Oportunity for NP school while Active Duty? How many years of floor nursing?

kato10 · Feb 9, 2010

I can answer some of this as I have a friend that was Army Reserve while we were going through NP school then went AD. My recommendation to you would be to stick with the Reserves and go to school. In my first semester I started out part-time and then went full-time and graduated in 2 years. It is very manageable especially if you work 12hr shifts as a nurse.

My friend was able to easily switch to AD upon graduation. I think there is a big need for NPs in the Army, so you shouldn't have a problem crossing over. The only thing that might hang you up is your original agreement. I will say, however, that the Army is tougher than the AF and runs on much shorter staffing which is why my friend got out. She was pulled all over the place in order to cover what was needed for the day/week. In doing my NP interview with the AF last night this is not the way it is in the AF.

JDARMYFNP · Feb 12, 2010

I am an Active Duty FNP.

I will tell you the Army behind the times as far as how they allow NPs to practice.

It is a big pain in the rear end to go to school while in the Army.

My advice, get out, go to school... then come back in if you want.

The Army boasts about enlarged scope of practice and doing cool stuff, however the reality is, you will work in primary care - taking care of family members, a sprinkling of soldiers, and the fearless retiree.

PAs do the soldier care and are the most respected around the G.I.s

I noticed this when I was deployed.

After a month, one of the medics said - you're a pretty good PA... doc, I've learned a lot.

When I told him I was a nurse, he said - No way... if you're a nurse you need to be stabbing everyone around here in the back and flipping out every other day.

Army nurses eat their young... after you become a major... they tend to leave you alone, but 2LT - CPT watch out...

jerrylundergard · Feb 12, 2010

Im gonna do like Kato10 says, take the reserves commision (if selected from this feb 9 board) and study at the local university for the FNP degree.

Im still leaning to going AD once I complete my masters. I signed the 6 year reserve contract (1st 3 years hlrp, last 3 years 30k bonus) so my recruiter says they will let me out of the contract to go AD after 2 years. Im not sure if I believe her and dont want to go above her. I dont think shes full of BS just maybe not carefull enough to actually look up whatever rule the army may have on the books regarding that. So not sure if Ill ask someone else in the recruiting office or what?

As far as doing primary care, I think it will be nice. I work on a telemetry/medsurg floor that is just basically nuts. 6 pts and I can have 2 dc and 2 admits in a shift. Sometimes its like a damn nursing home. Transfers from ICU that got yanked off drips 30 minutes prior, Pts coming in from ER and 10 minutes after arrival getting critical lab values and crazy BPs and chest pain, blah blah. Tubes everywhere, millions of meds, pts really not stable. I think I do better than most on my floor emotionally, but its definetely high stress. Also, we get no help. The nurse assistants have tons of total care and 16pts each. The secretarys hardly wanna do anything and the older nurses, if they get a light load, arent interested in helping. Luckily, us guys that all got hired together stick together. If one of thems light and sees the other is swamped, they help. Should be that way among all staff but whatever. BTW, I get the feeling from many older nurses on our floor, especially the one that precepted me, that they could give 2 craps if we dropped dead or whatever. They definetely eat the young at my hospital, big time!

While I like how fast time flys, I think I could handle the slower pace of primary care! And definetely want to be practicing as a FNP rather than a floor nurse.

JDARMYFNP, whats your work schedule like? How many days/hours a week are you doing? The 30 days vacation a year doesnt suck does it? Or is it too difficult to get the dates you like? What kind of bases/stations do you get or is it the same as a regular 66H duty locations? Is it too boring or what exactly dont you like? What do you like?

JDARMYFNP · Feb 13, 2010

Im gonna do like Kato10 says, take the reserves commision (if selected from this feb 9 board) and study at the local university for the FNP degree.
JDARMYFNP, whats your work schedule like? How many days/hours a week are you doing? The 30 days vacation a year doesnt suck does it? Or is it too difficult to get the dates you like? What kind of bases/stations do you get or is it the same as a regular 66H duty locations? Is it too boring or what exactly dont you like? What do you like?

I work 8 hours/day when stateside 12 hours/day when deployed.

30 days vacation is awesome. There is actually more off time because of training holidays.

I would say we have about 50 days vacation when you add it all up. Very nice part about active duty.

66H positions... I would work in a MEDCEN, and try to get into the ER. Keep your head low. Don't try to change a lot in your work environment. If your boss asks you to do something, do it. No questions asked, and do it quickly.

I recommend never giving your opinion or divulging too much personal information. Be the quiet soldier that everyone likes. Praise people around you. Make them feel good about working with you.

If you don't like your assignment... TELL NO ONE. Call HRC and work with them, don't ever tell your command things you don't like or suggest improvements. They will blackball you.

I like the ER myself.

When I'm not at work, I am out hiking, exercising, reading, taking pictures... so on.

My thoughts (yes, I'm blunt). It is nice to have a voice here.

At work... in the Army... my mouth stays shut and I try to make myself invisible unless I am called on.

Let the political nurses fight it out with themselves. It is a losing battle to engage them... believe me.

carolinapooh, BSN, RN · Feb 14, 2010

And first and foremost, do not let one person's opinions color your personal interpretations - just like at any other job.

athena55, BSN, RN · Feb 14, 2010

Hi Jerry:

One word of caution (unless I read your post wrong...Smile) Be careful about leaving RC and going AD if you accepted a bonus. If you leave RC you may have to give back any monies that you received IF YOU DO NOT COMPLETE YOUR CONTRACT meaning: you "signed on" for 3 years, you accepted the bonus sign-on money but you only completed 18 months or 2 years...You will have to give back the money (if you leave mid-year)

Does this make sense? I'm kinda tired

Hey, good luck with whatever decision you make. I think it is awesome that you are considering the Armed Forces!

athena

Iraq

jerrylundergard · Feb 15, 2010

Thanks for the heads up Athena.

My recruiter is so sick of recruiting that its just painfull to talk to her, she wants out of Miami bad!

I signed up for the 50k loan repayment for the first 3 years. The last 3 years are the bonus so I dont know how that would work. I may have to do my full 3 years in the RC to complete my loan repayment plan. My recruiter says I can switch to AD after 2 years so I have no idea if that means my loan repayment would follow me or what. If I had of known the process would take this long I would of just gone active duty cause my obligation to my hospital will be nearly fullfilled by the time I actuallly show up for Army duty (if im lucky enough to get selected!).

I had 1st contact with recruiter in may 09 and went to MEPS in July and got my med waiver in Sep. Just passed 6 month experience mark for reserves so finally time to rock! Supposedly my stuff made it for the board on feb9. I am really tempted to call my recruiters office and ask for the other recruiter who Ive talked with in the office and is handeling my buddies case. I wish I coulda had them send me up for AD cause like I said, its a LONG process and my hospital wont have me on the hook for much longer.

Im guessing if I got accepted for reserves than asked to be sent back up for AD it would look very strange!