Joining the military and getting pigeon-holed

CaitsMommy · Jun 27, 2012

I asked my recruiter the same question. My recruiter is a nurse recruiter for the Navy, so this pertains to only the Navy. He said if I want to go into ICU, ER, or Trauma, I must enter within Medical Surgical. I can eventually take some specialty classes to do ICU, Trauma, etc. However, they do not need nor have any positions open for these units right now. The desired positions for the Navy are: med-surge, pre-op/post-op, and psych. Again, this is only what my Navy recruiter told me. I would talk to a HC recruiter in whatever branch you are interested in going into. I was told by AF that ICU/ER needs 2 years experience to enter into those units.

chudder · Jun 27, 2012

You can commission in the Army with your 8A identifier if you meet their criteria: 2 years civilian critical care experience, etc...

funky monkey · Jun 27, 2012

I would like to think that if I or a family member were in a specialty unit like an ICU, then the nurse taking care of me/them would have hopefully had some med-surg experience - at least 1 year, then passed a ICU course. I never felt that a new graduate should transition into the ICU. Too much to learn about yourself as a nurse before you jump into that arena. Hone your assessment and patient skills.....you'll need them in ICU.

chudder · Jun 27, 2012

I would like to think that if I or a family member were in a specialty unit like an ICU, then the nurse taking care of me/them would have hopefully had some med-surg experience - at least 1 year, then passed a ICU course. I never felt that a new graduate should transition into the ICU. Too much to learn about yourself as a nurse before you jump into that arena. Hone your assessment and patient skills.....you'll need them in ICU.

This is off topic and has been rehashed and beaten to death elsewhere on this site and others.

NursePamela · Jun 30, 2012

To say you could get pigeoned holed could happen in the civilian or military world. A lot of times it is about timing and luck; When intern programs open up for ICU, you will have to compete for the position in both worlds.

CRF250Xpert · Jun 30, 2012

As mentioned, work in critical care in the civilian world and put it on your resume to join the military. You'll likely get a critical care slot if you want one. I walked off of the street into a military critical care job by doing just that.

midinphx, BSN · Jul 2, 2012

I'm active duty AF in the ICU. I never did a day of med-surg nursing in my 16 years as an RN. I went straight into ER then took a class and a preceptorship to transition up to ICU after 9 years ER. Everyone of us is designed differently and has different skills. Personally, med-surg would kill me. I don't know how med-surg nurses keep 6 patients straight and safe - kudos to them! Don't be too quick to judge other people's career paths.

Joining as a med-surg nurse does NOT pigeon hole you in the military. The AF and the army both have an amazing critical care fellowship that you can apply for after 1-2 years as a med-surg nurse. It is an amazing fellowship that has no comparison in the civilian sector. The AF one is 1 year long, and I believe the army one is 6 months.

also, as a military nurse, you will get much better preceptorship and mentoring than anything I saw in my 14 years of civilian work. AF goes through the Nurse Transition Program after COT for new grad RN's. They don't have quite the same eat their young mentality as civilians (in my opinion).

79Tango · Jul 3, 2012

Id rather be pigeon-holed, than Corn-holed, which could happen if you wait 2 years to join.

zombie · Jul 4, 2012

I came into the Army with my 8A identifier (critical care) b/c I had worked a few years in a Civ ICU. As a new grad I went to a unit that was hurting in staffing so bad they were taking new grads in the ICU.

If you don't want to work med surg at all ever then perhaps you should go the civ route and find a place that will take a new grad in the ICU. Otherwise you can get a course garantee in your contract when you join so after a year I think you will go to the course.

Time tends to go by fast while your in service. There is nothing wrong with doing a year or so on med surg then going to the course in the army. Some people just want to have everything NOW these days, and there is nothing wrong with that if thats what you want to do. Just don't hate on an organization that really doesnt want to take resources and put them into an individual that has just graduated from school and never touched a patient as a RN. That person may change their mind and not want to do ICU or they may just fail as a nurse, or just don't get it fast enough etc. Hell you dont even know if you like the military yet.

whatever you choose good luck. My advice would be if you can join up for 3 yrs and see if you 1. like being in military 2. want to go to icu 3. then make it happen.

its competitive these days I don't even know if they are direct commissioning new grads... when you have experienced nurses out there that want to join these days.

navyman7 · Jul 5, 2012

I agree with the comment above about being discussed thoroughly. Check out the post; military nursing questions answered. With that said, DON'T take what a recruiter says as gospel. Everything in the military changes. One week they won't take new grads into the ICU and the next week they will. The best way to guarantee that you can get into the ICU in the military is to have ICU experience first. It's much harder for them to turn down a qualified applicant if you have experience, and certifications. And don't listen to those people who say you can't or shouldn't do critical care first. If you know you want critical care then don't waste your time on a med/surg floor. You will be whatever kind of nurse you want to be based on your willingness to learn, care, etc. regardless of where you start.