dm22

First of all I am a new Navy nurse, and I really like my job and being in the military. I REALLY enjoyed my limited time at officer training command, especially all the "hooah" military type stuff and PTing and all. I have been reading about the army nurse corps and talking to some former nurses, and it sounds like I would enjoy the army even more. I like working in the hospital caring for patients, but I also like to be outdoors, in the fields, doing athletics, camping, and that sort of thing. Would the army even be interested in taking a service transfer? Would I keep my navy equivalent rank and pay? OBLC sounds really fun, especially all the weapons/land nav/"grunt" stuff. To all you army nurses, do you think I might be a better fit for the army?

Hi all, I am currently an Ensign in the Navy Nurse Corps interested in pursuing nurse anesthesia, either military and civilian (really whichever one lets me in). I read that many nurse anesthesia schools require a college level biochemistry course (specifically the Navy program at USUHS). Does anyone have any idea where I can take a good biochem course online? Will TA pay for it? Anybody go the military anesthesia route and what were your experiences?

Just wondering what the culture in the military is like as far as how well physicians and nurses work together, and whether there is a greater degree of professionalism that is brought on by the addition of a superseding rank structure. For instance; there are Admirals who are nurses, pharmacists, and not necessarily just doctors. The reason I am curious is that I have had the misfortune of experiencing a very difficult working environment in a civilian hospital as a nursing student. The hospital is owned by a physician group in which the culture seems to encourage disrespecting and mistreating the nursing staff. I can give specific examples but I think y'all get the picture. This hospital has had that reputation for a while, and they routinely have difficulty filling positions for RNs, so I know I am not the only one who notices this. I suppose I would work there if I had to, but I would rather have a better work environment. Just curious of what it's like in the Navy. Specifically I am headed to Pensacola in September, about to graduate from the Nurse Candidate Program.

I work as a tech, and a couple of times younger male patients have requested that I come in and help clean them instead of their female nurse. Never had a female patient refuse assistance because I have a Y chromosome.

Sorry sir, I realize my question was a bit vague. I probably shouldn't being posting when I have had less than 4 hours of sleep :) I was watching a video my recruiter gave me, and on it was a Naval Officer who was both a nurse and a SEAL. Do they have nurses that work for the teams? or perhaps he was a corpsman for the teams before he went through the MECP program? A senior who is in the NCP and was prior enlisted was telling me about these forward medical platoons that work very closely with marine ground operations, the name of which escapes me. I was wondering if you knew anything about these groups. Another thing I heard through the "grapevine": Can selected nurses attend the Army's 18Delta special forces medical training course?

As some of you may remember me, I am an NCP student, just finished my first semester of school. I was wondering if anybody knew of some good websites with information about various opportunities for nurses while in the Navy. Like duty under instruction programs, CRNA programs, and high-speed stuff that nurses can do. I tried doing google searches but there isn't much info out there besides what is on the navy.com website. Also if any of the veterans want to share some war stories about life in the navy nurse corps that would be an awesome motivator to us youngin's. thanks

did anyone else get a scholarship from the school of nursing? If so, when are they supposed to come in?

thank you Sir, for providing me with insight into the field. I am just starting a BSN program, so I will not be done until 2009. For my first duty station I will try to request San Diego, but I know that it is really according to the needs of the Navy.

Commander Sir, The reason I ask is because I was reading about the Independent Duty Corpsmen, and I wondered if there were similar positions for nursing professionals. As you may already know, I was accepted into the Navy NCP, so I am trying to learn as much as I can.

Question for the current or former military nurses; Is it true that in the military the scope of practice for nurses is much greater than in the civilian world? If so, what sort of things are nurses permitted and required to perform?

Anyone receive a registration packet yet?

Navyspouse, you said something to the effect of "whether you like the Navy depends on you." Could you elaborate on that? what makes a successful Navy Nurse Officer?

I haven't gotten the letter yet either. I think its because my final transcript has not yet arrived at UT houston. I did get a CANDO letter though.

I am signed up for an EMT-I class. So I don't think I will be able to attend FOCUS or CANDO. Will I be at a serious disadvantage due to not attending? or will my EMS experience make up for it?

Why don't you try to do the Navy Nurse Candidate Program? It seems to be a good program with lots of financial support. Anyone have any further insight into this program?

So how is everyone planning on getting to school? ride the bus or train? or just drive in the traffic? Anyone thinking of renting an apartment on or near campus? Let me know if you are considering of subleasing or sharing an apartment.

I think you should aim for somewhere in the 90s (as in your overall percentile), but they look into more than just test scores. What are your back up plans? Ever thought of going the paramedic to RN route? it takes longer but you will be a well trained member of the health care team holding dual licenses. It's a good backup plan in case nursing school doesn't work out also. Or maybe you could complete a paramedic course, then reapply to some BSN programs in a few years. Did you apply to any other schools?

coffee, pleased to make your acquaintance. I don't know about the books, but for this summer I am planning on taking and completing an EMT-Intermediate course, as well as continuing to work for a private ambulance company. This summer will be an insane 11 weeks with school, weekend classes, 144 hours of clinicals, and work, but it will hopefully further prepare me for the rigors of the program at UT. Anybody else doing anything this summer? Is there anything that is required to be done at UT houston this summer, like an advising session or an orientation? Or is that in the fall?

Lene, I already bugged them about it. They said they won't remove the admissions documents hold until I send in my transcript for this semester. I put in my immunizations documents, and they haven't removed that hold yet. I assume they just haven't gotten to it yet. So when do we register for our classes? at orientation? and is there anything required for this summer?

How about that hepatitis B vaccination? I got it 7 years ago (the three shot series), and I still have all of my shot records. Do they make you get it again? or do I need a booster shot? I was also wondering about that prerequisite due date. My guess is that it is wrong information, because it contradicts what their website says.

I got in! I will see you there in the fall.

So what is everybody doing about the CNA, patho, and pharmacology "recommended" courses? I have become certified as an EMT-B. I was thinking about just taking pharm and path the first semester there. What are your thoughts on this?

I did my interview last week. I thought they were really nice, and it was totally a relaxing environment. Does anybody know the attrition rate at UT houston? as in how many start versus how many finish the program? I heard UT houston is a great school. But you can't ever really tell until you go there I guess.

I just had three different professors submit letters of recommendation for me. You can call them to double check exactly who is eligible to write for you, because I don't know for sure. Anybody know how many guys are typically in each class at UTMB? I am trying to get a feel for how "man friendly" the different schools are, as I am one myself.

This is sort of a silly question due to the nature of what a nurse does, but I was just curious: How much "ground combat" training would a Navy Nurse receive? Perhaps a nurse that is serving in a field hospital would receive more weapons and combat training? I am trying to get a good picture of the environment that a deployed nurse would work in.