Of course, like all nurses, I've been heavily recruited all through nursing school and ever since I've graduated, but nobody's ever given me a clear answer on how military nursing works. It's not something that I've ruled out.. you might even say I've considered it seriously. But to me, it doesn't make sense to join the military to continue doing the same thing I'm doing now, which is work in a hospital, taking care of the same types of patients. The only difference I see is that you make less money, are commanded where to live and what to do, and work in a structured environment of superiors, etc.
If I were to join the military, I'd want to do it all out... I wouldn't want to be on some naval base in the USA. I'd want to be out in a desert in Iraq, for example, taking care of injured soldiers. Why join the military to be stuck in a hospital in the country for a few years? Who are the guys out there in the war working as nurses? How do you get that job? Maybe if I get some clear answers I'll stop throwing out a mail flyer from each branch every day. Thanks!
I am a civilian contract nurse with the Air Force currently, I have worked with the Army also on contract basis....this is what I can tell you...you do have different patients and different jobs as you could say...also more things you can do, such as techniques and things...military nurses do suturing, deep nerve blocks, they will train you for anything you want to do...alot of those things in the civilian sector is not able to do...
When the mention officer, that is true...it is a def. responsibility...you are in charge people look to for direction and a high level of respect is given to you. You may think it is like being a supervisor at your civilian hospital...it really isn't your troops lives are in your hands...their behavior is your responsibility...
IMO it is cutting edge healthcare and nursing...the military recieves the new medical technology advancements...some of the things that they get are amazing I can't wait to see them hit the rest of the US. Equipment is readily available and top technology for the most part. We tend to have to work under lesser standards in the civilian world.
I know with the Air Force...officers/nurses PCS(moving to a new base) every 3 years. There is a long term deployment about a year and a short term deployment about 4-6 months. After about I would say 1st Lt to Cpt. a nurse can request a particular location or deployment he/she wants...from what I hear about 90% get his/her choice.
When the poster mentioned additional duties...it is much different then the civilian world...because these duties are almost required for you to get a good EPR (that is what we call annual review) however it is much more in depth than just a few points...it is generall very long, I saw one that was 8 pages when done it reflects everything you did. When you have additional duties it is not a small number of people you are educating..I have seen the AF nurses educating close to 100 at a time...and developing his/her education tools, that was really cool I think.
One thing that just occured at the base I work at is...the AF Rodeo..that is where AF from different countries compete with different things like flying particular planes and what not...the Nurses where there first hand taking care of any health related problems, nice change of pace if you ask me.
The choice to be in the military IMO is good for your health also due to the physical requirements one must be able to perform.
Regarding the pay...from what I have been told and see...the base pay is about the same to a little less than civilian...but then you get a housing pay..which in this state depending on rank is anywhere from 1200 to 2000. You also recieve scheduled pay increases and when you make rank, your next rank up...I have heard like close to 1000 to 1500 in pay raises..no cost for health insurance...retirement after 20 years with a pension and health insurance...when taking that into consideration ya it is a better pay scale then the civilian sector.
Regarding the patients...lets see how to explain this..it is different in it's own way...maybe simular health problems however how they are dx and treated is differently, as a nurse you dont have the worry of a patient not getting what he/she needs regarding healthcare...unlike our HMO's. You deal with different things like yearly physical exams and particular injuries requiring special paperwork.
Another thing I noted is the friendships, the closeness of each nurse, the willingness to help eachother after duty hours...it is very family like...afterall you do put your lives for your co-workers.
It is a highly respectful, patriotic career....that you must understand...it will change you...it will make you a great nurse...it will give you respect and understanding...it is a commitment. If you want to do something that is noble, respectful, good for your family, nice chance to see different parts of the country/world..then go to the military. Those statements are not general..they are honest and true to the point!!!
I love working the AF nurses, outstanding group of people. I hope this helps.
Wow, ok that just blew me away. I've been toying with the idea of joining the Air Force after two years of college. (I just graduated High School) Reasoning: after 45 semester hours, from what i've been told, I would then be an officer, and they would pay for the rest of my school. I've been hanging out with the guys from the Little Rock Air Force Base, and the job seems really good (benefits). You just answered every question i've ever had about this, so thank you very much for that.
Wow, ok that just blew me away. I've been toying with the idea of joining the Air Force after two years of college. (I just graduated High School) Reasoning: after 45 semester hours, from what i've been told, I would then be an officer, and they would pay for the rest of my school. I've been hanging out with the guys from the Little Rock Air Force Base, and the job seems really good (benefits). You just answered every question i've ever had about this, so thank you very much for that.
That doesn't sound right?? I'm pretty sure you have to already have a minimum of a bachelor's degree to be commissioned as an officer in the Air Force.
That doesn't sound right?? I'm pretty sure you have to already have a minimum of a bachelor's degree to be commissioned as an officer in the Air Force.
As desperate as the military seems to be about recruitment it actually does sound right. I believe the army does the same thing. The newly commissioned officer is commissioned under a different agreement than the BSN. I've known a few nurses who went in under this program.
There was a time when I wanted to be commissioned so badly. Its seems the army is holding a grudge against me for some ridiculous Article 15 I recieved while in 91C school. I fought against the UCMJ and my voice was dismissed since I was a lowly E-4. I had so much to give back to the army, but they, the board, didn't see it that way and my packet was rejected.
The Active Army has NOT changed it's commissioning requirement - nor is there a plan to do so. To be commissioned on active duty (i.e. full time military), a nurse must have a BSN - and have passed the NCLEX prior to attending the Officer Basic Course.
Now, the Reserve component is slightly different. I'm not fully well-versed on the USAR, but I believe nurses can be commissioned with an ADN. However, they must obtain a BSN prior to achieving the rank of MAJ (this may have changed - someone more familiar with the USAR will certainly chime in with the correct info!)
The Active Army has NOT changed it's commissioning requirement - nor is there a plan to do so. To be commissioned on active duty (i.e. full time military), a nurse must have a BSN - and have passed the NCLEX prior to attending the Officer Basic Course.
Now, the Reserve component is slightly different. I'm not fully well-versed on the USAR, but I believe nurses can be commissioned with an ADN. However, they must obtain a BSN prior to achieving the rank of MAJ (this may have changed - someone more familiar with the USAR will certainly chime in with the correct info!)
Jana
Maybe they are paying for me to get my BSN, then RN?? I don't know, perhaps it's different in the Air Force too? I'm never really clear on the details of this type of thing
The Active Army has NOT changed it's commissioning requirement - nor is there a plan to do so. To be commissioned on active duty (i.e. full time military), a nurse must have a BSN - and have passed the NCLEX prior to attending the Officer Basic Course.
Now, the Reserve component is slightly different. I'm not fully well-versed on the USAR, but I believe nurses can be commissioned with an ADN. However, they must obtain a BSN prior to achieving the rank of MAJ (this may have changed - someone more familiar with the USAR will certainly chime in with the correct info!)
Jana
I wanna say I recall an USAR acquaintance having to complete his masters degree in order to make the rank of Cpt. He was working in a non-medical field.
I wanna say I recall an USAR acquaintance having to complete his masters degree in order to make the rank of Cpt. He was working in a non-medical field.
Interesting... For Active duty ANC (Army Nurse Corps) officers, the requirement is BSN for commissioning and MSN is a promotion discriminator for LTC (O-5).
Maybe they are paying for me to get my BSN, then RN?? I don't know, perhaps it's different in the Air Force too? I'm never really clear on the details of this type of thing
I went through school as an Army ROTC cadet. My school was paid for by a scholarship and I received a stipend (some paltry amount - $100/month, I think it has gone up significantly). However, during this time I was not a commissioned officer - rather a "cadet". Commissioning occurred after successfully completing the program and graduating. Once I received NCLEX results, I went to OBC and began receiving the full pay and benefits.
I'm reasonably certain that the Air Force program is similar and that they also require a BSN for commissioning on Active Duty. Sounds like you need to ask more questions of your recruiter. Just as an aside, is your recruiter a Health Professions recruiter, or just a regular AF recruiter? In the Army it does make a difference which genre of recruiter you are dealing with.
I went through school as an Army ROTC cadet. My school was paid for by a scholarship and I received a stipend (some paltry amount - $100/month, I think it has gone up significantly). However, during this time I was not a commissioned officer - rather a "cadet". Commissioning occurred after successfully completing the program and graduating. Once I received NCLEX results, I went to OBC and began receiving the full pay and benefits.
I'm reasonably certain that the Air Force program is similar and that they also require a BSN for commissioning on Active Duty. Sounds like you need to ask more questions of your recruiter. Just as an aside, is your recruiter a Health Professions recruiter, or just a regular AF recruiter? In the Army it does make a difference which genre of recruiter you are dealing with.
Hope that helps!
Jana
Yes it does, thanks to all of your input. It was an Air Force recruiter that told me all of this. I went back up there today to have a chat with them, because I felt as if I had been misled. Turns out, you all are right, I would be enlisted, they would pay for my college, i'd have to earn all my educational stuff (I wasn't expecting to skip over it, and be a nurse), but I wouldn't have to have my bachelors, they'd pay for me to earn it, then for my nursing school. Apparantly, they are in some need of nurses right now.
Interesting... For Active duty ANC (Army Nurse Corps) officers, the requirement is BSN for commissioning and MSN is a promotion discriminator for LTC (O-5).
A BSN student can commission Up to 6 months before they graduate Nursing school. They will not go to Officer Basic Leadership Course until the pass their NCLEX
MeganLips
3 Posts
Wow, ok that just blew me away. I've been toying with the idea of joining the Air Force after two years of college. (I just graduated High School) Reasoning: after 45 semester hours, from what i've been told, I would then be an officer, and they would pay for the rest of my school. I've been hanging out with the guys from the Little Rock Air Force Base, and the job seems really good (benefits). You just answered every question i've ever had about this, so thank you very much for that.