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:

I am in school now working on my ADN. I am interested military nursing becasue of the excellent pay and benefits, as well as the obvious patient care. Do you have to have a BSN to enlist or if you can enlist with a ADN, does it limit what/where you can go? Thanks.

First, a technical point: RNs are officers. Officers do not enlist, we are commissioned. (Might seem nit-picky, but there is a huge distinction)

Now, to receive a commission in the Active Army, you must have a BSN. The reserves allow you to be commissioned with an ADN, but at some point, you have to complete a BSN.

If you are contemplating the Army, talk to a ROTC recruiter, there are scholarships with stipends available to help you complete your BSN.

After you have been in for a few years (usually a minimum of 3-4) you are can apply to return for a MSN, full tuition with salary paid for two years of study. it is a great deal!

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Hey Everyone!! Active duty AF nurse here....Came in right out of nursing school (have been in for a little over a year so far)...and now working med/surg in an AF hospital. I'm enjoying myself--there are definitely a lot of perks. Not sure if I'm going to stay in for the long haul...but I do want to travel abroad. I'm hoping to be based next in either Italy or Germany, get lots of traveling done, and then continue as a civilian. Good luck to everyone in thier careers!

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:
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just finishing paperwork to join army nurse corps reserves..choosing bases maybe Luandstul, Germany. Ft Stewart, Georgia or Fort Huachuca ,Az any suggestions or feedback ?

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just finishing paperwork to join army nurse corps reserves..choosing bases maybe Luandstul, Germany. Ft Stewart, Georgia or Fort Huachuca ,Az any suggestions or feedback ?

I'm confused - are you joining the Reserves or Active component? I guess I've not known Reservists to select an Active Duty unit/location of assignment. Generally they join a Reserve unit/CSH with an opening near where they live - not an active installation such as those you listed. I'm sure one of the experts on this board can chime in with more info related to the USAR (and correct me if I'm mistaken!). But for what it is worth, here's a little info on the installations you have listed above:

Landstuhl (LRMC) - largest military medical facility in Germany - very busy with the casualties from OIF/OEF. Has the full range of services - ER, ICU, OB, Peds, etc. (http://www.landstuhl.healthcare.hqusareur.army.mil)

Winn Army Community Hospital, Ft. Stewart, GA - smaller sized hospital, I have no idea what their occupied bed days are. Primarily supports 3rd ID, their family members, and local retirees. Have some ICU capability, ER, L&D, peds, surgical capabilites, psych. (http://www.winn.amedd.army.mil)

Ft Huachuca, AZ - only medical asset is a "super-clinic" - outpatient clinics, lab, radiology, physical therapy, same-day surgery. (http://rwbach.huachuca.amedd.army.mil/indexframes.html)

Good luck to you and welcome to the AMEDD and Army Nurse Corps! Hope the information helps. I've not been assigned to any of those facilities/installations although I've been to LRMC.

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Thanks for responding... Im entering the IMA Reserve program. Its been described to me as a backfill program. The requirement is 2 weeks a year, if we are not activated.

If all goes well OBC will be in March

I'm confused - are you joining the Reserves or Active component? I guess I've not known Reservists to select an Active Duty unit/location of assignment. Generally they join a Reserve unit/CSH with an opening near where they live - not an active installation such as those you listed. I'm sure one of the experts on this board can chime in with more info related to the USAR (and correct me if I'm mistaken!). But for what it is worth, here's a little info on the installations you have listed above:

Landstuhl (LRMC) - largest military medical facility in Germany - very busy with the casualties from OIF/OEF. Has the full range of services - ER, ICU, OB, Peds, etc. (http://www.landstuhl.healthcare.hqusareur.army.mil)

Winn Army Community Hospital, Ft. Stewart, GA - smaller sized hospital, I have no idea what their occupied bed days are. Primarily supports 3rd ID, their family members, and local retirees. Have some ICU capability, ER, L&D, peds, surgical capabilites, psych. (http://www.winn.amedd.army.mil)

Ft Huachuca, AZ - only medical asset is a "super-clinic" - outpatient clinics, lab, radiology, physical therapy, same-day surgery. (http://rwbach.huachuca.amedd.army.mil/indexframes.html)

Good luck to you and welcome to the AMEDD and Army Nurse Corps! Hope the information helps. I've not been assigned to any of those facilities/installations although I've been to LRMC.

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Thanks for responding... Im entering the IMA Reserve program. Its been described to me as a backfill program. The requirement is 2 weeks a year, if we are not activated.

If all goes well OBC will be in March

That makes sense now! If it were me, I'd choose Germany (for what it is worth!).

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Unfortunately, comparing military nursing to civilian nursing is impossible. The military doesn't hold any standard of care (we make it so on paper, but staffing is horrible). We have understaffed and overworked everyone and left dead pt's in the wake. The problem is that everyone in medical corps is afraid to say anything (heaven forbid they don't get a dream job assignment). We killed our latest baby recently, so it looks like staffing might improve where I am, but that isn't the norm.

80 hour weeks with no holidays is the norm....or you might get a clinic job working 3 or 4 six hour days each week. Military nursing is unpredictable at best. We have nurses that don't work...and we have nurses that are so tired they can't think. Best of luck to all that think the military is for them.

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Specializes in Telemetry, OR, ICU.
Unfortunately, comparing military nursing to civilian nursing is impossible. The military doesn't hold any standard of care (we make it so on paper, but staffing is horrible). We have understaffed and overworked everyone and left dead pt's in the wake. The problem is that everyone in medical corps is afraid to say anything (heaven forbid they don't get a dream job ass kissing assignment). We killed our latest baby recently, so it looks like staffing might improve where I am, but that isn't the norm.

80 hour weeks with no holidays is the norm....or you might get a clinic job working 3 or 4 six hour days each week. Military nursing is unpredictable at best. We have nurses that don't work...and we have nurses that are so tired they can't think. Best of luck to all that think the military is for them.

Are you an 66H? Are you OCONUS?

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Specializes in ER/ICU/STICU.

Apparently I'm a little different than everyone that has posted so far. I'm in the infantry of the USMC reserves and my civilian job is a nurse in the ED.

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Specializes in Telemetry, OR, ICU.
Apparently I'm a little different than everyone that has posted so far. I'm in the infantry of the USMC reserves and my civilian job is a nurse in the ED.

LOL, I was USMC AD 1980-1988 [6334/6314; F-4 Phantom Electrician & Comm/Nav Tech], my civilian job is an OR RN, and accepted direct commission 1LT USAR Nurse Corps in 2003.

BTW, have you thought about the USAR Nurse Corps?

OORAH! & HOOAH!

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

When referring to incidents that are potentially incendiary and litigious as "dead patients/ babies", I would caution anyone not to be too specific in giving information as to occurence, location, or duty station. And please, don't publically solicit such information on these boards.

Legalities can get sticky in such incidences, to say the least. And one can land in hot water, even on a site like this, in such situations.

Thank you for understanding.

deb,

moderator Military Nursing Forums

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The comment about FREE health care in the military sounds just like many Medicaid patients in the ER (overcrouding of the system for $1 of asprin) They have no $$ because they can't give up smoking

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