Telemetry Nurse thinking of going military.. ARMY OR AIRFORCE??

Editorial Team / Moderator · Jul 15, 2013

It might be helpful if you asked some specific questions - otherwise it just comes down to personal preference. :-) Do you have your BSN? How many years of experience? Right now the Army is being very selective, and they want people to have at least two years of experience. Unless you have ICU or ER experience, it is unlikely you'd be in a critical care environment at first.

CrzySexyCoolRN · Jul 15, 2013

Yes I currently have my BSN and have been working for two years now on a telemetry unit. I have spoken to an recruiter about the different positions offered, and it seems they are more positions for critical care than med/surg and tele. Critical care obviously leading to CRNA. Since I only have med/surg/tele experience, I wanted to know if there is room for more growth in the military as a nurse and if there is, which one has better options Army or Air Force???

ricksy · Jul 15, 2013

Uh, let's see. From a mother of a soldier who survived a suicide bomber, lost the two comrades that walked beside him and watched the female suicide bomber's head roll on the ground, I would specifically tell you to be read y to go to war at any minute, and to be ready to suffer the consequences. There are many who suffer after a recruiter gave them a rose colored picture of the military. My son went to war to be a civil affairs specialist, where he was to train police officers and teach them to grow corn. Instead, he spent a year being shot at EVERY DAY in the dirtiest of dirty country there is. I love nursing and I love our soldiers, marines, airmen, and sailors, but know that with the past track record of the fat cats in Washington sending us to far off lands nilly willy for the past 13 years, there is a chance you could be stuck in the middle of something. Think your life wouldn't be in danger...think again....HARD.....until YOU trust our President and Congress to know the heck they are doing these days, think twice. My son's best friend was/is a nurse in the unit.....HE WENT TO WAR JUST LIKE THE REST. Read up about what is happening in Syria and Lybia...it is a dangerous game! War is real....our lives in the family will never be the same. Good Luck to you, what ever you decide.....and thanks! Home of the free because of the brave!

douxmusique · Jul 15, 2013

Uh let's see. From a mother of a soldier who survived a suicide bomber, lost the two comrades that walked beside him and watched the female suicide bomber's head roll on the ground, I would specifically tell you to be read y to go to war at any minute, and to be ready to suffer the consequences. There are many who suffer after a recruiter gave them a rose colored picture of the military. My son went to war to be a civil affairs specialist, where he was to train police officers and teach them to grow corn. Instead, he spent a year being shot at EVERY DAY in the dirtiest of dirty country there is. I love nursing and I love our soldiers, marines, airmen, and sailors, but know that with the past track record of the fat cats in Washington sending us to far off lands nilly willy for the past 13 years, there is a chance you could be stuck in the middle of something. Think your life wouldn't be in danger...think again....HARD.....until YOU trust our President and Congress to know the heck they are doing these days, think twice. My son's best friend was/is a nurse in the unit.....HE WENT TO WAR JUST LIKE THE REST. Read up about what is happening in Syria and Lybia...it is a dangerous game! War is real....our lives in the family will never be the same. Good Luck to you, what ever you decide.....and thanks! Home of the free because of the brave![/quote']
Yes. Yes. Yes.

Katniss88 · Jul 16, 2013

Uh, let's see. From a mother of a soldier who survived a suicide bomber, lost the two comrades that walked beside him and watched the female suicide bomber's head roll on the ground, I would specifically tell you to be read y to go to war at any minute, and to be ready to suffer the consequences. There are many who suffer after a recruiter gave them a rose colored picture of the military. My son went to war to be a civil affairs specialist, where he was to train police officers and teach them to grow corn. Instead, he spent a year being shot at EVERY DAY in the dirtiest of dirty country there is. I love nursing and I love our soldiers, marines, airmen, and sailors, but know that with the past track record of the fat cats in Washington sending us to far off lands nilly willy for the past 13 years, there is a chance you could be stuck in the middle of something. Think your life wouldn't be in danger...think again....HARD.....until YOU trust our President and Congress to know the heck they are doing these days, think twice. My son's best friend was/is a nurse in the unit.....HE WENT TO WAR JUST LIKE THE REST. Read up about what is happening in Syria and Lybia...it is a dangerous game! War is real....our lives in the family will never be the same. Good Luck to you, what ever you decide.....and thanks! Home of the free because of the brave!

Even though you are joining the military as nurse and becoming an officer, I would think that most people understand that you may have to be sent off to war and work in a field hospital. It's still the military whether your a nurse or not.

I have always wanted to join the military, even before I graduated from high school but the only thing that held me back was having to be away from home. Now that I'm a new nurse I still have an interest in the military. The reason I want to be a nurse in the military is to care for and help save the lives of the men and women that are fighting for our freedom. I can't join as a nurse now because I only have my ADN and they require a BSN.

Editorial Team / Moderator · Jul 16, 2013

Ricksy is correct - one cannot join these days (or for the last decade plus) without considering the specter of deployment and putting lives in danger. Ricksy, I am glad you didn't lose your son, but I am sure you are all changed after that. It's a nasty business over here, to be sure. And while most nurses won't ever go on missions outside the wire, remaining in relatively safer areas on established bases, there are still no guarantees of safety. It's a war zone, period, which is probably why I was a little flabbergasted at another post in which someone asked if we had time to sightsee on deployments - huh? Really? But I joined knowing deployment was likely, especially when one commissions as an ER nurse - we and our ICU counterparts tend to deploy. Like heather1988, I too wanted to care for soldiers - that is why I joined, and I am getting what I asked for.

While it is true that things are winding down here in Afghanistan, things will probably heat up elsewhere. Right now Army nurses typically deploy for nine months; not sure about the Air Force. I have been over here for a month; eight to go! :-)

Heather1988, are you working on your BSN so you can seek commission?

Katniss88 · Jul 16, 2013

I got my ADN in May and haven't been able to get a job. When I finally get a nursing position I want to save up money and do an online BSN course.

CrzySexyCoolRN · Jul 16, 2013

Ricksy, LunahRN and heather1988 thank you so much for your insight. Yes you are right, the recruiter I talked to really did paint a nice picture of deployment and didn't really go in depth as to what to expect. Honestly, sometimes I forget how real things can get In a war zone. And since we live In a world prone to war, there definitely will always be a war. 9 months is a long time away from family and loved ones, there is definitely a lot to consider And not a decision to be made over night.

Ricksy, thanks for that reality check.

LunahRN how many times have you deployed?

Editorial Team / Moderator · Jul 16, 2013

LunahRN how many times have you deployed?

This is my first deployment. I had been in the Army less than two years when I was selected to go, though. A little sooner than I expected!

midinphx, BSN · Jul 16, 2013

I'm AF. I've been in 3 years now. Just completed 2nd deployment. AF goes typically for 6 months - but sometimes we deploy as an adjunct to other branches (usually army) and it will be up to 9 months. The training leading up to the deployment makes you glad to finally leave! Deployments are the norm. They are stressful in many ways - just think about packing everything you need and that is required for 6 months and having to carry all that yourself. I just moved into my 3rd apartment in 3 years - when I had been living in my house for 9 years before that. Always being new somewhere - fun and exciting or lonely? both. Think about the daily job when not deployed also. I'm on an ICU unit that does heart surgery so we have mostly vets and their spouses. It isn't glamorous work. None of it is. We nurses are hero support and are invisible most of the time. Don't go in for glory, but to serve. You will also take care of people who have nothing to do with the military, don't ignore that. Taking care of Afghan people and children is a challenge for some people who think we shouldn't. But we do. I have no control of my life or career now. I am being moved to a pediatric ICU. I'm not a peds nurse, but I am now. :)

There are loads of things to think about. I know I'm exactly where I am supposed to be, even when I'm not liking what I'm doing. I love being a nurse and I'm so glad the AF allows me to serve.

ricksy · Jul 16, 2013

What ever you decide, you are a hero! I know you hinted at wanting some new and innovative nursing experiences, and I know the Veterans Administration does not have these (from the care my some has gotten), but if you feel the need to help the Vets, you might consider working for them. Go to their website and scope out the jobs....they have lots and lots of opening listed by state....I know it sounds sexist to say, but I was SCARED enough when my son deployed, but if my daughter did...Oh MY! I guess it is just a momma thing...since she is a mini-me! (please don't send me notes about how wrong that feeling is, it's just the way I feel...she is a fragile little being!)LOL