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It states "If you answer "yes" to any questions in the above categories, you may be protected under VEVRAA." It also states "Please note that this page provides general information. It is not intended to substitute for the actual law and regulations regarding the program described herein". That is why you need to dig deeper in regulations to find the answer in policies. A poster is just a general overview. I can not tell from your original post if you fit into one of listed categories.

What is your RE code; that will make the difference if you can get hired or not. If its an RE-4 it will be very hard to get hired but if you do not try its a no.

That is what we are being told that areas like L&D will be staffed by GS employees and other areas like peds which has low census will be sent out to the local hospital. We have already seen this with the peds inpatient at the hospital I work at. I am not sure if the USPHS will pick up more slots at military hospitals than they already have. As far as one medical service in the military back about 8 years ago the Army & Navy were for it but the Air Force was not, at least that was the rumor so we really do not know what the truth is.

In the Army it will only effect who you are assigned to. Before the change FORSCOM (Forces Command) units like Combat Support Hospitals, FST etc only had one nurse assigned to the unit while the rest were PROFIS (Professional filling system) and assigned to fix site facilities like regular hospitals, non deploying units. Now that DHA is in charge Nurses are assigned to a FORSCOM unit and are BMM (Bowered Manpower) to the fix site. We are hearing this was done so soldiers can stay up to date with training to be able to deploy in short notice. Also, AOCs/MOSs which do not have a role when deployed are being eliminated like pediatric dentist, labor and delivery nurse. Its still a wait and see game on how it is going to effect the system on both the military and civilian side of the house.

The military CRNA program is a good deal but just make sure your family is ready for the long hours you will have to put in during phase II; 16-18 hour days is the normal.

First of all you do not enlist as a nurse but commission as an officer. You have to have a BSN for all services, each service has different requirements to obtain your ER nurse designation. You will need to contact a health care recruiter for each service to find out what the present requirements are and what bonuses available. To find out how to contact the healthcare recruiter (HCR) go to each service recruiting website. It can take several months before the HCR gets back to you because nurses are not in high demand right now. Do not speak with the local enlisted recruiter they will try to enlist you not get you commission. The process can take greater than 1 year from the time you start your paperwork until you are commissioned.

You have to look at the long term; what will you be making in 10 years where you are at compared to the VA. You can look at the salary schedule and see the amount you will be making. The VA is famous for starting out low then paying higher than the community. Also, look at the benefits, they make a big difference also.

It all depends on your unit and what assets (materials & money) they have to train with. I was a HM in the Naval Reserves assigned to a Marine unit and most of the time we were at the reserve center doing some classes. When there was a medical readiness function we would drawn labs, vitals etc. We did get out to the field every now and than but not often. The RN's assigned to the unit only got to go to the field on our 2 weeks active duty. I was a RN in the Army Reserve and it was pretty much the same thing. There are some units that are in clinics & hospitals frequently but it all depends on the unit. Most military clinics are closed on weekends and very little happens in the hospitals on the weekends. In the reserves you are trained how to function as a military member not your medical skills which you are expected to keep up on your own.

No matter if you take a bonus or not your contract is for 8 years, the only thing that changes is how many years you have to drill for. I you decline it now the chances are you will not get it in the future. As an officer there is no re-up. You will be commissioned & in the reserves until you resign your position. After 8 years and you decided that you want to get out and do not resign your commission you will still be in the reserves and could be activated in the future. From what we just heard the ICU ISP bonus is going up for active duty, you might want to look at this for the reserves. There are some things that can be written in your contract like a school or something but not much.

You will not be qualified to deploy until you have completed OBLC which you will not do right away.

Did they tell you where you are going to be stationed at after OBLC?

I am not sure but it could be because the changes that are happening with DHA is taking over the Army hospitals.

You do not enlist in the military as a RN with a BSN; you commission which is a whole different process. It takes about 1 year from the time you start your packet until you boarded. If selected it takes some time for your orders to be written and assigned to a Officer Basic Leadership Coorifice. Talking to the Air Force would be a good idea, that would give the OP an idea of what service would fit their needs/wants best.

Only your active duty time will count for seniority and retirement. For the retirement you must make a "military deposit" to buy that time. Your HR department should be able to help you with that or do search at DFAS. As far as AL (vacation) all title 38 nurses in the VA start out at the max AL time of 8 hours per pay.

Not unless you were a Army Nurse.

The DUI could be an issue with the services and you might need a waiver for it.

Contact your HR department they should be able to help you with this.

I am not saying the staff is limited because staff they are not available but because there is only few rooms running over the weekend. Most OR's do not do scheduled cases on the weekend and if they do it is a limited number compared to Mon-Fri schedule.

Step increases are generally every 2 years. Remember there also is an across the board raise almost every year. This means that you can receive 2 pay raises in 1 year. How long have you been a nurse and at the VA? From what I have seen by wages for RN's in the federal government is that the wages are lower for newer nurses but higher than the local hospitals for RN's after time. You also need to look at benefits and working conditions.

If a hospital near you has weekend options I can image they would fill them with experience nurses in the OR because of limited staff on hand.

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Some amphip ships have OR's on them. But they are not staffed with ships company, I do not know when or by whom they are staffed with.

For your answers you need to contact a Healthcare Recruiter from each service to see which one is best for you. All initial contracts are for 8 years no matter if its active or reserves. Each service has their own active/reserve time. ie 3 active/5 reserves. Reserves can also be done in the IRR which is non-drilling reserves. I think the only position that peri-op nurses rule is being reduced is in the FST. There are many changes going on with the Combat Support Hospitals which FST's fall under. I work at a Army hospital right now and there is nothing about reducing the number of peri-op nurses other than the FST role. What part of Lake Erie did you grow up at? From WNY myself.

You will get "E" status for pay if you have the equivalent of 4 years plus one day of active duty or 1461 points.