Specializing in the Army

Published

Specializes in Pediatric Emergency.

so i hear after your first year in the army as a nurse, your able to go to a speciality course. i hear that speciality course for ER is at ft. sam, tx. if i were to be stationed at walter reed, can i take the speciality course, via tdy and come back to walter reed after i'm finished or would this be considered a PCS and i'll have to move the family?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I think when the course in available to you will vary... based on slots, chain of command etc.

ER is one of the courses you can't lock in for the 'contract' at joining for a guaranteed course specialty. So one year out from joining seems quick to get situated, apply to a course that is competitive and gain a slot. My guess is it will depend on when they send you, your time line with career course and branch manager on how they send you ie TDY,PCS. Seems they have done a lot to limit TDY over past few years...

Do you have prior hours going in as ER civilian RN or new nurse seeking that route?

That is just a guess though.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatric Emergency.

hm... i'm prior service, most of my time was spent on the line while doing some rotations through ER's and FST. after i ETS'd i've been working at an urgent care to keep a lil extra cash while going to school. my graduation date is in the winter of 2011. from the other forums it looks like the army's only taking 65 RN's this year? hm... i'm sure GPA matters but do they look at prior service status also?

ER would be my #1 choice, but i wouldn't mind critical care either. i guess i just like the action and being busy. of course, i might just end up going to the PA program... but that's another discussion altogether~

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Primary Care, FNP, AGACNP, Palliative Care.
hm... i'm prior service, most of my time was spent on the line while doing some rotations through ER's and FST. after i ETS'd i've been working at an urgent care to keep a lil extra cash while going to school. my graduation date is in the winter of 2011. from the other forums it looks like the army's only taking 65 RN's this year? hm... i'm sure GPA matters but do they look at prior service status also?

ER would be my #1 choice, but i wouldn't mind critical care either. i guess i just like the action and being busy. of course, i might just end up going to the PA program... but that's another discussion altogether~

What are the other forums? I know that they were looking at GPA and letter of recommendations when I went up for board in November. I am definitely sure prior service ways heavily because you already know the ropes and have demonstrated leadership and all of the Army values.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in EMT, ER, Homehealth, OR.

Do not know where you came up with the Army only taking 65 nurses this FY. From what I was informed by my recruiter the number was 250 this FY and by this forum that number has already been reached. Before you can go to a speciality course you will need 1 year experince as a RN. Once you are assigned to your hospital during the 1st year you will rotate thru different areas. As far as the ER course that is not one that you can get written in your contract when you assess.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Agree with Jeck... the nurse corp (and all branches) have to have a certain influx of LTs every single year... in order to grow and maintain a future level of field grade officers.. they won't just 'short' a year as that isn't so much a current issue but an future issue of field grade officer manning.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

It is incredibly hard to get into the ER specialty course because it is only offered at Ft Sam. Usually what happens is that you go to your specialty course enroute PCS to another duty station. So before you go to the school you go ahead and ship your home etc and go straight from school to your new duty station. Sometimes you can work it out to return to where you were but not always, just depends on needs of the Army.

Even if you get accepted to go to the ER course be prepared to sit on the wait list for a year before actually getting a date for the course. This is what we were just told by our Chief Nurse last week. And your Chief Nurse has to approve for you to go anyways so they can always delay you if they don't feel you're ready. You can't even apply to go until you've finished the Nurse Transition Program, which lasts 6 months. So plan to be in for at least 2 years before going to the ER course, but you really need that basic nursing practice first anyways, in my opinion. I know that our Chief Nurse here won't send anyone that has been out of the program for less than a year ot the ER course because they don't have enough nursing experience. Hope this helps. :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatric Emergency.
do not know where you came up with the army only taking 65 nurses this fy. from what i was informed by my recruiter the number was 250 this fy and by this forum that number has already been reached. before you can go to a speciality course you will need 1 year experince as a rn. once you are assigned to your hospital during the 1st year you will rotate thru different areas. as far as the er course that is not one that you can get written in your contract when you assess.

armyicurn

talked to my buddy who is a recruiter for the amedd. he said that for next fy, only 65 slots are open for rns. that is it!

https://allnurses.com/government-military-nursing/navy-army-nursing-475977-page2.html

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in EMT, ER, Homehealth, OR.

Will not take long to fill those slots. That is just under 200 less then this FY.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion