Militarynursing

Catamounts30, thank you for the post. Somethings tech glitching right now I tried to PM you and a message popped up saying “you are only allowed to send 0 messages a day.” I will try to contact you later, not sure what the issue is. My army buddy said it’s *** go air force (but he’s a chemical repair specialist so it doesn’t really transfer to nursing advice???). My friend who is a recent grad is in the air force and she likes it but for active duty she says that army has more bases more availability of positions and a better chance of active deploying unintended as well as a better chance of CRNA school down the road. (She was enlisted originally). Also I’d I did air force I think flight nursing transport would be my goal but then I have to pass flight requirement. I never looked into the navy but I understand they commission the fewest number of nurses. My grandfather was a West Point grad so army was always the go to. What do you mean by the quality of nursing life is better in the Air Force and Navy. I don’t plan on life being glamorous. I have heard that the trade off as active duty ICU is there are not many crit care patients stateside that nurses spend shifts with one patient and sometimes no patients. That’s rough to hear. Like can you work on another floor then? I also enjoyed OR nursing. Reserve side never occurred to me. I'm okay living on base as active duty or having a roommate as I am single. I never really considered reserves because I don’t feel like people are as connected and that it’s predominantly the civilian nursing? I’m not sure how reserves would work as a nurse planing to go the career track. Also a side question how do nurses get attached to active deploying units? From a army lecturer she just said work with the army 3 years and talk with recruiter about it. (Because that was such a helpful answer). Sorry for such a long post it’s just nice to finally have people who know the background of military nursing!

Thank you soldiermurse, yes I realize that the army isn’t accepting new grads this year. I did get in touch last year and they basically said wait till you graduate and pass the NCLEX and get experience. My healthcare recruiter said I shouldn’t worry about ADHD as I was off of medications for all of my college years. She basically said don’t bring it up at MEPS. Yes I’m currently applying for critical care jobs in the civilian area so I can commission within my specialty. My recruter got back to me and was rather frank that it would be better to come in with experience in the specialty I want as its much more difficult to come in as say med surg general nurse and then switch. Yes I’ve seen it’s like an 11month process to get through everything. Sometimes I feel like they aren’t taking me seriously. Is there something I’m doing wrong? I also feel it’s more difficult because communiqué is all digital thanks to COVID. Maybe I should call and ask to zoom instead? Anyone else have this experience? Any tips to move the process along?

I’m a new Grad May 2020. My end goal is to be an army nurse career track. I’m currently 24 and single. I know nursing is competitive now, unortunately I have ADHD and would need a waiver. Due to my ADHD I got a complete ghost from the FL recruiter (a test as I lived down there for a year). I’m from MN but I’m scared to mention to my MN healthcare recruiter now, that I even have ADHD (I’ve been off meds for college though). I also don’t have the worlds best GPA 3.10 and I didn’t do any leadership things during college. I realize nowadays the army wants years of experience. However life for the new grad is sh***y indeed with many places freezing hiring in MN for new grads d/t COVID 19. Every application I look at has one year acute care experience MANDATORY. Not to mention trying to get an ED or ICU residency if you Are not either a remarkable applicant with stellar grades and connections or dirt poor first generation non white person so they can meet there government diversity requirement then you’re screwed and don’t have a chance. Do I wait 3 months for the next hiring cycle? I’m just very depressed as a new grad trying to find a job. do I have to move to a different state with a lower level of healthcare to get a job? What can I do so when I do apply to commission I stand out on paper for the boards?

Hello, I will be a new grad nurse this May 2020, I’m 24, no prior service, and single. I plan to go the career track for as long as I’m able. My GPA is 3.10. I do have ADHD and will need a waiver, I had an Acute back injury in college cheer. I want to commission as an army nurse. I realize as a new grad I will have to start of in med surg (which is the bane of my existence, mostly because time management of 6 patients makes me want to die) but all in time. My end goal is to get trauma ED, ICU because that’s where my brain is awesome under stress I focus very well. I had my senior capstone in an ICU in a big MN hospital. I just want to sit face to face with the Bloomington MN healthcare recruiter so I can actualy ask questions. All I have is a phone number for the recruiter and an address. Am I supposed to write a letter? Is this the dark ages? I want to ask questions Such as I’m currently 30 lbs over the weight for 5’9” female, I’m like 200 and I need to get down to 171. I’m not obese just after my back injury in cheer I put on weight fast but I also am a generally muscular woman. Can I got through MEPS regardless of that? Do I have to pass the fitness test now or do I have time at COT or BOLC or whatever they call it to reach the score? Can I start my ADHD waiver now because I’m told it will take an eon to process? What are the odds that after my year of new grad transition I will actualy get the specialty I want? Can I request placement at only large hospitals? (I don’t want to be the CCN that is in Timbuktu hospital with zero crit care patients and just mindlessly looking at continuing education videos). I want to deploy so what makes me competitive to do so? What training can I get in my contract? Can I still participate in humanitarian missions while active duty if I’m granted permission? (Humanitarian missions would be overseas) All over I see things like oh the army won’t direct commission unless you have two years experience! Is it true? With gyms closed and the cancelation of the new fitness test is it now back to sit ups push ups and the run? If I had an acute back injury from college cheer will that disqualify me? I don’t have school loans but I want to possibly continue to CRNA school can that be in my contract?