Please give me Pros and Cons of being an Army Nurse

jeckrn, BSN, RN · Jul 9, 2010

I love it. Like with every job there is pros & cons. Some of the pros are the benefits, travel, and experiences. Some of the cons are the travel, hours that you can work sometimes etc. If you are serious about joining the military as a nurse you need to speak with a healthcare recuiter who can set you up to speak with some military nurses. Also you can find which one would be the best fit for you. If you join do not join just for the money because if that is your reason it will be a long tour for you.

just_cause, BSN, RN · Jul 10, 2010

.... I'm glad nursing was your calling.... rather then business / accounting. I've seen several posters here in the past that were very upset with having a high student loan and wanted the military to pay back or else... there situation would be dire - I always wonder the cost / benefit thinking that goes into making this decision in their case.

I concur 100% with Jeck.. never met an officer or Soldier who joined for the $ that was happy.

I'd also remember loans have to meet eligibility to be repayed.. plus with uncle sam's cut your max payment is minus about 28%... + you still have interest from them as loans are payed out at end of 1st, 2nd and 3rd year (as that is how loan repayment typically works... divided into three installments 'thirds' to pay back loan at an annual basis of the original amount.. not the interest) and you manage the interest in between and the prior mentioned fed tax that will leave you with a sizable chunk... assuming your loans qualify for the repayment.

moosicle · Jul 11, 2010

It really depends on the assignment. MEDCENs can be grueling places to work, with 55-60 hour work weeks and a ton of extra duties (think Walter Reed). For the money, you would probably do better working the 60 hours at a local hospital and have less responsibility. However, MEDDACs can be very nice places to work and fewer hours. They will probably place you in a MEDCEN if you are a new nurse but you can transfer in 1-2 years.

The loan repayment program is pretty good. I get an annual payment at the beginning of the year for 1/3 minus 28% in taxes. However, it is adjusted annually for the accumulated interest which is mostly tax deductible. Be careful, state taxes are not deducted, so you may owe.

cuttiepie79 · Jul 15, 2010

Thank you for all of the informative advice. I'm an R.N with 5 years experience. My recruiter said to apply as an OB nurse which is my specialty. Moosicle what's the difference between MEDCENs and MEDDAC's. I'm actually considering the Reserves now since I won't graduate from grad school until Dec 2011.

jeckrn, BSN, RN · Jul 15, 2010

MEDCENs are your bigger hospitals where MEDDACs are your smaller community hospitals

Cursed Irishman · Jul 16, 2010

If you want a pretty accurate idea as to what its like to deploy, specifically in a csh, theres an episode of Nova available online called "Life and Death in a War Zone". Illustrates how deployments vary: one unit can be doing the deal, while another unit's only battle can be with boredom. Keep in mind: its from 2003.

Available here:

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/combatdocs/program.html

Storman · Jul 23, 2010

I want to start with letting you know I am not an Army Nurse Corps Officer, I am however an Enlisted LPN/Senior NCO. I have watched many ANC Officers, come and go, some joined for the student repayment, some for personal reasons and some because "it was the best thing to do." If your going to join do it for the right reason. Military service difficult, and is not for everyone. It is an adventure, there is the opportunity to go to great places around the world, however there is the opportunity to go to not so great places and take care of people who want you dead. I currently work as the NCOIC of Labor and Delivery for a MEDDAC, my new boss a direct commission CPT was in a similar situation. She is in her 30's has her masters (I believe it is in high risk OB) and actually worked as a GS employee of the same floor she is now the Clinical Nurse OIC of. All and all she is very happy with her decision to join. During one of our get to know each other sessions she told me that in the civilian world she seen two types of nurses: ones who nursed from the heart and ones who nursed from there wallet. She has been in the Army about 10 months now and has realized the same traits apply to military nursing. Must be the loan repayment and specialty bonus, because the base pay can not be the main attraction. As a side note, I was apart of the 21th CSH, the one in the video during that trip to OIF I.