scope of practice?

DanznRN, RN · Jul 7, 2007

Depends on what you mean. Navy nurses generally have more autonomy with decision making, at least I do/ did. I'm an ER/ Trauma nurse and we don't always wait for the doc to hand out his orders, if it needs done we do it. Now, we aren't doing surgery or anything like that, but there is a certain latitude for learning that you won't get in the civy world. What have you heard?

LCDR(s) Dan

allnurses Guide · Jul 7, 2007

Question for the current or former military nurses;
Is it true that in the military the scope of practice for nurses is much greater than in the civilian world? If so, what sort of things are nurses permitted and required to perform?

Having done ICU nursing in the AF at three differenct bases and working civilian ICU I would say that the AF has a more restrictive scope of practice than civilian hospitals.

dm22 · Jul 7, 2007

Commander Sir,

The reason I ask is because I was reading about the Independent Duty Corpsmen, and I wondered if there were similar positions for nursing professionals. As you may already know, I was accepted into the Navy NCP, so I am trying to learn as much as I can.

DanznRN, RN · Jul 9, 2007

Dm22-

Ah, Independent Duty Corpsmen (IDCs) are a bread all unto themselves. They fall somewhere between a nurse and a doctor, more like a PA. They are trained to practice independently in the field, but once they get out of the Navy their training really gives them nothing in the civy world. You will generally find them on smaller ships where docs would be a waste. The IDC will be the provider for the whole ship. from time to time we will have an IDC call us in the ED for advice, but usually they are on their own at sea. As for nurses having a similar position, closest you could get would be an NP. We are allowed to practice independently in field, but in a hospital we are normally relegated to primary care duties. As far as scope of practice, which this falls under, more is expected of you once you get some experience than in the civy world. In the civy world, a nurse is a nurse is a nurse. In the Navy as you acquire rank you acquire responsibility. A LCDR (in 23 days) nurse like myself is expected to have a certain amount of knowledge about the Navy and nursing, it goes with the territory. So more is expected of me than say an Ensign who's been in 2 years, make sense? Also once you get in the field you will practice very independently, like by yourself. You're are expected to make the decisions that effect a whole camp, depending on where you are and who's with you. Example, my wife is up for deployment in a few months, she and another nurse will be replacing 2 that are in the field. It will be just her and another nurse, so the decisions fall on them, no one else to bounce it off of. So there's a certain level of autonomy with that, see? If you want more info or just want to talk Navy, let me know, i'll give you my cell phone number so we can chat. Any clue where you're headed when done? When are you done? Take care.

LCDR(s) Dan

DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN · Jul 9, 2007

Dm22-
Ah, Independent Duty Corpsmen (IDCs) are a bread all unto themselves. They fall somewhere between a nurse and a doctor, more like a PA. They are trained to practice independently in the field, but once they get out of the Navy their training really gives them nothing in the civy world. LCDR(s) Dan

Well Lieutenant Dan....! Sorry, just couldn't resist that one. Hope you don't mind.

I have two questions for you. I heard that if you get into the Uniformed Services University Of The Health Science in Bethesda as a medical student you go to medical school free in exchange for 7 years active duty. Correct? Do they also get paid while in medical school? Can someone also do this to get into nursing?

If a person is a corpman HM2, how many years would they have in in the Navy? I'm assuming since this is an enlisted rate that they are not a nurse? If they get out of the Navy would they have to start from the beginning to go back to school to get their RN?

Thanks, I hope you can answers these questions for me. They are 2 that have been burning in my mind for some time now. Thanks!

DanznRN, RN · Jul 9, 2007

Well Lieutenant Dan....! No problem, that's what I go by most of the time, it's just to perfect, thanks.
Sorry, just couldn't resist that one. Hope you don't mind.
I have two questions for you. I heard that if you get into the Uniformed Services University Of The Health Science in Bethesda as a medical student you go to medical school free in exchange for 7 years active duty. Correct? Yes, you are correct, but I don't know the actual amount of time that you owe. I do know that doctor freidns of mine from beginning to end have a committment of 12 years on avereage. Do they also get paid while in medical school? Yes, they get paid, it's at the lowest officer rank, Ensign while in school, then it goes up after school. I had a friend do this who was a LCDR (O-4) and he went back for school, he went back to being an Ensign (O-1) talk about pay cut. Can someone also do this to get into nursing? Unfortunately, the Navy has no provision for schooling its own BS degree nurses. Best thing they have is the Nurse Candidate Program.
If a person is a corpman HM2, how many years would they have in in the Navy? It all depends, people pick up rank at different times in the enlisted ranks. They have to take tests to make rank, someone could be an HM2 in 4 years or they could not pick it up for 10 years. They do have a thing called "higher tenure," where if they don't pick a rank up in a certain amount of time, they have to get out. I'm assuming since this is an enlisted rate that they are not a nurse? Right, no enlisted nurses in the Navy. The Army has enlisted nurses though, I think they are LPNs, not sure though. If they get out of the Navy would they have to start from the beginning to go back to school to get their RN? In most cases yes. There are a few states/ schools that will give credit for classes taken in the Navy to include the classes taken in corps school, but it depends.
Thanks, I hope you can answers these questions for me. They are 2 that have been burning in my mind for some time now. Thanks!

No problem, glad to help. Let me know if you need more info.

LCDR(s) Dan

DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN · Jul 9, 2007

Thanks Dan,

I appreciate the answers and thank you for serving our country.

dm22 · Jul 9, 2007

thank you Sir, for providing me with insight into the field. I am just starting a BSN program, so I will not be done until 2009. For my first duty station I will try to request San Diego, but I know that it is really according to the needs of the Navy.

DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN · Jul 10, 2007

Today we did a CT on a woman who is in the Army. She is an RN and she is working here in town as a recruiter. She recruits only medical professionals. I said "whoa don't look at me I'm almost 52". She said you'd be surprised...for nurses they'll waive the age limit and sign you up. :no: :uhoh3:

Gennaver, MSN · Jul 10, 2007

Today we did a CT on a woman who is in the Army. She is an RN and she is working here in town as a recruiter. She recruits only medical professionals. I said "whoa don't look at me I'm almost 52". She said you'd be surprised...for nurses they'll waive the age limit and sign you up.

Hello Dutchgirl,

I've heard that the Army and Air Force take RNs up to age 46 and the Navy 44. However with certian exceptions, (such as teaching and so on) that the Army will waive up to age 52. So, I think she was right, "don't be surprised". :)

Gen-new Army nurse shipping in less than a month for initial training!! Gotta pass NCLEX first