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

Jarnaes · Dec 17, 2006

Been on active duty in the Army for 16 years. Have held the jobs of combat medic (91B), LPN (91C now 91WM6), and went through the AECP to gain my BSN. Now work as a operating room nurse. Plan to go back to school for the MSN in the near future. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time in the Army, have gained a lot of experience, met lots of nice people, seen interesting places and made some very good friends. Wouldn't trade it for the world.

Friends vs. Military Friends

Friends: Never ask for food

Military Friends: Are the reason you have no food.

Friends: Borrow your stuff for a few days and then give it back.

Military Friends: Borrow your stuff, keep it, and will PCS with it.

Friends: Know a few things about you.

Military Friends: Know all about you or have met someone else at another

duty station who does.

Friends: Will leave you behind if that's what the crowd is doing.

Military Friends: Cry like babies because they HAVE to leave you.

Friends: Call your parents Mr. and Mrs.

Military Friends: Call your parents Mom and Dad.

Friends: Bail you out of jail and tell you what you did was wrong.

Military Friends: Would be sitting in jail next to you saying, "Man, they

made a BIG mistake trying to jump us."

Friends: Have never seen you cry.

Military Friends: Cry with you.

Friends: Will knock on your front door

Military Friends: Walk right in and say, "I'm home."

Friends: Are your friends for a while

Military Friends: Are your friends for life as you move about this country

or the world.

Gennaver, MSN · Dec 18, 2006

...Friends: Are your friends for a while
Military Friends: Are your friends for life as you move about this country
or the world.

Hello Jarnaes,

Nice to read you here and great post about Friends/Military Friends. :)

Gen-(waiting to see if I can go Green too)

moonrose2u · Dec 19, 2006

and now with the army being what their needs are, what is their entry age for a 'well seasoned' nurse?

Gennaver, MSN · Dec 19, 2006

and now with the army being what their needs are, what is their entry age for a 'well seasoned' nurse?

Hello Moonrose2U,

I heard that depending on circumstances that they would make exceptions and take up to age 52 in the reserves but that generally the reserve age limit was 46, *however* pursue this with an AMEDD recruiter because there are *usually always* individual cases or waivers, (especially if you are a nurse educator).

Good luck! Try it and find out.

Gen

p.s. the highest age for active duty is 42, (same with Air Force currently) my age upon program completion will be 41, I filled out an age waiver and am SOOO glad to find out yesterday that I was accepted for active duty

ctravel · Dec 21, 2006

Chocokitten, I was an active duty Air Force nurse for 8 years and enjoyed nearly all of it. The military is a great learning experience, because many of the doctors are new doctors, you are learning along with them. You will get to see how doctors determine a diagnosis, and decide which med to treat them with. Not to mention you are given the chance to advance quickly with management skills, because people get deployed, change duty stations often, etc. The military has a moto they use frequently: See one, Do one, teach one. There is not always time to give you indepth training. They trust you to make good decisions. Your decisions don't always affect you, but your fellow airmen, (soldiers) as well. I felt much more respected by the docotor's, nurse's, etc. in the military than as a civilian. Psych in the military is a little different than civilian psych, in that you won't find chronic schizophrenic,s. Because the military is composed of young people, you will see a few patients with their first psychotic break, a lot of adjustment disorders (those wanting out of basic training or tech school training), some deperssion, etc. Also depending on where you are stationed you may treat some family members also. They can be more difficult than the active duty, because they think they can say whatever to you and you can't do anything about it because they aren't in the military. You won't pass nearly as many meds, most only take 2 to 5 at the most. As a civilian psych nurse, I pass as between 20-40 meds a day to just one patient.

As a military nurse you will be expected to take Professional military education (PME), which is composed of military history, etc. It's mandatory for promotion. All branches of the military have something similar. You will aslo be expected to be involved in infection control, documentation or some other committee.

Another option for those interested in joining the military is the Public Health Service. You can be active duty with the Dept of Immigration, Indian Health Service, CDC, NIH, etc. Same retirement and benefits as Air Force/Army. Check out their web site.

kh1285 · Dec 27, 2006

Hi! I am going to enlist into the military and I am trying to decided between the Air Force and the Army. I am wanting to do something medical like nursing. I have talked to both Army and Air Force. The Army says that they can promise the job of a practical nurse and get my LPN. I am just scared that I might not get the job that I signed up for. I was just wondering if anybody knows more about either the army or airforce that could help me out. Thanks!

Gennaver, MSN · Dec 27, 2006

Hi! I am going to enlist into the military and I am trying to decided between the Air Force and the Army. I am wanting to do something medical like nursing. I have talked to both Army and Air Force. The Army says that they can promise the job of a practical nurse and get my LPN. I am just scared that I might not get the job that I signed up for. I was just wondering if anybody knows more about either the army or airforce that could help me out. Thanks!

Hello,

It sounds like you are enlisting and trying to choose your MOS? From what I have read around an about military site, it should be possibly for you to sign your contract with your AIT training.

If you do not sign a contract that has that spelled out then you might not be getting what you "think" you are.

If you sign a contract that is for your specialty of LPN, with an MOS as (91w6or actually it was changed to, or from, a 98w6).

You are speaking with a recruiter?

Have you taken the ASVAB or gone to MEPS yet? That is where you will find out if they consider you qualified for that position and you should now before you sign your contract, (make sure it is in your contract)..

Maybe this site will be helpful Medics - Forum Powered by eve community

check out the faqs. OH and since I am NOT knowledgable on this at all, I hope that other posters will have more useful information for you.

Gen

Kat_86 · Dec 28, 2006

Hi I'm a 2nd year student nurse in the UK-everything seems so complicated in the USA-all the abbreviations and what appears to be lots of different nursing qualifications, seems much simpler over here

Anyway, I'd love to work in the nhs for a couple of years and then join the RAF as a nursing officer, but prior to that I hope to be commissioned into the RAFVRT once I qualify, which although it is a commision, the VRT are only the officers in Air Cadets-I don't know if you have anything like that over there

Anyway, if there are any RAF nurses out there, I'd love to hear what you think of nursing in the RAF

Kat

P_RN, ADN, RN · Dec 28, 2006

Hi Kat. Here's a link to the abbreviations:

https://allnurses.com/forums/f8/glossary-nursing-medical-degrees-certifications-113134.html

And we have a UK specific forum also:

https://allnurses.com/forums/f124/

And welcome to allnurses. Happy to have you.

Kat_86 · Dec 28, 2006

Thanks, it seemed like a completely different language when I was reading it

DLS_PMHNP, MSN, RN, NP · Jan 13, 2007

deleted post

nama262 · Jan 25, 2007

Soon to be RN, I'm currently a CNA in VISN 1 with 4 years(next month) in the system. I worked outside for 7 years in private nursing homes and have been in the VA's LTC since. Taking one class at a time but hoping to be graduating in 2009.

Glad to have found you all!!! :lol2: