes you feel better about your situation go right ahead.

I've always told everyone on here that I work in Peds. I've never said I worked in med/surg. So I dont' understand where you are getting that I'm not telling people the truth on here.

I know I don't work as hard as you guys up there on the 5th deck; I've never claimed to. My job pretty easy compared to what you is I"m sure. But I didnt' ask for peds when I came it; I didn't want to go there b/c it was easy. I was told that would be a good path to the ER so I took it. You just could have easliy been put in the areas that you talk down about just as I could have been put on the 5th deck. That was just how the cards were dealt.

Also, I'm deployed with many people who work on th 5th deck that aren't as bitter about navy nursing as you are!

ENS PM

This thread is nothing personal toward you. I don't know you and you're probably a real nice person. You offer the truth according to a peds nurse and I offer a different view of the Navy than you. It gets exhausting when I come up to the hospital to do my R status on my days off (of course) and I see peds/psych/mother-baby nurses (nurses I know) just milling about the hospital b/c they're bored. "Only two or three patients and mom or dad is with them."

Your deployed with just a couple nurses from the 5th deck and trust me...the line was long...b/c deployment = to the ER/PACU/ICU. Not to mention you can't be on a ship and on the floor at the same time. Don't think they're not bitter...they've just learned how to smile, turn the other cheek and say "thank you may I have another."

For all those out there who are wondering about the Navy...It's one of the best deals going and I wish someone had told me the following...

FIRST DUTY STATION...GO TO A SMALL COMMAND...you may have 15 patients but it'll be 15 easy patients. Jg's and Lt's with lots of experience bragging about "how they had 15 patients" struggle with 4 patients in my work center. It's not lack of prioritization you just have that much to do. It's nothing to hang blood/discharge someone/admit someone/administer chemo within one hour. Don't think the other four patients laid off the call lights for that hour either.

And if you have to go to a big command "you love pregnant women/kids and psych." You'll end up in a speciality area sooner and the road to get there is a lot easier. The detailer will tell you how you need med/surg experience to go to the ICU/OR/ED/PACU. Just smile and say "my passion is with kids." And if they say well..."we really need med/surg nurses"..."you believe the best fit for you would be in Telemetry." 9/10 chest pain patients are walkie talkie = easy day.

[dm22]

Navyspouse,

you said something to the effect of "whether you like the Navy depends on you."

Could you elaborate on that? what makes a successful Navy Nurse Officer?

[navyspouse]

Navyspouse,

you said something to the effect of "whether you like the Navy depends on you."

Could you elaborate on that? what makes a successful Navy Nurse Officer?

DM22~

Please keep in mind after reading my post, that I am a Navy Spouse who also is in school for nursing. What I was referring to is the military, no matter what branch you are, is not for everyone. You have to be a individual, husband/wife, who can tolerate deployments, leaving at a moments notice, etc. Now that stated, I am a firm believer that the same goes for anyone who is active. In other words, you as a individual have control over what your life holds for you. Hope this answers your questions.

[DanznRN, RN]

Kookinitreal-

Have you ever worked in the civilian world? I'm curious, because if you ask any other Med-Surg nurses here, it's no different than what you are experiencing. And they don't have the corpsmen to delegate to, what little you can, do you delegate? If you are seeing other nurses "milling about" as you put it, I suggest contacting the NOD and asking for help with a clear explaination of what is going on at that time, don't complain to them, just ask if there are nurses that can come help. Are you ever the shift charge nurse? Make the call. Ask Navynurse06 about her being floated to other areas of the hospital to help out, trust me she's done it, so have I. There are 2 courses you can take in the Navy, gripe and complain about how tough life is, turn the other cheek and keep going. Or you can stand up and say something and do something about it. Nothing changes in the Navy without speaking up. Does it mean sticking your neck out a bit, yes, does it mean drawing attention to yourself, yes. If you want it to change, speak up. Coming on here and bashing other areas of the hospital and Navy nurses for not being as busy as you solves nothing. Be the better officer and attempt to change it for you and your fellow nurses. Advising nurses not in the Navy to do what you said with the recruiter and trying to get a specialty area from the get go, shortchanges them on valuable experience. You will be the better nurse in the long run for having the experience your having. You'll be able to run circles around lesser experienced nurses. you already talked about LTs who are stressed with 4 pts., how many are handling? Don't complain about it, use it to your advantage. Put it on the Brag sheet, point it out to your boss, promote yourself, that's how people get promoted. I know you think life, rather work, stinks now, I did too, even go out cause of it in 2002 for 11 months. Trust me, you have it way better in than out, you just need a differnent perspective. Think harder and use what you see as detrimental as far as your work situation and turn it around to your advantage.

DM22-

Read what I wrote above to Kookinitreal, that's what makes a better officer. You have to rise above what you have and do something about it to make it better for you and yourself, it's about being there for your people, even when you are the low man on the totem pole. If you want specifics, let me know.

LCDR(s) Dan

[kookinitreal]

Kookinitreal-

Since you have not offered your rank I have o clue when you went to OIS, my wife went in 2003 and it was no knife and fork school. It was when I went in 1997, but things have changed. The experience is more closelyt matched with that of boot camp, no, they are not the same in the least. you have to keep in mind that a teenager out of high school requires a different structure than an adult who has just spent 4,5, or 8 years in a university.

As for work stations, I'm all ER/ Trauma/ ICU. Started there in NMCSD in 1997 in the ER, went to Great Lakes in the ICU, then to Sigonella, Italy to the ER. I agree that people in the Med/ Surg floors have it rough, as for the schedule, I worked the same as you. I had every other weekend off or worked every other weekend, depends on your perception. As far as call, been there done that too and I didn't get paid extra for it. Alos have done the NOD too. Have you ever been a civilian nurse? I got in 2002 for 11 months because I thought the grass was greener, trust me it wasn't. My wife was a civilian nurse before she came in the Navy and she had the same requirements of being on call. I don't doubt you're overworked, we all are, just read an article in the paper about how overworked the military nurses are, it's a tough time right now. I've been where you are at, contrary to your belief, the specialty areas require as much work if not more. No I never had 20 patients to pass meds on or assess, but the mental demands of the specialty areas can be quite high.

I too am sorry your having a bad experience there, it happens, I've had them everywhere I went, including the civilian world. Having stuck it out and been in 10+ years, now in DUINS it's starting to pay off. I put on LCDR in August and life has never been so good. I met with a CAPT the other day whose been in for 33 years and still likes it, actually both him and his wife have been in, her for 26 years. Once you pay your dues you start to get the rewards and the yearly raise, promotions, and other benfits don't hurt either.

As for time to do personal stuff at work, never heard of that, that's why it's called work, not personal time. you may have a time management problem there. As for the charge nurse hounding, they obviously don't recognize the need for you all to have your full 30min. for lunch, you need the break. That's just poor management on his/ her part and probably a lack of willingness to cover your patients, but that's a guess.

LCDR(s) Dan

I'm behind you 100%...Your duty stations are exactly what I'm telling the viewers to do. You went right into a specialty area then stayed at a small command. I didn't notice anywhere where you said you worked med/surg in a large command. I don't doubt for a second you're a great nurse and now you're reaping the rewards of DUINS. I'm not angry at people in peds/psych/mother-baby. I'm jealous...They get all the same benefits (salary, promotions, training, deployments) I'm telling the viewers not to believe the old guard..."you need med/surg experience before you can work in specialty areas." The current climate is where management is not letting anyone into specialty areas out of school. So, your next best option is peds/psych/mother-baby. Work smarter, not harder...There's a long orientation for nurses going into ICU/ED/PACU specifically for people who work in peds/psych/mother-baby. Like Nurse06 said, people are leaving the floor in one year. Why spend an extra year in med/surg working your butt off? You'll end up working a lot harder,transfering later and for what? I've only met 2 out of about 50 nurses in the last 18 months that wanted to stay med/surg one minute longer than they had too. I'm not complaining. I'm advising the unsuspecting. Go to a small command. If you have to go to a large command, "you really enjoy pregnant women, children and psych ." just ask ens pm...

[DanznRN, RN]

O.K. First of all, going to Med/ Surg is not old guard thinking, that's new guard. The thought process being that if you have general nursing knowledge, a.k.a Med/ surg experience, you'll be more useful in the field. Those words came straight from ADM Busekholer (sp) herself in Feb '06, cause I asked her myself. She expects EVERY nurse to be a generalist first then get your subspecialty code as the opportunity arises. If you look at all your codes 1900 (nurse generalist) is the first one. You're right, I did come in at a different time and I lucked out out with being specialty the whole time. That's doesn't mean that I have NEVER worked on a med-surg floor. Stationed in Sigonella where there were only 3 nurses to work the floors in the whole hospital including the ED, believe me I did my share. Anyone coming in to the Navy now is going to be expected to work the Med-surg floor, it's a current way of life. Your depiction of life on a med-surg floor is misleading, yes life is tough, Navy life is tough, nursing life is tough. However, coming on here and complaining about it does nothing, but make Navy nursing appear to be a bad deal. Your experience is just that yours, I don't thinking you want to work smarter, not harder. I think you are indeed jealous and your efforts would be better suited to trying to solve your current problem vs. finding a way around it. Dodging the problem does nothing for you or Navy nursing, facing and solving things like this is what will set you apart from other Navy nurses, any Nurse can dodge the problem. Think about it......

LCDR(s) Dan