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

Arm.E.Girl · Aug 19, 2008

Excellent and time will fly! :)

olderthandirt2 · Aug 20, 2008

Hi,

I commissioned April 22 (ANC RC)and it was nearly 2 months to get my papers--then comes the task of meeting your unit, etc..... And requesting a OBC slot.

I think attending a few battalion assemblys (drill weekends) will definitely make OBC more "understandable." I just got back from weapon training and it was a blast!

Good luck

cindy

ArmyNurse2BSoon · Aug 21, 2008

Hi GetnPhd,

Im not on a strict timeline per se, I just want to have everything squared away by the time my fiance' gets back from Iraq (Sept '09).

proflo · Aug 24, 2008

rn at va for 21 years (psychiatry). 10 years prior to that in civilian.

[color=#a0522d]husband been to iraq and back.

Arm.E.Girl · Sep 9, 2008

Cindy! Thanks for the reply! It helps to know that indeed this will take a while. I have my first battle assembly this month and I am looking forward to it. It will get me acclimated to the environment of the unit. Hoping all is well with you and I will keep you posted! Best, Arm.E.Girl :)

Atheos · Sep 9, 2008

Considering rejoining after getting my RN. Not sure yet. Did do 4 years as a non nurse so the life won't be new. Just the job and rank...

Care&Joy · Sep 9, 2008

Hello all,

:usarm:

I'm planning on joining Army nursing after I'm done with my RN-BSN program this month. I've already done tons of research, talked with many people, have gotten sort of a fly-on-the-wall perspective with the happenings of military routines for life in general --But, I really haven't gotten an idea of the actual day-to-day workings as a military nurse :banghead:

:twocents: I'm really, really wanting to know what kind of minute-to-minute, day-to-day, week-to-week function I'll actually have in the military as a nurse, such as...

What are the average number of hours I'll be working every day & every week?

What am I doing when I wake up and before I go to sleep? :zzzzz

What are the average shift hours?

How often do I have time for relatives/friends in my life? :clpty:

Is there time as a military nurse to keep updating my clinical skills and knowledge? Instead of just being stuck with adminstrative duties, which I hear is common? :caduceus:

Will it be difficult to make sure my little dog is taken care of while I'm working long hours (I'm single, with no one to help me)? :paw:

Will I have any hours in the week/month for any small hobbies or small travel-trips/breaks in the extremely busy life of the military? :urgycld:

Will I have any time to sit in silence in life for personal introspection and spiritual renewal when we're working so much? :anbd: :tbsk: I've just gotten the impression that I'll be working all hours of the week from what some have eluded to, & I need help understanding how life is in this profession.

I plan on joining the Reserves for at least 6 months, as I have been advised to do this, & then I plan on going into Active Duty after that. What will be some of the drastic life differences with these?

I would really appreciate any help in understanding these areas of military life. It's a big commitment, & I haven't gotten too much insight into the actual life process in these things besides everything else. Thank you so much! I love this forum & have gotten so much help from it. :) :rcgtku:

Holly C.

olderthandirt2 · Sep 9, 2008

"I plan on joining the Reserves for at least 6 months, as I have been advised to do this, & then I plan on going into Active Duty after that. What will be some of the drastic life differences with these?"

Hi C&J,

Hum..... who told you to join the reserves and then change to active duty?

Not so sure of this.... from what I hear it is slightly more complex than just switch over....... it can take some time? This is what I have heard, no personal experience there.

I am reserve---which is great if you like your civilian job and don't want to move or be relocated (aside from deployments).

If you know you want to be active, then why not go active from the start and get the bigger loan repayment? As opposed to the hassle with the paperwork and the wait of switching over......

Also, note that the application to commission process is a good 8 months ---easily.....contact a healthcare recruiter first!

good luck

cb

Care&Joy · Sep 9, 2008

hey there :)

Actually, it was a few full time Army nurses who suggested it. They said instead of jumping into Active, it was very beneficial going Reserves first, experiencing everything from that perspective and lifestyle, and then going into Active.

Yes, I expect it's going to take a while in submitting my packet, etc. I actually had the whole packet put together for review about 2 years ago as I started my RN-BSN, but then they said that since my previous ASN program was not nationally accredited (it was CA board accredited, which is accepted just like a national accredidation...but not in the military), so I had to complete my BSN & couldn't get into the snap program. I had already passed my MEPS & had my packet complete....ugh, so close :imbar My recruiter & I have been in contact for about 2 1/2 grueling years waiting for me to finish. Almost done finally...

Thanks for your reply!

Holly

GetnPhD · Sep 9, 2008

hi holly,

i took my usar oath in nov 07 and will be taking my ad (active duty) oath on 11 oct 08. when i first commissioned i had to delay my accession (entry) into ad due to school obligations, as i had residency requirements with my phd. this is something that you might want to consider as i was able to talk to several rn students who have delayed accession until after they completed (and passed) the nclex. this will allow you to submit the packet and get accepted by the anc board. i would recommend that if you are going to go ad, that you do this and not the reserves, as they really are two different experiences, from what i have been told. it is not that i am saying not to do the reserves, but if you want to go ad anyway, it makes more sense. however, if you want to stay in the reserves, then that would be the better choice. really think about where you see yourself, and then when you start the process of applying for the anc, then this guide you on whether to enter via reserves or ad.

also, i am not 100% certain, but i did ask a few other soldiers and officers and they told me that:

what are the average number of hours i'll be working every day & every week?
it depends on where you work, if you are in med/surg, labor and delivery, etc on the type of hours that you will work. you will often have similar to those hours as in the civilian workplace.
what am i doing when i wake up and before i go to sleep?
this will vary with when you work, where you are stationed, etc. expect to do pt, work, and then free time..once again it depends on what type of unit/shift you are working.
what are the average shift hours?
it depends on where you work, if you are in med/surg, labor and delivery, etc on the type of hours that you will work.
how often do i have time for relatives/friends in my life?
you will definitely have time for friends and family. in fact the army (military) encourages this. they have many opportunities for events that allow you to spend time with friends and family.
is there time as a military nurse to keep updating my clinical skills and knowledge? instead of just being stuck with adminstrative duties, which i hear is common?
as far as clinical skills, you will have a lot of opportunity to keep your skills up to date, in fact it is required that you keep your skills up to date. once again depending on where you work, this is the same as in the civilian workplace. administrative skills will depend on your rank, and if you are a new nurse, your responsibilities will be similar to the new graduate in the civilian sector. you will concentrate on learning the army’s way of procedures and will develop and strengthen nursing skills.
will it be difficult to make sure my little dog is taken care of while i'm working long hours (i'm single, with no one to help me)?
there are other single officers out there, so you will have time to spend with your dog. it is a job like others, so hours should be similar, unless of course you get deployed, which is also a possibility with the reserves. i recommend your finding someone who could watch your dog for that possibility. single and married officers/soldiers also have to make similar arrangements.
will i have any hours in the week/month for any small hobbies or small travel-trips/breaks in the extremely busy life of the military?
there are opportunities for days off similar to those in civilian; in fact you will get 30 days annually. there are recreation opportunities that you can check out on the army website that will tell provide you with examples of what you can do with your time off. i recommend that you review this information.
will i have any time to sit in silence in life for personal introspection and spiritual renewal when we're working so much?
yes, you will have time. remember we need you to have that time so that you are refreshed. it makes a difference!
once again i am relaying this information from others, as i have yet to experience the army life.
i plan on joining the reserves for at least 6 months, as i have been advised to do this, & then i plan on going into active duty after that. what will be some of the drastic life differences with these?
there are many differences, if you know that you are going to eventually go ad... then you should do this when you get boarded. it will take you at least a year to adjust to ad, and the same can be said for nursing in general, so consider going ad instead of doing a few months in the reserve. i have also been told that this is a long process as well, transitioning that is. if you are going reserves, then you will continue your civilian job, whereas if you enter via ad, then you will not have to worry about the civilian job. the training is different etc, as one is a full-time commitment, whereas, the other is part-time.

[color=#a0522d]i hope that my answers address your concerns and make sense to you. i had to ask a few wonderful (and very helpful) officers/soldiers that i have met over the past year to help me with some of your questions, and for the most part their responses were similar. if you have any other questions send me an email.

Care&Joy · Sep 9, 2008

hi holly,
about where you see yourself, and then when you start the process of applying for the anc, year to help me with some of your questions, and for the most part their responses were similar. if you have any other questions send me an email.

getnphd,

thank you sooo much for being brave enough to tackle all my questions. you are awesome :)!

to answer your question, i've been an rn since 2002, & am now trying to finish getting my actual bsn...which is taking a darn long time :), ha. i should be done by the end of this month with that.

i've mainly worked in the med/surg field since 2002. i did about a year of home health, and then i went back into med/surg again with my current job, which then led me to becoming a house supervisor for over a year, along with a med/surg charge nurse position. i am now juuuussstttt starting to get my feet wet with emergency room nursing & will be orienting to that for the next few weeks, as that is what i truly want to be doing. i was hoping when i joined the army that i could get into their 16 week er training program.

i guess, in addition to seeing the reserves-side-of-things for experience sake, i was a little afraid to jump into the military life full force until i really knew the answers as to what i would be committing to and what kind of life would give me the most fulfillment in serving others. my recruiter for the past 2 1/2 years has been for the reserves, so i guess i have not been greatly informed about active duty life in what i would be doing on a day to day basis & what area they would put me in with my experience (besides what i've asked from other active nurses).

and while i was almost sure that i would carry normal nursing shifts as a military nurse, i was told in active duty i would be working something like 60+ hours because as a soldier we would do normal nursing shifts in addition to performing other soldier duties (training, education, adminstration, among other routine duties one would do in the military), & that is mainly what has made me wonder what kind of minute-to-minute, day-to-day life i will live from waking to sleeping as an army nurse & what kind of family/hobby/introspective time i may have in addition to that. does that make sense? ha, confusing at times i know :). any other input? thanks so much! holly

GetnPhD · Sep 9, 2008

holly,

make sure that you get the generic course guarantee and when you talk to your career mgr, let them know of your intentions. having the background that you have will help a lot. we are required to attend training, conferences, etc, but from what others have told me it does not really add on that much time. remember i can only speak from what others have told me. i will be entering with 4 young children but have a supportive husband, so for me this too will be an insightful experience. i have many questions as well, so do not think that you are alone. from what my recruiter said, "everything will start to gel while you are at oblc and throughout the first year". i am hoping that she is correct. please email me if you have any additional questions and/or concerns. i leave in 5 weeks so i hope to have more answers for you.