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 oncology,med/surg,psych..

My advice is Go into the Navy medical Nurse corp. after you get your BSN-RN and let the Navy pay for the CRNA program. Stay away from the Marines because they have no medical units and pull all of their medical support from the Navy. The Air Force also has a very good medical support unit for in hospital duty and flight Nurse training. You as a Nurse would be in charge of your Medics & Navy Corpsman . Navy Corpsman also work in charge of sick call and are assigned to Marine units (8404) combat support. The VA Hospitals also have good programs to check into. Good luck with your studies and stay out of trouble with the law !:twocents::yeah:

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Specializes in Medical ICU.

Question for any nurse working at an MTF (air force or Army). I am looking into going OCONUS specifically Landstuhl. I am wondering what the schedule is like in an ICU? Does anyone work straight days? or nights?

Thanks

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Specializes in critical care: trauma/oncology/burns.
Question for any nurse working at an MTF (air force or Army). I am looking into going OCONUS specifically Landstuhl. I am wondering what the schedule is like in an ICU? Does anyone work straight days? or nights?

Thanks

Hi, Army here. Work 12 hour nights in combined ICU CONUS. I requested nights and was granted my request. Usually "they" try to give you every other weekend off. Usually can work 2-3 in a row and get at least 2 off in a row.

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Specializes in ER, Trauma, US Navy.

Hey!! Navy here, been so since 1997, making it a grand total of 14+ years. I was a pretty regular contributor for a while about 3-4 years ago, but some personal life issues slowed me down on the site. Well, that a few deployments in there as well. Anyway, been ER/ Trauma the whole time and have ranged the gambit of experiences. Started as a floor nurse in San Diego, then did a few years as ICU in Great Lakes. After that I got out for 11 months and then came back in, went straight to Italy for more floor nursing, but also the Asst. Division Officer. Was selected for DUINS (Duty Under INStruction) and the Navy paid for my Master's as a CNS/ ACNP at the University of Maryland. Been doing the Division Officer/ Head Nurse job for the last 3+ years, so I'm one of the "they" that someone referred to. Also have some unique deployment experiences that were both humanitarian assistance and disaster response. It's all good, been a great experience, you'd be surprised what it takes to run the show behind the scenes, if you don't know, then you have a good leader or a poor communicator, LOL!!! I've got tons of experiences, to include married dual active duty couples and now divorced dual active duty couples, that also includes the 3 kids. So, I've been around the block a bit and happy to help where/ when I can. I'd like to thank Shelby for reminding me that I had a duty to continue helping folks on this forum. Look forward to talking with you all.

LCDR Dan

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LCDR Dan,

Hello. 1945 here looking for some advise on my course of assignments over the next few years. can you email me for offline chat?

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Hey, I was a 66G also and am now a civilian school RN. The school district will give me credit for the 66G course if I can show them something that equates it into CEUs or college credits. Do you have anything/or ideas to help me out? I was in Germany, stationed at Landstuhl, so I did the course via "long distance". I was wondering if those that took it in HI were told what the course could equate to in the civilian world.

Sincerely,

Jan

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Specializes in thoracic ICU, ortho/neuro, med/surg.

I'll answer the roll call here and say I'm considering the service. It would have to be Army thanks to my tattoos. I'm a long way from making any decisions (and may not even be eligible, but we'll see).

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Specializes in CMSRN.

Hi I am currently studying for BSN Nursing. I started in community college however the wait list for clinicals for LPN and RN were two years long so I transferred to South University.

It is my intention to finish this and attempt to join the Air Force Nurse Corps.

My husband is currently full time National Guard (army) so we should be switching roles!

My worry is my age, i am 36 years old now will proabaly be 38 when I graduate. I hope I will still be within the age limit for the Air Force when it is time to apply.

I am working on my fitness now.

I will also be a US citizen by the end of 2012 ( I am a British citizen)

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After serving 5 years in the Army National Guard as a 68W (combat medic) I have recently graduated with my BHS but miss the clinical aspects of health care and am now in the process applying to get into my university's BSN program. My husband is AD in the Army and I plan on contracting through the ROTC to join the Nurses Corps after completing my BSN. I'm excited to get some good advice on this board. :)

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NBerry,

ROTC (if you can get in) is a great option. The reason I think its great is because you have a CHOICE. When you graduate you can go either Active Duty, Reserve or National Guard. Full tuition and either a Full time or Part time committment. What city/state are you in?

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Specializes in ED, OR, SAF, Corrections.
Question for any nurse working at an MTF (air force or Army). I am looking into going OCONUS specifically Landstuhl. I am wondering what the schedule is like in an ICU? Does anyone work straight days? or nights?

Thanks

I see this was posted in May - but I just now saw it. I'm at Landstuhl in the OR. Unlike the OR (we do 8's & 10's), the ICU nurses work 12-hour shifts.

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Specializes in ED, OR, SAF, Corrections.

23 years in Nursing, mostly ED and OR, but have also worked as a SANE, and in Corrections (So. Nevada Women's Prison). Worked for the VA in VISN 22 (Las Vegas) for 3 years back in the 90's.

Currently GS/NSPS/GS (they've changed their minds twice since I've been here) at Landstuhl, Germany in the OR since 2006. I also take Sexual Assault call here (they finally pay us to do it here now, yay! Before those of us who did it, did so out of a desire to provide the service and to keep our skills up - there weren't as many civilians then and they either lacked the mechanism to pay us or leadership didn't have a clue or desire to help get one).

Love my current job more than all my other jobs I've ever had combined. My job satisfaction here is thru the roof, although the level of BS attached to it takes a little time to resign oneself to. And the pay is in the toilet. But, for me the mission is worth it all.

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