military nursing

sjoe · Nov 8, 2003

the forum for military nursing is "government employed nursing," where you are more likely to find useful answers and responses.

rpbear · Nov 8, 2003

My husband is an air force recruiter so I know all about the nursing jobs in the air force (he is always trying to recruit me!). If you want to PM me thats fine. Here are a few things you should know....

You will be joining the military for a set number of years, with this you get the good and the bad.

You have to have a BSN

There are lots of benefits though, pay is equal to start, but you will get raises with rank so within a few years you will be making more. You get more respect since you are considered a peer by the other officers (docs). All the other military benifits also.

I don't have personal experience with nursing in the military, but I have been a military wife for 8 years.

Good Luck.

Molly

USA987, MSN, RN, NP · Nov 8, 2003

My husband is active duty Navy and I've been along for the "ride" the last 12 yrs. My best friends hubby is a Navy nurse and he loves it. When he got to his first duty station (San Diego Naval Medical Center) they rotated him through every floor/unit. Then he had to pick his top three places that he wanted to work. He ended up in Oncology which was his 2nd choice, but he loves it.

As a Navy Wife, I feel as though I have been to h*ll and back. Moved 6 times in 12 yrs., the constant uncertainty, etc. But, I will tell you...I wouldn't trade it for anything. I have lived all over this great country, met tons of outstanding people (and some I hope I never cross paths with again). My hubby retires in a few years and gets all teary-eyed about it.

Oh, my DH trains reservists, so don't think that you wouldn't have the opportunity to travel as a reservist. When my DH has gone on AT with them or when they've gotten called up for "real world" missions they have been to places like France, Germany, Bahrain, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Spain, Korea, Australia, etc.

I'm sure I've babbled on long enough. Good luck with what ever you decide!

NannaNurse · Nov 8, 2003

Hi, I spent almost 20 yrs as a military wife and 6 of those years as a Army 2ndLt, 1stLt & Capt......if you like to travel, it's great. You have to be willing to 'boldy go where no military nurse has gone before'.....lol If you are AD (active duty), the benefits are great. If you go reserves, be prepared to 'move at a moments notice' because the medical services are usually activated along with the front line personel FIRST.

I don't want to scare you, you just have to know what to expect should the need arise.

Reserves get the same educational benefits. They do not get the medical benefits. You can use the comissary and exchange, which is great if you live close to one.

Military life is great! I'm currently a civilian nurse and I'm proudly married to a Cheif Petty Officer/Navy.....who, by the way, is coming home from Kuwait the end of this month after being there since June.

I wish you all the best!!

Nanna

Sekar · Nov 9, 2003

Well, I spent 20 years in the Army as a Nurse. The work is very challanging, very rewarding, and you practice at a higher level than you do in the civilian world. Especially during war time. Ah war time. Currently we are at war, on TWO fronts. If you enter the military in any capacity (Active Duty, Reserve, National Guard) count on being deployed into one of those combat zone and treating wounded Americans, civilians, and enemies. Count on being put in the line of danger yourself, especially if you are in the Army although no service is completely safe. I served in a MASH unit during the first Gulf War and earned a Bronze Star working 2 miles from the combat front. It was the highlight of my career. It was also one the hardest, lonliest times of my life.

Here are the cold, hard facts about military nursing. Your family, your education, your personal life will all take a back seat while you do your duty in a Combat Support Hospital, or an Air Evacuation Squadron, or on a Hospital Ship. Your duty as a military Nurse will come first and foremost. Yes, eventually the military MIGHT help you with your Masters Degree. You have to apply for the few positions available and compete against others in your year group, rank, and specialty. IF you get selected you will owe the military 2 years for every year of schooling they pay for you to attend. None of this is to sound negative or to scare you. You should just know the facts. If you want to go into the military, GO FOR IT! The military needs all the good Nurses it can get. The pay is OK, not great. The benefits are good, when you get to use them. Just walk in with your eyes open and don't listen to all the hype the recruiter will tell you. Talk to those of us who spent the bulk of adult lives in the military before you sign up. Good Luck.

barb4575 · Nov 28, 2003

...that I have is that I chose my family over the military. One month after I denied my Conditional Voluntary Indefinite status, I was separated. Of course if I had not separated, I woud not have been divorced and then remarry 11 years later. I seriously considered going back onto active duty, but I know that my family would not be the priority. This time, my decision to remain a veteran is a wise one.

To this day, I regret leaving active duty. I served in the active duty and reserve components of the US Army Nurse Corps. This is the bottom line...don't go into the military for the benefits, but go because it is your passion and realize the purpose of your role. I loved active duty and the reserves were not for me. I had difficulty adjusting to civilian nursing for many reasons which are unimportant in this forum. I have accomplished much in my nursing career, but none of it amounts to the pride I have while serving my country...this is the reason you should raise your right hand...for no other reason either. Any other reason is secondary to the commitment. The military is not for people who are looking for benefits because anyone who really knows the truth realizes that the benefits are minimal compared to what they were before the Democrats came into command.

I also took a six month ICU course while in the Army and it was far more difficult than my BSN or my MSN. The Army sent me for one course toward my MSN, but otherwise, I paid for both degrees. It was the life experience that was worth every hardship I encountered.

Good luck in your decision and do not make it hastily,

Barbara