I would like to help our student nurses recognize the value of entering into military service or working for the VA system. To do this, I would ask all of our members that are military or VA employed to lend your experience here. Please take a moment to post information for our students that you might think is helpful for them.
Would love to see information about dealing with recruiters (military ... that is) and how to effectively negotiate with them. Would like to see information posted about experiences that you have and any recommendations you have about entering military nursing or the VA system. THe VA can be a difficult place to navigate and any information on how to get into the VA would be helpful also.
We have many students that monitor this thread and I think this information would be very helpful to them.
Also, for the students reading this thread, please feel free to add your questions. We have many experienced military and VA nurses that view this thread and I am sure they are willing to help answer your questions.
I will make the thread a sticky in the hopes that it does become popular. Thanks for your help.
I just wanted to say thank you to all who have posted on this thread. I am searching and REsearching as I really think the military is where I would like to utilize my nursing skills. So far, from what I read from the postings on this site, it is just making it more desireable. Anyhow, thanks for sharing you insights and experience.
I've ben in the Navy for the past ten years of which I've spent the last two as a nurse. Enlisted recruiter can only guarantee a slot in corpsman school (medic tech or whatever service you join). There is no way they decide how you will be utilized or where you will be utilized. Some officers are able to negotiate an assignment. That means the recruiter will help decide where you will be utilized...not how you will be utilized. This is one of the many drawbacks to joining the Navy. I can't speak for other services but it appears to me that once you have complete your initial payback Navy nursing looks like a pretty good job. However, the 1st 4yrs can be hell. Just look at retention numbers. I've worked in two different duty sections at a major command and I've haven't found many non-prior service nurses who plan to stay in after their obligation is over. I can honestly say I would not stay in the Navy if I didn't already have 10 years in.
My best friend from nursing school joined PHS after school. He was a prior marine and wanted all the benies of government work without the hassle of deployments. It was soo incredible mismanaged he gave the $15K bonus back and walked out after one year.
I'm a BSN, RN and an active POLICE OFFICER for 12 yrs busting illegal drugs and notorious criminals... our office just have this e-net and I read this item, I am verymuch willing to join your FORCE, please show me how..thanks
Specializes in Home Health, ICU,Rehab,Med-Surg,Hospice.
The VA is a great place to work! I appreciate serving the veterans in any capacity (I am presently in clinics after 20+ years of bedside nursing). The VA also pays better than other hospitals with great benefits, further your education - there's tuition benefits as well. Stay with it, you won't be disappointed.
Specializes in L&D, FPC, MedSurg, Ortho Trauma, ER, Onc.
Hello all! I'll chime in my $0.02 here...
For me, my military nursing experience was a LOT of things. VERY rewarding, busy, frustrating, busy, diverse, busy...you see the trend. I have NO idea where that quote on the first page came from (the not touching patients one), but I call BS.
In only 7 years of service, I had such a diverse experience that it has made me far more well-rounded than I think any civilian setting could give me. I started in L&D/Postpartum/Nursery, then on to a Family Practice Clinic (which I really did not like much at all), finally to MedSurg, then mostly Orthopedic and GenSurg trauma related to the war, then finally ER.
I made wonderful friends and had the opportunity of a lifetime when I got stationed in Germany. Sure, I didn't travel as much as I thought I'd be able to because of all the work hours, but I was ok with that. I took great pride in caring for my fellow service members.
I went through the ROTC program on scholarship, so I was fortunate enough to come out with a degree and no debt! The majority of nurses are Direct Commission though, so have less 'militarized' experience. There is a vast difference between the medical military and the "regular" military lifestyle, but that can be OK.
I have just returned from overseas and now have almost 2 months of experience under my belt in the private sector. I don't know what it's like in other areas or facilities, but I have noticed a VAST difference in the level of work ethic and professionalism. In the military you fulfill two professions - an Officer and a Nurse. I now really appreciate the relationship I had with the rest of my teammates - providers, nurses and support staff!
To be honest, if I could have stayed in clinical nursing I probably would still be in uniform, and am currently in the process of pursuing a Reserve assignment when one opens in my area. Unfortunately I felt very pigeonholed by my assignment personnel when it was time for me to move, and many small things added up to the big decision to separate from service.
The military isn't for everyone, but it was an amazing experience for me.
I know for a fact that an Army Nuse can make more that a civ. nurse. and If you compare salarys at the end of the year it may come out to being about the same but then you look at how many hours the civ nurse put in it would be about 40+ hrs. a week compared to an army nurse. And you have way more benifits when in the Military
Specializes in critical care: trauma/oncology/burns.
hello ILMS6:
I have to disagree with your one statement about "...if you compare salary's at the end of the year it may come out to being about the same..." I must say, in my experience working as a civilian and now AC Army Nurse "No Way, Jose!" Granted I worked for the Federal Government at the VA and granted I have a ton of experience under my scrubs....But as a civilian I made over $102,000 in 2007 and I can count on one hand how many times I worked O.T. And I can honestly say as a CPT I don't make NEAR that much!
But I do agree with the rest of your statement as far as I enjoy more Military Benefits
i am a vet. who served 15 years in both the air force as a flight medic and the army as a combat medic with airborne and e.f.m.b. qualifications. i am currently attending nursing school where i have been approached by numerous recruiters. at first i would not talk to them, due to the many deployments i experienced, then i just listened to what they had to say... with them not knowing i was prior military. my advise.... never gage in a conversation with a recruiter unless you have an experienced military member/vet with you!!!
as far as va goes, it is a very rewarding experience!!! they are in need of nurses with compassion and dedication instead of the "job" nurses. when i go for routine visits to our va there are 3 nurses that jump through hoops to take care of patients. = )
the paperwork is lengthy and you need to have your license prior to submitting your application. i considered working at the one here but would rather go into nicu or back to flight as a nurse.
Specializes in critical care: trauma/oncology/burns.
Hello AtomicWoman!
Regarding your question's about the VA:
Yes, they do hire new graduates
Anyone can get a "Veterans Preference", although I am not entirely sure how many "points" it totals up to....
And Girl, "age is just a number". I was 51 when I started at the VA; 49 thisclose to 50 when I became a Commissioned Officer in the United States Army Reserve Nurse Corps
Lastly, ask just about anyonethat frequents All Nurses.com....NO LEGITIMATE QUESTION IS DUMB
Mayladybug
9 Posts
I just wanted to say thank you to all who have posted on this thread. I am searching and REsearching as I really think the military is where I would like to utilize my nursing skills. So far, from what I read from the postings on this site, it is just making it more desireable. Anyhow, thanks for sharing you insights and experience.
Debbie