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 Med/Surg;Hm Health;House Super; ER.
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.

i look forward to hearing about your experience as you enter active. what made you decide to finally go from reserves to active? i'd love to know :).

i keep asking my recruiter to make sure i'm guaranteed the course. that's really important to me.

keep in touch! god bless your your journey as you go through oblc! :) holly

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

"make sure that you get the generic course guarantee"

care&joy,

what is the generic course guarantee you referred to ?

i hope to have my packet ready for selection boards soon and oblc in january. i've done ms/tele and charge for the last 5 years. i hope to enter as icu to ultimately train as crna and serve until i can retire.

thanks,

brian

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Good Morning All!

I like mostly everyone who visits this board have been "lurking" for a very long time and finally decided to register. A brief background on myself, I am currently an active duty spouse of a 68W (Combat Medic) who is taking courses for direct commission into the ANC. I am a former 92Y (Supply) who is also taking courses to become an RN in the ANC, so we will once again be a dual military couple with two young children (it can work). My husband has been assigned to all types of units where he works with ANC nurses, PA's, DOCs, etc. We have been in field units, medical units, and hospitals. I was also assigned to a medical unit when I ETS from active duty in 2004. I hope I can answer questions and also have my questions answered.

68Wife-RN:)

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Hi Brian,

When you are filling out the packet, your recruiter will dicuss possible courses, called generic courses, that you can apply for after a certain period of time. The generic course allows the AN to attend several courses. You may be eligible for a Generic Course Guarantee that will allow you to attend specialized training after one year on Active Duty. This guarantee is what you will opt for in your packet, if you say no I am not sure if you can do this at a later time. There are four 16 week courses available as a Generic Course Guarantee:

  • Critical Care Nursing Course
  • Operating Room Nursing Course
  • Psychiatric/ Mental Health Nursing Course
  • Obstetrical/Gynecological Nursing Course

There are two other courses that require a nomination from the Chief Nurse of the military treatment facility after you complete one year on Active Duty. The Chief Nurse can nominate you for the Army Public Health Nursing Course or the Emergency Room Nursing Course.

Also for those that are inquiring about benefits, please visit the following link:

http://www.goarmy.com/amedd/nurse/corps_benefits.jsp

I hope this helps.

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Specializes in Med/Surg;Hm Health;House Super; ER.
Hi Brian,

When you are filling out the packet, your recruiter will dicuss possible courses, called generic courses, that you can apply for after a certain period of time. The generic course allows the AN to attend several courses. You may be eligible for a Generic Course Guarantee that will allow you to attend specialized training after one year on Active Duty. This guarantee is what you will opt for in your packet, if you say no I am not sure if you can do this at a later time. There are four 16 week courses available as a Generic Course Guarantee:

  • Critical Care Nursing Course
  • Operating Room Nursing Course
  • Psychiatric/ Mental Health Nursing Course
  • Obstetrical/Gynecological Nursing Course

There are two other courses that require a nomination from the Chief Nurse of the military treatment facility after you complete one year on Active Duty. The Chief Nurse can nominate you for the Army Public Health Nursing Course or the Emergency Room Nursing Course.

Also for those that are inquiring about benefits, please visit the following link:

http://www.goarmy.com/amedd/nurse/corps_benefits.jsp

I hope this helps.

Yes, Brian, ...what she said ;)

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

When you are filling out the packet, ... There are four 16 week courses available as a Generic Course Guarantee:

  • Critical Care Nursing Course
  • Operating Room Nursing Course
  • Psychiatric/ Mental Health Nursing Course
  • Obstetrical/Gynecological Nursing Course

... after one year ... The Chief Nurse can nominate you for the Army Public Health Nursing Course or the Emergency Room Nursing Course.

Yes, this was very helpful. Thank you both for both your help and your service!

Brian

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Hi Arm E. Girl; I have been considering the reserves for awhile, I am also an older RN and have many questions, which branch would best serve me and vice versa. I have been reading thru the threads for tips and insights and when I came across your thread I was thrilled, I would love to ask you some questions if you wouldn't mind. Instead of clogging the post then if you could email me that would be awesome. Thanks and good luck to you. Tracy

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Specializes in med-surg/tele/ortho w/ICU,NI,Trauma.
Hi Arm E. Girl; I have been considering the reserves for awhile, I am also an older RN and have many questions, which branch would best serve me and vice versa. I have been reading thru the threads for tips and insights and when I came across your thread I was thrilled, I would love to ask you some questions if you wouldn't mind. Instead of clogging the post then if you could email me that would be awesome. Thanks and good luck to you. Tracy

Tracy,

Clogging the post is what it's all about. People asking questions ... questions others are wondering about and those that we didn't think of yet... getting answers. As a service to everyone, unless it is actually too private or too personal OR too far off topic for the thread, you are cordially invited to ask away.

Brian

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Specializes in Family.

Hello,

I am an OB nurse with 3 years of experience as an RN. I am also almost done with my FNP MSN (400 hours of practicum to go)

I am 42 years old with a family (2 grown children out of the house, 1 8 year old and a very supportive husband).

I am considering joining USAF. I am currently emailing a healthcare recruiter and will be meeting with him next week.

Any info on COT or USAF life as an OB nurse would be appreciated, and any info on bases, etc.. would be great!

Thanks!

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Hello,

I am an OB nurse with 3 years of experience as an RN. I am also almost done with my FNP MSN (400 hours of practicum to go)

I am 42 years old with a family (2 grown children out of the house, 1 8 year old and a very supportive husband).

I am considering joining USAF. I am currently emailing a healthcare recruiter and will be meeting with him next week.

Any info on COT or USAF life as an OB nurse would be appreciated, and any info on bases, etc.. would be great!

Thanks!

May want to try this site:

http://www.airforceots.com/portal/index.php

Me: 45 years old NP started my process a little over a year ago.

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Specializes in Emergency, Critical Care.

Hi - 30 year old mother of an almost 3 year old beginning a post-bac BSN program in January. Looking to join a reserve unit in the AF, but open to arguments as to why the Navy or the Army would be better choices. I'm not interested in getting deployed, but obviously understand the reality. Choosing AF because from my position as a civilian on the couch, it seems less probably to be deployed.

Reasons for joining include a lifelong dream of serving my country, giving back to our vets who have given so much for us over the last 7 years, and, not gonna lie, the money for school and extra cash. Home ownership feels like the impossible dream these days, and life is expensive.

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Specializes in MSICU.

I am a critical care nurse with 10 months experience in critical care. I am joining the navy nurse corp as a reservist. My brother is active duty navy, currently deployed to iraq. So, being from a navy family, there was never a question of joining another branch. I don't have a problem with getting deployed as that is the nature of this position. Just want to do my part.

I have been using the allnurse forum to gather information and answer questions as I complete the very thorough navy application process. For instance, in my letters of recommendation, to whom do my supervisors address the letter? Thanks for a great forum.

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