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

DoGood2u · Oct 23, 2007

I am in my first year of Nursing School. I am 47 and looking for a place to have a career, retirement and good benefits. I would also like to help veterans.

Do you have to be in a branch of the military to be an RN at a VA hospital?

Gennaver, MSN · Oct 24, 2007

I am in my first year of Nursing School. I am 47 and looking for a place to have a career, retirement and good benefits. I would also like to help veterans.
Do you have to be in a branch of the military to be an RN at a VA hospital?

Hello,

While I cannot attest for VA hospitals, I am aware that civilian nurses are a strong part of Army Health care, everywhere. :)

Congrats on nursing school!!

Gen

chocokitten · Oct 24, 2007

I am in my first year of Nursing School. I am 47 and looking for a place to have a career, retirement and good benefits. I would also like to help veterans.
Do you have to be in a branch of the military to be an RN at a VA hospital?

I am a RN at a VA and I am not nor have I ever been in the military :) I applied, but I'm over the weight limit (5lbs -_-) so I have kinda given up lol.

Short answer- no you do not have to be military to work at the VA :) it helps you get hired though

Mayladybug · Nov 12, 2007

A great big THANK you to all of you currently serving in the Armed Forces. It was a real treat for me today to show my respect during our local Veteran's Day Parade.

Anyhow, I have had this very private quiet desire to join the military for over 25 years. And now that my children are grown and gone from the nest and I am pursuing my educational goals, that desire has resurfaced. Can anyone tell me...will they still TAKE ME? I am 45 and in my second year of nursing school. I have worked as a LPN in Med/Surg for the last 5 1/2 years. I would be interested in Active or Reserve. I intend to continue my education with the hopes of attaining my MSN and earning my NP license before my 50th birthday. I am currently 45. Would really appreciate any feedback.

On another slant...would be especially great if I could get into the Army Reserves, as my son just joined after taking a 2 year break from Active Army.

mayladybug

aka Debbie LPN (can't wait to pass up the Low Paid Nurse station in life)

Beanseye RN · Nov 12, 2007

MayLadyBug,

I believe you will need to act quickly if you truly want to make this happen. With your LPN, I think the reserves are possible. But the issue is how close you are to your 46th birthday. You would be enlisted, but as a Reservist you might be able to finish your Nursing school. Are you in an ADN, BSN, or an MSN program?

I'm sure there will be more knowledgeable responses, but I have just spent the last 10 months snaking my way through the process of trying to join the Army Nursing Corp. I am 42, have glaucoma (well controlled, no deficits), color perception deficiency, but the big hold up was that I had elective middle ear surgery 10 years ago. It almost ended my chances of getting into the Army.

Get focused and meet with a recruiter (I would try a healthcare recruiter first) they are NOT regular enlisted or officer recruiters.

Good luck and Thanks to you and all for helping keep this country free.

Brian

Gennaver, MSN · Nov 13, 2007

A great big THANK you to all of you currently serving in the Armed Forces. It was a real treat for me today to show my respect during our local Veteran's Day Parade.
Anyhow, I have had this very private quiet desire to join the military for over 25 years. And now that my children are grown and gone from the nest and I am pursuing my educational goals, that desire has resurfaced. Can anyone tell me...will they still TAKE ME? I am 45 and in my second year of nursing school. I have worked as a LPN in Med/Surg for the last 5 1/2 years. I would be interested in Active or Reserve. I intend to continue my education with the hopes of attaining my MSN and earning my NP license before my 50th birthday. I am currently 45. Would really appreciate any feedback.
On another slant...would be especially great if I could get into the Army Reserves, as my son just joined after taking a 2 year break from Active Army.
mayladybug
aka Debbie LPN (can't wait to pass up the Low Paid Nurse station in life)

Hello Mayladybug,

I was in a somewhat similar situation as you. I'd wanted to join since I was just over 19 years old but, things came up...foreward to my 41st birthday (a month prior to finally graduating with the dang R.N.) and a recruiter came to my class.

Even though I had to leave for the presentation I went and told him, "I want to come, I am serious, here is my name." So, now it is six month later and I have graduated my R.N. program, went into Officer Basic Leadership course, followed by nurse track and just completed new officer integration and hospital orientation at my hospital. Hooah! Give it a try!!

Make sure you contact a health care recruiter and not just "a recruiter". Keep us informed and I am sure that I'm not the 'only' one cheering for you here. :)

Gen-a newly minted Active Duty nurse

p.s. since you have your LPN, (LPNs are enlisted, enlisted is up to age 42) but are working on your RN, Hope its a BSN) I'd JUMP on this process so that you can "oath" before turning or while you are 46, (one of the cutoffs), YET, there was a 52 year old R.N. who JUST graduated OBLC with me...she was not an educator, she was a regular clinic nurse who wanted to work with psych, (a great need) soooooo, even though there are "limits" you REALLY cannot know until you try, try and try again. At least this way, in case you are not taken, you will know that you gave it your all. Do not listen to the "first" person who may say no-----try, try and try again, remember, my classmate was 52! (and on a physical profile too)

lcraigbsn · Dec 7, 2007

well, i have completed all thenecessary paperwork and my healthcare recruiter is sending it up for boarding.. i am 44yreas old. all kids in college, i even relocated to dallas. and like a lot of you, i wanted todo something more with my life. scared yes. but...determined. what i need help with now is the fitness preparation. any suggestions. i have joined afitness club and am changing eating habits.

USAFGaurdianAngel · Dec 9, 2007

Hi,

I'm an RN student at Norwich University the military academy in the state of Vermont. I was working as a CNA for geriatrics for about half a year before I decided to pursue an RN. Unfortunately, I have no interest in going back into that field again and have instead turned my looks toward OB/GYN and Nurse Midwifery, contracted with the Air Force as a Second LT. in three years. If any of you have any comments to provide on making it through school and finally landing my spot in the Air Force please let me know. I'm still young therefore ignorant to some of the details, but I'd love to get to know some nurses that have some real experience.

- Cadet Duval

traumanursing · Jan 13, 2008

Hi Everyone,

Army ER RN here. Was enlisted for 12 years Active and 6 Reserves. I started as a 91A Medic some years ago. I love Military Nursing. I have 6 years before I can retire and really do not know if I will retire then. Nice to see all these posts from other military members from all the services.

traumanursing · Jan 13, 2008

A great big THANK you to all of you currently serving in the Armed Forces. It was a real treat for me today to show my respect during our local Veteran's Day Parade.
Anyhow, I have had this very private quiet desire to join the military for over 25 years. And now that my children are grown and gone from the nest and I am pursuing my educational goals, that desire has resurfaced. Can anyone tell me...will they still TAKE ME? I am 45 and in my second year of nursing school. I have worked as a LPN in Med/Surg for the last 5 1/2 years. I would be interested in Active or Reserve. I intend to continue my education with the hopes of attaining my MSN and earning my NP license before my 50th birthday. I am currently 45. Would really appreciate any feedback.
On another slant...would be especially great if I could get into the Army Reserves, as my son just joined after taking a 2 year break from Active Army.
mayladybug
aka Debbie LPN (can't wait to pass up the Low Paid Nurse station in life)

Hi .

Just a quick note. I wish you the best of luck in your endeavors.

I came back in as an officer at the age of 45. I had just made the age cutoff. If you do want to come Active duty, let me know what state you are in and I will help you find a nursing recruiter. I will also do some checking on age waivers etc for you.

GetnPhD · Jan 31, 2008

hi,

i took my usar oath last week and will be taking my ad oath in october. i had to put my commission on hold due to completing my phd residencies. i currently have a masters in nursing and a minor in education (msn, ed). i will then go to obc in october and take the 66h (public/community health) nursing course in march. i will be in the army nurse corp stated at ft. gordon. i am so excited to be accepted and look forward to a long career!

my background: i have beeen in healthcare for 15 years now. i originally wanted to apply in 2001 but wanted to go ad and did not have my ad at the time. when i went to go resign, found out i was pregnant, therefore putting my plans on hold. i have always wanted to be in the military, so now i feel that it is better late than never. i am 34 with 4 kiddos (4, 5, 9, and 10), a supportive husband, and a pup who turned 1 today. as far as nursing goes, i have experience in academia, med/surg/tele, l & d, icu, and ltc. i started out as a pharmacy tech (long story), then entered nursing as a cna. i have done management in the past and am now an online educator and work in community health. i have worked as an adon in a veterans nursing home and truly respect my veterans, as well as those who are serving. i am not one who is afraid to roll up my sleeves as i know where i have started.

i would love to network with other military nurses, so feel free to email me and/or post a response.

lori:w00t:

GeorgiaBoy61 · Jan 31, 2008

hi lori:

wow - you have quite a background! i am not surprised that the usar signed you up pronto. i am a novice compared to you, frankly... as i have been an rn only for a few years, although i do have a non-nursing ms in a science field. so - you will be stationed at ft. gordon; my family has roots there in ga. my grandparents (father's side) lived in louisville and then augusta for years, and my late father was born in louisville. i was born in atlanta, and both my brother and my dad attended college (ga. tech) there, and my brother went on to medical school at emory university. you might say my family has some history there. i haven't been to the augusta area in years; i'm sure it has changed with the times just like everything else.

for my part, i am still investigating my options with the military. i am at the edge of the age cutoff (although waivers are available) since i am 46 1/2 years of age, but there are still plenty of choices there. i've been out of nursing for a while d/t some ortho surgery i had, but took a refresher course recently. my last experience in the hospital was 2 years ago in med-surg. the usar and usaf won't take me in the reserves without at least 6 months of recent nursing experience - so they are out for the time being. both will take me on active duty, but i am not certain that's a good fit for me and my wife. the main impediment is financial; o-1s don't make very much money. the af and usn are better fits for me from the standpoint that they are often near larger cities that would give my wife access to a decent job market for her it (business analyst) career. army bases are often in such garden spots as ft. hood, ft. riley, ft. bragg,. etc. good for me, who knows how good for her? all out in the boonies somewhat. basically, my position is that i want to serve my country but i am not willing to go broke to do it. my other gripe with the army is the operational tempo; i am not worried about being deployed - if that's the case, don't join in the first place - but i do not want to go on a possible three tours x 12-15 months each. i'm one of those guys who actually loves his wife; it would be a terrible hardship to be separated that long. i wish the army followed the same policy they did in vietnam - i.e. you could do an overseas tour with the assurance that you were done after 1 x one year. after that, it was strictly voluntary to do further tours. i know a reserve nurse, a guy who's a major, who has been on two tours - one each in afghanistan and iraq. he's being pressured to do another, but finally arranged a transfer to a less-operation reserve unit as he has his family to think about. i think it is tough for reservists because the family members left behind have to cope mostly alone - no base support network, probably no/few other military families nearby, and also there is the issue of employer support on the civilian side. the dod and pentagon have cut substantially the resources devoted to policing employer abuses of deployed/returning reservists - so the employers who abuse the system are often getting away with it. of course, ad people have none of this to worry about - they have different issues to contend with.

right now, the navy looks like the best fit for me, but i canot go on ad with them, only reserves. too bad - i woldn't mind living in san diego or pensicola, i can tell you (it is snowing right now in chicago). i am really intrigued by the prospect of serving with the marines whenever possible. as you may know, the usn provides all the medical care for the usmc, which has no medical personnel of its own. of course, billets with the usmc are highly sought after by nurses, and slots are tough to come by. what they really need are crnas and of course physicians. i am trying to convince them to send me to apn or pa school. those are critical need areas for them. the thing i struggle with is that the military still sometimes has the old institutional mindset of nurses - being historically a female-dominated profession - not being suited for high-speed jobs, the kind that many guys in nursing gravitate toward. pas often get the sexier assignments, even though there is often very little practical difference in what they can do. we'll see what happens on that score, as it is still down the road a bit.

the recruiter for the army ipap program is really after me to sign on as an army rn, so he can take my application for pa school. of course it is very competitive to get in, and the army usually likes to send enlisted medics (who are often lpns as well as emts) to the program and not bsn or higher nurses. so that is another option, but you cannot apply as a civilian. you have to be in the army already - either ad or reservist. the opther branches send people to ipap (interservice pa program) but not as many slots go to the navy/gc, af and ng as to the usa/usar. i may just go on my own and see what happens.

you did icu at one time, so answer me this: what is a good place to start if you are a relative beginnner as i am, when your goal is to work in icu, er or some other high acuity environment? should i take a crack at these right away or go into something like telemetry to build my ecg skills? these are also highly-paid specialties within nursing, and who doesn't like money? or consider or/perioperative nursing, which also pays well: i am still mystifiied why more nursing programs don't teach or skills. my brother is always going on about; he's an anesthesiologist of 20+ years experience - he says that good or rns can write their tickets, there are so many jobs. instead my bsn program spent valuable time and effort teaching us a bunch of more-or-less useless nursing theory w/o much real world application.

anyway, i've gotten off the topic. please feel free to share your thoughts on getting into these areas. you've been there, done that - as they say.

i have to run for now, but congratulations on your commission. by the way, at what rank are you starting? i imagine with your background that they will give you a bump from 2ltn (o-1).

message me back when you have the chance...

all the best -

pete aka gaboyy61

hi,
i took my usar oath last week and will be taking my ad oath in october. i had to put my commission on hold due to completing my phd residencies. i currently have a masters in nursing and a minor in education (msn, ed). i will then go to obc in october and take the 66h (public/community health) nursing course in march. i will be in the army nurse corp stated at ft. gordon. i am so excited to be accepted and look forward to a long career!

my background: i have beeen in healthcare for 15 years now. i originally wanted to apply in 2001 but wanted to go ad and did not have my ad at the time. when i went to go resign, found out i was pregnant, therefore putting my plans on hold. i have always wanted to be in the military, so now i feel that it is better late than never. i am 34 with 4 kiddos (4, 5, 9, and 10), a supportive husband, and a pup who turned 1 today. as far as nursing goes, i have experience in academia, med/surg/tele, l & d, icu, and ltc. i started out as a pharmacy tech (long story), then entered nursing as a cna. i have done management in the past and am now an online educator and work in community health. i have worked as an adon in a veterans nursing home and truly respect my veterans, as well as those who are serving. i am not one who is afraid to roll up my sleeves as i know where i have started.

i would love to network with other military nurses, so feel free to email me and/or post a response.
lori:w00t: