Military/VA RN's - Please post experiences for Students

calimarinewife · Sep 14, 2004

I am due to graduate from my LVN program in 2 weeks and REALLY want to work at the VA. One of our clinical rotations was at the VA here in San Diego, but unfortunatley not all the students in the class were able to go there, so I was not able to visit that site. My husband is active duty and I would enjoy and value working with the Veterans. If anyone could give me advice on how to go about applying and also if there are any posotions that are available in the time that I graduate school, until I pass boards and get my license (volunteering, nurses aid etc.)... it would be gratly appreciated. TIA.

lmolvr · Sep 14, 2004

When I was 21, I tried to join the Air Force, but was turned down, due to a genetic disorder I had. The disorder (Neurofibromatosis) doesn't cause any problems for me, but they still said no.

I still would like to be in the Air Force, but I am now 30. Am I past my prime?

It seems that the Air Force Nurses are BSN holders. Would I need to get my BSN before going to the Air Force?

Lmo

KPCurley · Oct 13, 2004

Im Looking into the United States Navy Nurse Canidate Program, any one have an any experience with this program.

Jo Anne -OLD · Oct 13, 2004

I am not a student, but I did have a clinical rotation on a spinal cord injury floor at our VA hospital. I enjoyed it very much. It is such a patriotic place.

I would of accepted a position but I had a schedule conflict. I still get sad about that.

Hopefully, in the near future, I will have the privilege of working with our Vets.

I especially enjoyed meeting the WWII Vets and listening to their stories.

RNPATL, DNP, RN · Oct 14, 2004

When I was 21, I tried to join the Air Force, but was turned down, due to a genetic disorder I had. The disorder (Neurofibromatosis) doesn't cause any problems for me, but they still said no.
I still would like to be in the Air Force, but I am now 30. Am I past my prime?
It seems that the Air Force Nurses are BSN holders. Would I need to get my BSN before going to the Air Force?
Lmo

All branches of the military require a BSN (I believe - Military people help me out please). I am not sure what the age cut off is, but perhaps others reading tyhe thread can answer.

caffeinism · Nov 25, 2004

Maybe the title of this thread should be something like...."Military RNs, please post experiences here for student."

If anybody here is like me and looking for info, please put down what you have found out....you know like, "so and so said". It would be appreciated and I will try and return the favor. Maybe we can consolidate or concerns and questions.

Some of the prospects and questions that I have/believe about military nursing are:

1-The pride of putting on the uniform..both scrubs and military.

2-Working with and for our service members.

3-Deployment nursing...like battlefield hospitals or with marine corps units sounds interesting.

4-Some of the administration I have seen in the civilian world can be pretty cutthroat, is it the same in the military?

5-I have thought about the VA as an alternative to the service.

6-What about this civilian nurse working for the military stuff I hear?

7-Can one still have a pretty solid personal life as a nurse in the military.

8-How safe is nursing in the service insofar as patient-nurse ratios, hours worked in one day, litigation?

9-Do you feel like your education, career, and life is on hold because you are in the service?

10-If I am just looking for a medical/surgical floor position, is that pretty easy to get.

11-What is the culture like at work (work environment).

Thanks a ton.

caffeinism · Nov 26, 2004

relax and don't worry about a specialty. the military simply needs warm bodies. from what i've seen, the air force takes nurses with a pulse as their primary specialty. i worked in the civ world and work in mil world. one relates 0.00% to the other.

clinical mil nurses log 10 or 20 hours a week (holidays/weekends/sunny days/etc are all holidays)...and all of that is on a phone telling pt's they can't get an appointment. you'll get a couple of hours for lunch and might actually touch a patient (as long as he needs nothing more than tylenol) once or twice a day for a handshake.

if you really want to get a grasp on tough to acquire specialties....you need to stay a civilian and see really acute patients. mil patients abuse the free healthcare and present with slacker syndrome most of the time. if you can get a certification in giving article 15's to dirtbag slackers looking for profiles and quarters.......you'd be guaranteed a slot as an air force rn. if you want to see really sick acute care folks....you are barking up the wrong tree. our er waiting room fills with dirtbags 100:1 over folks that really need help

i am considering joining the military after nursing school, and this is something i am concerned about. that is, stagnating professional development and absence of any continuation of my skill as a nurse. if i join and decide to get out, will i be way behind civilian nurses in skill and ability? i realize there are some great prospects in the civilian world, but i would love to be a nurse and serve as an officer in the military. could you or anyone expand on the differences in the services and also compared to civilian nursing. i have access to the information about how much they will pay for schooling and how much vacation time you get...., but what would be great to hear, is how you feel about the job. please check out the questions in the posting just above this one. please check it out and add some info.

thanks!, and thank you for your service to our country and its service members.

mwbeah · Nov 28, 2004

Here is some information you may want if you are interested.

http://www.goarmy.com/amedd/nurse/corps_specialties_requir.jsp

It list the requirements and age.

If anyone has any questions, I was active duty enlisted and am currently am and active duty CRNA.

As far as the question about experience, you will have more than you will ever know. You will be far ahead of your peers (no matter if you go Army, Navy, Air Force)... I speak from experience. In order to advance, you will be required to continually improve your clinical and academic standing through the various programs offered through the armed forces for nurses (ER course, ICU course, OB course, etc -- paid master's and advanced practice programs, etc). I have to disagree with the poster concerning lack of patient acuity in the armed forces, I believe that person is misinformed (and quite possibly mentally ill since he or she has no idea of what they speak----referring to the posted quote referenced by caffeinism in the above post. Sorry you read that horrible post caffeine). Our medical centers and information on them can be found on the web. You will work 40 (on a good week) up to 80 hours a week in some cases. We take care of soldiers, dependents, retirees, and reserve troops daily, the "slacker" comment was very unprofessional and misinformed.

Brooke Army Medical Center

Walter Reed Medical Center

Tripler

Eisenhower

William Beaumont (to name a few)

On the same token, excellent training and experience comes with the strong possibility that you will deploy in support of the Global War on Terror (with that there is no better experience IN THE WORLD). I truly love the Army, my pay for my specialty is lower than my civilian counterparts, but my practice is more autonomous.

Good Luck,

Mike

Additionally, the army paid for all my education.

bluesky, BSN, RN · Nov 28, 2004

I am very happy with my full time SICU position at WHC but I have always wanted to volunteer a shift a week or so at the VA because my father was a Vietnam vet. I think I tried calling just last Friday here in D.C. and the guy told me that they were overwhelmed with volunteers and that they didn't use nurses as volunteers. Do you know if there's any way around that? I don't think they'd hire me for just a shift a week or less, would they?

mwbeah · Nov 28, 2004

I am very happy with my full time SICU position at WHC but I have always wanted to volunteer a shift a week or so at the VA because my father was a Vietnam vet. I think I tried calling just last Friday here in D.C. and the guy told me that they were overwhelmed with volunteers and that they didn't use nurses as volunteers. Do you know if there's any way around that? I don't think they'd hire me for just a shift a week or less, would they?

find out if an agency staffs the facility and do some locums or per diem.

Mike

kaizenro · Nov 28, 2004

Some of the prospects and questions that I have/believe about military nursing are:
1-The pride of putting on the uniform..both scrubs and military. ///True, loved the scrubs and sneaker outfit!
2-Working with and for our service members. ///True, you never know, you may become a patient in your own dept!
3-Deployment nursing...like battlefield hospitals or with marine corps units sounds interesting. ///True, I'd say chances are 50/50 of deployment if you're stationed on shore duty at a hospital. But I hear they tend to send specialists more than regular RNs. You will be sent to one/two week field training or some other platform assignment from time to time(The platform you are attached to means should they need to send out a group to sea(ship)/Iraq(desert), you will be trained to work in that atmosphere and know your team)
4-Some of the administration I have seen in the civilian world can be pretty cutthroat, is it the same in the military?/// I have seen politics, as usual not everyone gets along, but as long as you meet requirements, you can advance. You basically get promoted from O-1 to O-2 to O-3 just by keeping your nose clean basically. And I've seen some dirtbag O-3s! If you're not a team player, that will cut your own throat more.
5-I have thought about the VA as an alternative to the service./// Still would take 30 vice 20 yrs to retire.
6-What about this civilian nurse working for the military stuff I hear?/// I did a paper recently on how the military is looking to replace 90,000 military medical personnel to work at hospitals and the remaining to frontline positions. I'm sure this will take some time though.
7-Can one still have a pretty solid personal life as a nurse in the military./// For the most part, yes. Unless you pick a ship(most times have to fight for one!) or have a specialty and they need bodies to send to Iraq, you should be okay. I've seen some officers stay at the same command for over 4 yrs which is not usually the norm in the Navy traditionally. It all depends on how competitive you are in your career w/ regards to transferring. On average, 2-4 yrs at a command.
8-How safe is nursing in the service insofar as patient-nurse ratios, hours worked in one day, litigation?/// While there are hard times in terms of personnel now due to many being sent to Iraq, I doubt you would have to endure 12+ hr days on a regular basis. You will have enlisted Corpsmen who will be working for you, so you won't be alone. Litigation? Most matters like this get directed to the Command Representative or to the Patient Admin Dept (via Congressional letter/Congressman). If you're a good worker and have your chain of commands backing, I doubt you would have problems. (Please do more research on this one because I am not an expert on this area)
9-Do you feel like your education, career, and life is on hold because you are in the service?/// There is always time for education unless you are on isolated duty. Plus you can do the masters programs as stated above by another poster. You can use TA (tuition assistance) which will pay about 100%. And as stated above, you can rotate, not stuck on one ward for years on end working nights. You can always volunteer to work on your own time in other areas to learn, most of the hospitals are training commands and always welcome any help when you're trying to learn)
10-If I am just looking for a medical/surgical floor position, is that pretty easy to get./// It depends on your command(hospital) but it can be competitive if it's a huge command. (See above about volunteer work)
11-What is the culture like at work (work environment)./// Onshore at a hospital, really laid back. I rarely saw big sticklers on "military bearing". You may have to 'play the game' for a few minutes but if your floor is working well together, I wouldn't be concerned about someone breathing down your neck. I wouldn't recommend calling co-workers by their first name in front of patients though. They do believe in following standards in hospital codes/regs (JCAHO/OSHA) which is the right thing to do anyway. Many may think the Navy is a melting pot due to the diversity at work but you can meet a lot of great people from many different walks of life. You will eventually learn the meaning to "It's a small Navy." If you think you'll never see someone again that you worked with because you crossed the world, think again. Chances are your new co-worker knows them too!

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