ArmyKitten

There are several classes held throughout the year.

Yes, but in reverse of what you are doing now. I was a phlebotomist while working on my RN. I worked where you describe- mobile drives and in the center. I absolutely loved my job. Donors are generally happy people- they want to be there, they want to get stuck, and they have wonderful healthy veins. The center I worked for was great to it's employees, and we all believed in the mission of supporting our community. As much as I absolutely loved it, that job is not for everyone. The hours were very erratic. Some days were 4 hours, others 16. Our mobile drives were sometimes 3 hours away, so you would go to the center, get on a van, drive 3 hours, do the drive, then drive home 3 hours. Granted that you were paid for your travel time it was nice to be paid to nap on a van....but still. If I was married at the time the job would have been much more difficult and I would never do it if I had children. My favorite part was the variety of people and places. High schools, churches (everything from Baptist to Amish), dental clinics, factories, Walmart parking lots... every day was a different place with different people. Once you stick your donor, you have 15 minutes or so to chat with them...so for people that love to hear stories and talk you will think you are on vacation. The downside (or upside, depending what you are wanting in a job). It is not hard...it is not mentally challenging. The rules for donation are very clear cut and highly regulated by the CDC and FDA. The use of critical thinking skills is incredibly rare. As a charge, you are responsible to get your team there on time, set up equipment appropriately in the area provided, ensure your team performs their job per protocols and that no donors are injured in the process. As much as I loved working for a company that was so positive, so encouraging, and with a job that was fun- I would never, ever, ever work there as a new RN grad. The clinical skills that you have learned will be gone, and returning to any type of clinical job will be difficult. With that said- I want to return to blood banking after I am tired of bedside nursing. My ideal new job would be an assistant director of nursing at a blood center...and eventually move up to DON. Good luck with your decision and on NCLEX results...hang in there, I know waiting for results can be tough!!

The 67-9-1 and 67-9-1a? I didn't have mine ready when I reported for my first assignment- which was fine. My head nurse provided me some copies of examples from previous staff to assist in completing mine. It seems as though the 1LTs and the CPTs give copies of their old forms to the 2LTs, but the catch is that you have to ask. I have aquired a folder of 10 or so examples of clinical nurses, PROFIS nurses, and PROFIS during deployment. I gladly pass off copies to anyone that wants them. Ask around on your ward to see if you can find a similar situation.

I was 25.

I forgot to add- I often chart a FLACC score along with the pt's verbal reply to 0-10 scale. This covers me, and gives better info to the next nurse when evaluating the pts pain. They can say they are a 9/10, but if they are smiling, talking on their cell phone, eating a double bacon cheeseburger and watching TV- that extra bit of documentation is needed.

When asking about pain, I normally word the question this way (keep in mind most of my pts are soldiers): "What is your current pain level, on a scale of zero to ten, with zero meaning pain free, and ten meaning the absolute worst possible pain imaginable, such as a jeep parked on your kneecaps". Most of my pts rate their pain number high too- so I will look at the charting from the previous shifts to see what they have been rating their pain over the past day or so. It isn't so much about what the number is as it is if that number is increasing or decreasing, and if that number is considered to be "tolerable" to the pt or not.

I was not aware that ROTC commissioned new nurses are still not attending BOLC II. When I commissioned in 2005 I was told that they (nurses) would start attending in 2006. Obviously this is not happening yet. ROTC requires that ALL cadets participate in "Warrior Forge" summer training at Ft Lewis, WA. This occurs between your junior and senior year of college, obviously prior to commissioning, and is considered part of BOLC I. Gennaver, our OBC 2 week nurse track included TNCC, but the TNCC course is only 2 days. What other trauma courses are they giving you during your nurse track? I had heard a rumor of nurses attending TCMC, but after going through the course as a nurse it really doesnt apply to us as much since we are Level III and not providers. Then again, the training was excellent and is great for any soldier- provider or not.

ROTC and OCS are two different methods of obtaining a commission as an Officer. You do one or the other, but not both. BOLC I: Your ROTC program, including summer training at Ft Lewis Washington. BOLC II: Training after commissioning, but before OBLC. BOLC III: AMEDD actually calls this OBLC, and not BOLC III. Takes place at Ft Sam Houston for 7 weeks. Nurse Track: 2 weeks at the end of your OBLC course at Ft Sam Houston. I have not heard of 66N, most new grad nurses (if not all) are 66H (Med/Surg). As far as if your relationship will work- depends on how much you are each willing to tolerate and how you handle the situation. It works for some, but not all.

Yes, same course. The Docs and PAs would attend this course while the Nurses attended TNCC. The current PAs in your course probably have not attended yet since they are new to the Army. Thank you though, I am looking for those that have already attended. Good luck on finishing OBLC. That was the most fun 4 months of my life! I would do it again in a heartbeat.

You do not need a license for the same state you are practicing in. You do have to be familiar with the board of nursing rules and regulations for the state you are practicing in though, and not practice outside of the scope of practice limited for that state. Wow, how many times can I use the word "practice" in one post...

Anyone attend the Tactical Combat Medical Care Course (TCMC) course at Ft Sam? The course is normally for PAs and Docs, but as a soon-to-be-deployed RN I was able to get a slot for next weeks course. If you have taken the course, any suggestions/advice? I admit I am incredibly excited to get to practice things that RNs dont normally do- like inserting a chest tubes. Goat lab should be fun :)

Thanks for the great book suggestion and advice...I will certainly look into it! It may be on a "simple" level...but sometimes it is the little basic things that we need to remember the most. Thanks again!

Even if you have your RN license, if you are enlisted you are only allowed to practice within the scope of practice for LPN/LVN. Personally, I wouldnt sign anything that didnt say you would be allowed to be a 68WM6- because they may make you just a medic, and not allow you to be a nurse.

I wish you all the best of luck in obtaining a position there. I hear it is a wonderful hospital to work at- in a great area- so much so that it is one of the most requested by Army Nurses. I know that my facility (Not Madigan) does not hire civilian new grads- but for your sake I hope that MAMC does. If you have spoke with the nurse recruiter and she is aware of your GN status, you may be okay. Good luck to you!

I graduated with my BSN 19 months ago. I work on a busy Med-Surg, Tele, and Ortho ward. I have around 120 hours of CEUs since I graduated, from ACLS, PALS, TNCC, EKG classes, inservices, etc....yet I feel that I am loosing much of my nursing knowledge. I remember being told by a nursing instructor that when you take the NCLEX is when you have the greatest amount of nursing knowledge (book knowledge, obviously not skill knowledge). I now feel that is true. When I float to work in the ED, pts there really give my brain a challenge. Obviously as nurses we can not work *everywhere* to maintain knowledge in all areas, so we must suppliment it somehow. I also can not change the area that I work in (military)- so what CAN I do to keep up with everything? I eventually want to go into ICU (specifically trauma/neuro)- so how do I keep from loosing what I have? Am I just not challenged enough? I would love to start my MSN, but because of my current job I can not for a while. Any suggestions on what else I can do? Book suggestions? I will soon have LOTS of time to read.