Rank vs Title vs Education in a Military Hospital.

[mlbluvr]

I just happened upon this area of AN, and thought I'd add some insight into the unusual realm of being a nurse in the military, for those who have no idea. In a military settting, rank, not title, determines who runs the show. A licensed nurse may well be under the direction of a non-licensed NCO. If you're not aware of that it might surprise you. In the civilian setting, people would consider that outrageous (consider a ward clerk in command of a licensed nurse?). Also, in many military areas of nursing practice, there is no 'board of nursing' to mandate your actions, because the 'military' makes the rules. Hence, you see people performing procedures that might shock you- regardless of their education, but based on their 'rank'. It really defies everything you learned in nursing school.

[mlbluvr]

I'll add that, even though I was a reluctant participant to join, thanks to stupid (or dumber than dumb) Carter's action on the SSE, I only joined the Army to avoid the registration, itself. There is 'no' way I'd give my life for this country. That said, they did pay for my school, in full, and flew me all over the place, and etc. A military nurse will have all kinds of options, and experiences, that's a fact. But don't lose sight of the reality, if you have a family. Roll the dice.

[Lunah, MSN, RN]

Also in many military areas of nursing practice, there is no 'board of nursing' to mandate your actions, because the 'military' makes the rules. Hence, you see people performing procedures that might shock you- regardless of their education, but based on their 'rank'. It really defies everything you learned in nursing school.[/quote']

Definitely varies by location. Stateside I am always subject to the BON that issued my license, but here in Afghanistan, all bets are off. Chest tubes, crics, suturing, etc.? Yep.

[DSchulte99]

In the navy corpsman are under a chain of command of corpsman. However these corpsman can work in a clinic, manpower or on the ward. With rank you get farther away from the bedside (enlisted and officer) so yes hm2 may not have touched a pt in 8 years but he is the lpo for the ward. Second once you join the military the BON doesn't disappear. Military can still lose their license. We still have to keep our licenses current. Corpsman and lpns can do more but it's all under your license. Just like nursing clinicals we practiced under someone's license. Like someone said before. Deployments are different. So many things wrong with original post.

[Dranger]

Umm the OP's post isn't factual. Title is always king. A CPT physician will dictate a care plan to a MAJ that's a nurse, he might throw in a sir or ma'am but at the end of the day his license writes the orders. Most docs are smart enough to listen to experienced nurses but by the time you are a MAJ most nurses are in admin or command.

A floor NCOIC AND OIC (usually an RN) are the heads of the floor. The NCOIC has usually been around the block enough to show LTs and junior CPTs the ropes and have A LOT of clinical experience underneath their belt whether it is actual Pt care or administrative experience.

Furthermore, some skills you will see done by nurses overseas in FSTs and CSH are not typically in the usual RN SOP but these nurses are usually very experienced with OJT (intubation, chest tubes etc) to make it happen. If stuff hits the fan someone needs to do it. Stateside we are subject to the boards so I have no idea what you are talking about...

Apparently the old adage "listen to your NCOs" was never taught to you. Did you come on here to make a random troll rant or was there something of value to your post?

Oh and BTW there are some medics (with just an EMT-B or I) that will SHOCK you with how much they know and how well they can perform procedures usually done by docs under FIRE. But dang they don't have the license for your approval...