Roll Call for all Military and VA Nurses and those considering the Service

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As the moderator for this forum ... I am interested to know where everyone is from, their background, branch of service (or VA VISN) and what they like the best about Military or VA Nursing .... this forum generally has some really good traffic, and I would like to pull all of us together and get to know one another a little better. :rolleyes:

Specializes in OR, IC, Case Mgt, oncology.

Hi, AF/Army nurse. Have been in military over 20 yrs. Love the fact that education is a priority. Colleagues and staff are generally very professional and knowledgeable. The benefits overall are superb and I'm glad that I stayed around for retirement eligibility. I will retire and begin the hard work of earning a PhD so that hopefully I will get a civilian job with great pay, decent hours and autonomy.

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I am a US civil service RN working at a Naval Hospital overseas. My husband is active duty Navy. Does anybody know what the overtime regulations for USCS employees overseas are? We (full-time civilian nursing staff), are required to work 80hrs biweekly. Within a two-week period we may be scheduled to work 48 hours in one week and 32h hours the next. Of course I would rather work 40 hrs each week, but the choice is not up me. We were told that it doesn't matter how many hours we work in 1 week, as long as we do not exceed a total of 80 hours over a two week period of time. All written regulations (the hospital's instructions, base-wide instructions and office of personnel management) state overtime should be paid if an excess of 40 hours are worked in a 1 week period.

Are there any other civil service employees who work a similar schedule on an inpatient floor?

Is there anyone who can clarify this?

Thanks!

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Specializes in med-surg/tele/ortho w/ICU,NI,Trauma.

Has anyone heard any of the branches considering reevaluating the age of separation?

Per recruiter, AF is considering it ... "Dentists can sign at 60 and retirement age is 68 ..."

Any insights?

Brian

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Specializes in Ortho, Med surg and L&D.
Gen,

Thanks for your input. I got an email from an Army recruiter who stated color-blindness is not a DQ. This was a stark contrast to when I tried to enlist hoping to be a medic before I went to nursing school - I was offered only admin jobs ... "I could work in medical supply office..."

...Keep me posted.

Brian

Hi there,

Remember that you cannot "really" know until you put that packet before the board, give it a shot regardless of what you have heard about daily meds, this way whatever happens, you will know.

As a brief update...yesterday I got an unofficial email and spoke with someone on the phone who said "welcome to the Army" and was told that the next time I speak to her it should be for the official one!!!

Gen

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Specializes in Med-Surg.
I am a US civil service RN working at a Naval Hospital overseas. My husband is active duty Navy. Does anybody know what the overtime regulations for USCS employees overseas are? We (full-time civilian nursing staff), are required to work 80hrs biweekly. Within a two-week period we may be scheduled to work 48 hours in one week and 32h hours the next. Of course I would rather work 40 hrs each week, but the choice is not up me. We were told that it doesn't matter how many hours we work in 1 week, as long as we do not exceed a total of 80 hours over a two week period of time. All written regulations (the hospital's instructions, base-wide instructions and office of personnel management) state overtime should be paid if an excess of 40 hours are worked in a 1 week period.

Are there any other civil service employees who work a similar schedule on an inpatient floor?

Is there anyone who can clarify this?

Thanks!

This is similar to the schedule that many VA nurses in the US work as well. I work 44 the first week and 36 the second. As you said, this is not considered overtime until over 80 hours biweekly.

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Specializes in Psychiatry.

Moved msg to different thread

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Hi to you all, I've just joined the forum and am slowly working my way through the posts. I am a UK citizen currently working in Australia, but am in the process of applying for my licence/nclex. I am hoping to join up when ever I finally get to the U.S.

From what I can gather I would'nt be able to join as an RN because I would be a permanent resident, rather than a citizen. I'm wondering if anyone had advice/info about any options open to me, for example, could I join as a medic and then 're-badge' to RN once I had my citizenship? Thanks for the help.

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I have been a critical care nurse for 6 years at a VA hospital. I have ACLS and my CCRN, plus some masters classes. I am considering joining the Air Force or Army. My fear is ended up in a clinic somewhere doing paperwork. I also want to serve overseas and travel as much as possible. Any advice on which branch I should join?

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i am considering joining the air force or army. my fear is ended up in a clinic somewhere doing paperwork. i also want to serve overseas and travel as much as possible. any advice on which branch i should join?

contrary to some reports that the af is downsizing and cutting back on personnel.... an article for you.

air force will take over facility in afghanistan from the army

the air force will take over for the army in running the new combat support hospital at bagram air base, afghanistan, in an effort to provide seamless medical care from the battlefield to stateside or european hospitals where patients receive definitive care.

http://www.airforcetimes.com/story.php?f=1-292925-2366323.php

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Specializes in CCU/CVICU, Hemodialysis, ER, PALS Inst..

Hi, I'm new to the forum. I have worked in the GS system for 4 1/2 years as an ED nurse. I've been an RN for almost 9 years now. Prior to coming into the GS system, I have worked in cardiac step down, hemodialysis and then early in my career went into ER nursing which I love! My husband is in the Army and has spent 15 years in the Infantry. He recently got accepted into AECP and will start RN school in Fall 2007!! We are really excited about that. It is going to be a complete career change but I think he will enjoy it and it will be a rewarding change! Julie

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Specializes in SCI/TBI, Hospice, Legal Nurse Consulting.

I'm a BSN student nurse in Colorado. Thinking about going into the Navy but so far haven't been able to get enough info to know if it is really something I want to do. Also work at Denver Health so have some idea of what I am getting into.

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Specializes in Psychiatric RN.

Just found ths forum. I'm a prior Air Force psych nurse. Spent 8 years on active duty. I enjoyed most of my time in the military, pay was great, got to travel overseas. But then there comes a point where you must go into management in the military to get promoted,whether you like it or not or whether you are good at it or not. For anyone considering the military I would recommend the Air Force for a good quality of life. I worked with the Army while overseas and hated it. Too many mind games. Although not everyone was that way, but the majority were. The Army does offer more opportunities for getting advanced education at army expense, but it comes at at price, you are stuck in the army, with long deployments. I separated last year, with the intention of using my GI bill towards Psych NP program. Took a couple of masters level courses toward NP, didn't like it. I don't think I want the responsibility of diagnosing and prescribing meds. Tired of doing pslych nursing. Been doing it for 11 years, ready for a change but not sure what I want to do now. Thinking seriously about going into Public Health Service, to finish my military time and retire from there.

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