NP's in the Military

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Hi,

I am a FNP student and was wondering if anyone has served in the military as an NP and what it was/is like. I am thinking of joining after my MSN is complete and I have taken my NP boards. What are the benefits/disadvantages? Are NP's deployed if serving active duty? Thank you for any input/feedback.

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Yes they can and do deploy. My wife is in the AF as a NICU RN and here in San Antonio both NP's and RN's deploy for approx 6 months to Iraq(no longer but when we arrived they were still going) and to Afghanistan, Germany, Hawaii, Guam....where ever they are needed. As a veteran myself I can say I wish I had stayed in and live vicariously through my wife. It's nice living on base, pay isn't bad, lots of autonomy according to my wife. Have to stay in shape, as it is a job requirement. I can't see a lot of negatives to the job but it also depends on how patriotic you are and if you believe in what your doing. Good luck.

Hi,

I am a FNP student and was wondering if anyone has served in the military as an NP and what it was/is like. I am thinking of joining after my MSN is complete and I have taken my NP boards. What are the benefits/disadvantages? Are NP's deployed if serving active duty? Thank you for any input/feedback.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Yes they can and do deploy. My wife is in the AF as a NICU RN and here in San Antonio both NP's and RN's deploy for approx 6 months to Iraq(no longer but when we arrived they were still going) and to Afghanistan, Germany, Hawaii, Guam....where ever they are needed. As a veteran myself I can say I wish I had stayed in and live vicariously through my wife. It's nice living on base, pay isn't bad, lots of autonomy according to my wife. Have to stay in shape, as it is a job requirement. I can't see a lot of negatives to the job but it also depends on how patriotic you are and if you believe in what your doing. Good luck.

Does anyone know if any branch is looking for FNP's right now? Seems like spots are tight...

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Specializes in Cardiac, Pulmonary, Anesthesia.

Note, you can be deployed as a med/surg RN, or other RN as your experience dictates, while being a military NP.

This should help out. It is dated, but still holds mostly true. : Expanding the role of NPs in deployed settings

Also, if you were wanting to be in closer to combat or even at a battalion aid station, this is a role generally reserved for PAs. NPs typically, not always, either do primary care only at a clinic or combat support hospital, midwifery, or psych.

You can see the possible delineation of privileges here: NP privleges

You can compare that to the PA, which can also extend into one of the specialties (flight surgeon, battalion surgeon, emergency medicine, ortho, ect) which is another sheet altogether: PA privileges

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Specializes in Cardiac, Pulmonary, Anesthesia.

You can also look at this file : Clinical Quality Management

It will tell you a great about almost every type of provider in the Army

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