kgbartolome93

Hi JLB , Can you or anyone else on this post explain what the board process is like? Like several others, I am in the USAR currently and I work in the ICU. I am interested in switching to active duty as a 66S and have talked to several AMEDD recruiters. From what I understand, the deadline to submit your packet is in October and that you have to be released by your current unit. I was told it could take several months to get formal orders to AD. I just want to plan the next year or two accordingly so that I know when to submit resignation letter, find housing, and help my SO find a job in advanced in whatever area we would be moving to. Also, what is a scroll? Also congrats on getting selected for AD! Thanks!

Hey OP, I'm in a similar position as you- graduated in May 2017 as a new grad and have been in icu since then- currently have family situation where my elderly parents got sick and need support in a different part of the state (4 hours away). I was considering the same options you were as well but under slightly different contexts. From what I've heard so far from various people (forums, experienced nurses, friends, etc.) is that you should wait a year so you're not classified as a "new grad" anymore. On top of that, I've heard that a year is a year in HR's eyes- so even though you were on orientation a couple months during your first year, HR just sees that as 1 year working- I don't know how accurate that is but that's what I've heard. I've been told by one of my former mentors that it's best to go prn so you don't burn bridges or something like that. I've heard also from friends that as long as you have a 1 year experience in the icu it shouldn't be too hard to find a job since you would have some experience, especially in a highly coveted specialty. Again, these are only things I've heard and looked up- I'm in a similar boat as you so I'm hoping these are true. On a personal note, family comes first for me. No job can ever give me the satisfaction and love like family- you may come across several jobs/careers in a lifetime but you only have 1 family.

Thank you for insight Rnaf. So OR nurses aren't even really in the surgical field or at least assisting? Would a scrub tech have more hands on work then in the surgical field? I simply hope to work as much as possible with/around a surgeon. Eventually I plan on becoming a physician assistant in general surgery.

I appreciate your insight you guys. While I certainly hope that the U.S doesn't engage in any more international conflicts, I certainly do not favor staying in a domestic base for 4 years doing rather non-life threatening treatments and operations . Is it possible to do humanitarian efforts in a foreign base should I be deployed if there is minimal or no conflict? Do you guys know what other services I could potentially do as a prospective trauma/ OR nurse in case there are minimal to no conflicts?

Hi everyone. Can anyone provide any personal insight on the nursing field within these branches? Currently, I am a freshman in college contemplating which ROTC program to join and get my BSN. I plan on becoming an officer in one of the branches. I don't care much for the length of deployment, pay, where I'm stationed, etc. I just really want to engage in surgery and/or trauma nursing. I don't want to be sitting in some hospital far away from the battle field per se. I want to be there to help operate on soldiers who are recently injured. Which branch do you think is more appropriate? I know the green side of Navy Corpsman is a possible option where they assist Marines on the battle field. However, I would prefer to work in an operating room near the war zone as opposed to literally on the field. Thanks