Is there any real difference between military and non-military?

[Raven713]

Is there any real difference in how Military Hospitals or orgenized/set up compared to a Civilian Hospital?

[jeckrn, BSN, RN]

Yes and no, as far as how the hospital works they are about the same. The difference is that there is medical company which oversees the military at the hospital & HR department which oversees the civilians. Also, there are things the military folks have to do which you would not see at a civilian hospital. ie staff duty, each department having assignments to keep certain common areas of the hospital, which are not their work area, clean etc.

[carolinapooh, BSN, RN]

And all that varies by service as well.

[just_cause, BSN, RN]

It's hard to have an idea of what life in the mil is like if you've never been in and only seen movies/tv etc.

Usually health care recruiters will offer to give you a day of tour at a local facility - I'd recommend doing this. It will likely really motivate you and enable you to talk to some new officers (nurses) and they can give you their impressions pos/neg alike.

Also on a scale of subjective I'd say a military hospital is very very close to being in a civilian hospital... I view anything within a hospital as almost being non-military in terms of my perspective.... yes there is a chain of command, yes the wear uniforms, yes they can perform function check on their primary weapon system... but is much more civil then when you think of 'military', IMHO.

v/r

[carolinapooh, BSN, RN]

Maybe I'm spoiled, but the atmosphere seems more civil and respectful than on the civilian side - here, someone's boss is either probably going to outrank you or be your commander, and I think people keep that more in mind in personal interactions. That can be a huge advantage.

[llg, PhD, RN]

Maybe I'm spoiled, but the atmosphere seems more civil and respectful than on the civilian side - here, someone's boss is either probably going to outrank you or be your commander, and I think people keep that more in mind in personal interactions. That can be a huge advantage.

I worked with someone who had spent many years in the militatary was in a leadership position. When she retired from the military, she had significant problems adapting to the civilian hospital culture. She was not accustomed to being treated by the staff with such lack of respect and courtesy. She wasn't used to having to "sell" her ideas that much: she was used to having her orders followed with little question.

[carolinapooh, BSN, RN]

I only did one term as an enlisted, and I sort of pooh-poohed all that "military transition to civilian" stuff - but I found out I should've paid more attention to it. It IS hard! You wouldn't think it would be, but it is.

Now that I'm back on AD, I really am grateful for the camaraderie that I see on my unit - between officers, enlisted, and across the ranks.

[just_cause, BSN, RN]

carolina,

great point. Lots of people think the structure and discipline is a burden but in reality it creates a situation where people know what is required of them, it creates a team and it really does create an atmosphere of camaraderie and something that almost everyone truly misses when they leave the service and they truly loose that sense of purpose that they might have only felt when leading or working with Soldiers.... very good point! Almost everyone who leaves in a sense of 'wanting to leave the military' has a sense of missing it after they realize the grass is not at all greener on the other side.

v/r

[midinphx, BSN]

I was enlisted. I've been a civilian a long time. I still miss that respect and chain of command that was in the military. If the unit secretary or tech is rude to a nurse or doesn't do a job, there is no recourse. They are subordinate, but don't think they are and don't answer to the nurse who needs them to do the job right. and everyone questions everything, like they have a right to question the decisions of the director. Our director has to reiterate her rationale for decisions to all the nosey nurses. Just do it! It's usually not that hard.

So, after many years as a civilian, let's see how the transition back is. :)

I think it is going to be hard learning to be an officer rather than an E-4

[kcmylorn]

I'm a civillain RN working in a MTF- what a wonderful change, as all above have pointed out. The respect, the chain of command. and a nurse manager who actually listens and jumps out of her seat to fix your complaint with the military major doctor who thinks his civillian RN is a secretary. I'm only sad that it is only temporary and I'll have to go back to the hell hole civillian world. I'm going to savor evry minute there I can- I love going to work. If only these civillian hospitals could be taken over by the military and be forced to learn a few things esp in the HR dept.'s