Upcoming grad thinking about Military Nursing

FST6 · Oct 2, 2009

Hello MPS0430. As an Army Reserve nurse, I can tell you that I love what I do. I have been in the military for 14 years and do not regret a single moment. In the course of my career I have had the opportunity to attend excellent schools which have enhanced my trauma nursing skills. The best part is the Army was actually paying me to attend these courses. I have also been deployed twice over the last 5 years. The first time was to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany and the second time was as a Forward Surgical Team commander in Afghanistan. While serving in Germany, I cared for many trauma patients from Iraq and Afghanistan. The day to day life was quite similar to any stateside level 1 or level 2 facility. We worked 12-hour shifts and were split between days and nights. On my days off, I was free to do whatever (as long as I wasn't on call). When I was in Afghanistan, it was quite different. Being on an FST meant I was on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We would get a rush of patients and then there would be nothing for a few days, sometimes even a few weeks. Being in a war zone with a small team meant you had to learn quickly and expand your scope of practice a bit. I wasn't doing surgery mind you, but just about everything else though. Being forward deployed meant dealing with chronic supply shortages, rocket attacks, erratic mail service, and being isolated from the rest of the world (I felt like I was on Mars at times). However, when you consider how much rougher the infantry lives when they go out on missions in the country side, I really couldn't complain about my circumstances. After all, I did volunteer to be in the Army. However, those cons were easily balanced out by the strong teamwork, increased autonomy, and strong friendships that arose out of that deployment. I have to say that both deployment experiences were life altering and only strengthened my desire to remain in the Army Reserve. I love being there for our men and women in uniform, no matter where they are. From the front lines to the rear echelon hospitals, you can do it all as an Army Reserve nurse. Don't worry about the male nurse thing in the military. You will find quite a few of us murses running around. As for physical fitness, if you are going to end up in a war zone, being in shape is a must. Being fit will help you adjust to new environments quickly (from cold high altitudes to crazy hot deserts) and it will help you deal with the stress of being deployed. Not to mention, being able to run fast may also save your life at some point. Bottom line, the Army Reserve will provide you with many training opportunities and a chance to proudly serve your country. Yes, there are rough days required on the journey, but they are tempered by the fact that you are there to save the lives of our men and women in uniform. I thank you for considering the military and hope you choose to do so. Our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines deserve the best care possible. If you are willing to accept the hardships, you can know the pride that comes with being a military nurse. Cheers mate! :cheers:

FST6

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