Military Wives in Nursing

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I am very frustrated at my current situation, and I was wondering if I am not alone. You see, I have been a nurse for 10 years; however, only 8 of those years have been active nursing, even though my license stayed active. The 2 years I didn't work was because my husband was in Iraq. I have 3 children, and was stationed away from any family members. So when my husband was deployed, I was alone. It was impossible to send my kids to daycare or find someone who would be willing to watch my children. As many of you know our hours and schedules can be unpredictable.

Now I am being penalized for this. We have moved yet again, and my job bases my pay on actual nursing years. It seems my career has always come second or even third due to the military. I have nothing against the military. I am about as patriotic as they come. My issue is that the civilian world does not take that into account. It's frustrating enough not being able to stay at one hospital and benefit from years of service, but to constantly start at the bottom of the totem pole. Can you imagine? I am now making $6-$8 less than nurses with less experience. I am unable to take a full time position because my husband is frequently deployed. I just wish that there was a clause somewhere for the military wife. I mean it's bad enough to be without your spouse while he is serving our country.

Anyways, I needed to vent.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, LTC, Rehab, Hospice, Endocrine.

Have you tried working at the closest VA facility? They have worked really well for me. And when my husband transfers again, I can transfer to the local VA wherever he goes. HTH

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That is a great idea; however, I am an Emergency Room nurse. Plus the closest VA is 1 1/2 hours away. Thank you for the reply.

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I hear you sister!!!. I have been a nurse for 14 years and married for almost 12. Four hospitals and stint of school nursing and home care and four differant states my salary has been all over the place.

I swear I get initially passed up for positions ie charge, resource nurse beacuse they know my hubby's in the military. Until recently I have always had to take prn positions due to weekend hours and hubby's deployments or potential of deployments. With having no family around it is hard. :cry:

To keep my spirits up I take a lot of continuing ed while he is gone, it helps fill the void. I am active in the professional nursing societies and I also take on tasks that other staff nurses don't want to do. Like revising computer systems, streamlining work stations and revising patient ed sheets. By doing these things and being known as the "good worker bee" more opportunities tend to open up and people see me more as a resource. :saint:

Luckily hubby is in the guard now so things are easier with less of a potential of moving around, although I swear the deplyment rate is still up.

The current hospital that I was hired into has a policy of lateral pay incentives upon hire.

ex when I started instead of starting at the new grad level, they brought me in as an RN11 on the clinical ladder and gave me the pay of a current RN11 who has been emplyed there for 10 years ( it is capped out at that). I was very thankful for that.

I am counting down the days until hubby gets out only about 6 to go!!. I am extremely patrtiotic and proud but I want my time to shine and feel fulfilled and not be in his shadow any more.

You can PM if you want to. I completely nderstand what you are going through!!

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I have always worked Fri, Sat, and Sun. nights. It helps when I apply for a job, cause managers are always looking to fill those weekend needs. I just hate the fact that I work/sleep when the kids are out of school and hubby is home, but it's the only way we can get ahead. I am sure some my say get a job at the military hospital, but there isn't one in our area.

I too am looking forward to my husband's retirement.

Oh by the way...I forgot to mention all the fees we have to pay regarding state license! I think that should be wavered too!

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My husband's job has always come first. That's why I'm PN not RN. Not in any town long enough to complete the degree.

But the good thing is up here in Canada, we can "port" our nursing hours with us from hospital to hospital and keep the roughly the same step on the pay grid. DND also pays our practice permit fees when we are posted to a new province.

But years of casual shifts to make sure I am around when he's away are soul destroying.

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have you considered working at military treatment facilities. i have been an ED nurse manager in the past, and have worked with several military spouses. CPOL (Army) has several programs that benefit military spouses, and allow you to stay in the system as you and your spouse move form duty location to duty location. it also allows you to work towards retirement benefits were as very few civilian positions offer. hope this helps

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Specializes in LTC, Memory loss, PDN.

I'm saddened and disturbed that this should be the way we treat those who sacrifice so much for the rest of us. I often wondered how those "We support our troops" signs materialized in everyday life.

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Specializes in ED, ICU, MS/MT, PCU, CM, House Sup, Frontline mgr.
i'm saddened and disturbed that this should be the way we treat those who sacrifice so much for the rest of us. i often wondered how those "we support our troops" signs materialized in everyday life.

i was a military wife too (my hubby is now out) and it can take a non-nurse several months to years to find a job because you are penalized for being a military wife. you are seen as temporary even if you find a job that will hire you full-time! ironically, i was always stuck in the hole the military shipped us because i did not deploy with my husband and he rarely ever transferred. i have remained in places for nearly a decade and still had a hard time finding a job or was passed over for promotions and given poor wages despite my education and experience. i do not want to hijack this thread because i think the op makes valid points and it relates to nursing... however, non-nurses and non-teachers are worse off when it comes to employment. :twocents:

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Specializes in ED, ICU, MS/MT, PCU, CM, House Sup, Frontline mgr.
i am counting down the days until hubby gets out only about 6 to go!!. i am extremely patrtiotic and proud but i want my time to shine and feel fulfilled and not be in his shadow any more.

this is exactly how i feel! i just graduated from nursing school and now that my husband is out of the military i am shinning!!!! opportunities have opened wide up for me in my career! i am very very happy. :nurse:

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Specializes in ED, Trauma.

I just started as an RN last year at the same time my husband got back from Iraq. I have an awesome ER job that I worked my tail off to get at the only Level 1 Trauma center around but... we just got word that my dh is probably going to get deployed again this summer and I am freaking out because we have three children--only two of which are just now old enough to stay home alone during the day--let alone for my 12 hour 9a-9p shift where sometimes I don't get home until 10 or 11 pm. My youngest is NOT old enough to stay home alone. I am trying not to get too worried, I guess I could work in a doctor's office for a while but man I don't want to leave the ER. I am hoping that maybe they can work with me for the year that he is gone.

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I'm saddened and disturbed that this should be the way we treat those who sacrifice so much for the rest of us. I often wondered how those "We support our troops" signs materialized in everyday life.

I loathe those signs and car magnets. I've been cutoff by more cars than I care to count sporting the magnet.

Am I the only person old enough to remember the old Tony Orlando & Dawn song "Tie a yellow ribbon". It was about a convict returning home.

I don't think of my man as someone who has to ask if he's still wanted at home. We have green and desert camo magnets.

During the Bosnia years, we wore blue ribbons (for the UN) and the regimental pin as it's holder.

A portion of the money raised by the pins goes towards the Military Family centres, but unless you live on the garrision you really don't have contact with them.

When my kids were little, one neighbour used to shovel out my walk, now that is supporting your troops. Babysitting for Mum, so she can have a little time for herself is supporting your troop. Those are the people I remember fondly while my husband is away. We have people locally who will buy giftcards at Tim Hortons and leave them with the clerk to pay for the next guy who comes in in unform.

A bumper magnet doesn't really make me feel warm and fuzzy. Just means you paid $10 at a 7-ll.

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