MTF's and Civilian Side Nursing Questions

Published

Hello,

Back story (I think this stuff might give me a slight edge on the competition, but I am not going to rely on it).

I am prior service and have a 10 point hiring preference (tinnitus, nothing too serious).

My spouse is Active Duty and in Medical School.

Currently I am finishing up pre-reqs this semester and starting a BSN program in the fall. At this point I am only interested in serving the military community be it at the VA or a MTF, and just wanted to get some feedback on getting into the system as a new grad (sadly I am familiar with USA jobs...) and the ease of transfer as we are likely to move around alot over the next 27 years.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

You should do some investigating in your local area and find out who (which company) contracts with them.. VA and DOD both use travelers and contractors. In fact those are the people that are typically offered the job first. Before it hits USA jobs. The people that truly get preference are those that have been through VetPro!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

One issue you may run into at first is that very few MTFs hire new grads. Some VAs do, but considering that you move at the will of your husband's employer, you're somewhat subject to what's available where you are. I did talk to someone from the civilian hiring side of Army nursing, and they said that once you have 6 months experience, they won't consider you a new grad any more. I don't know much more than that, other than as soon as I get my resume rewritten, I will be applying to try and get in at our local MTF (I'm a vet, too and have an AD husband, so I totally get where you're coming from with trying to get into a system that will make transferring around easier).

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Good Luck!!! When my husband and I moved to our current base, I also wanted to work at the bases facility. I was told contracting as well as premanant hire (RNs) were to apply through USAjobs. I applied and was told I qualified HOWEVER... there were no positions available and my resume would remain on file for a period of time. My husband is AD, I'm Reserve so I would've gotten credit for that but I havn't been called and we've been here for a year and 7 months.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Looks rough. I am going to look into a contract with a Tricare hospital that is just down the street and get a years worth of experience from them before we move to our next duty station and try to get in from there. Hopefully the new Military Families Initiative by Mrs. Obama will shed some light on our issue...

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in L&D, Mother-Baby, Special Care Nursery.

I have been a nurse-manager at an MTF. We were severely restricted at hiring new grads. Our facility required a year of experience prior to hire, and you would be a GS-10. If we decided to hire a new grad, they would start as GS 5, then GS 7, then GS 9. This would go on for two years. After that they would be a GS 10. It made more sense for a new grad to go get a year of experience and then come back to us.

Once hired, though, it didn't seem to hard to get transferred as your spouse PCSed from station to station. You generally have priority.

I highly, HIGHLY recommend when you do apply for a job to talk to the nurse-manager or whomever is doing the actual hiring. It's great to talk to HR and all but they are busy people and they don't have time to relay all your messages to the nurse-manager. Find the boss of the floor you want to work on and talk to that person about the job. You are much more likely to get it if you make your name known.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion