USPHS

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Hi,

Are there any USPHS commissioned officers who can share their experiences working in IHS facilities?

What is it like living in rural areas? Please share your stories with me because I am interested in joining USPHS upon graduation (finishing up my BSN and will be done in May).

Thank you :)

Specializes in Psych, Med Surg, ER.

I starting to get my packet ready to send to the board....does anyone know how to get a copy of your approval to test for the NCLEX? I took the boards 4 years ago. I wouldn't think that I would need a copy of that if I had my licence. I mean really, wouldn't my licence be enough? Then I also was told I need to track down my military evaluations to send with it, even though I was enlisted in the army. So I faxed a request to the military records location to have them send them to me. But I can't wait to get into the USPHS. Thanks

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i think you need a copy of your nclex result with your picture and testing site on it.

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I was enlisted in the Navy till 2004 and the Navy Personnel Command (NPC) still had my records rather than the National Archives that the CC had me contact. The good news is that the National Archives forwarded my request to the NPC and I got the records that were required.

You might be able to get your NCLEX test results from Pearson-Vue online or by calling their customer service. The CC took my test results that I printed off the Pearson-Vue website as proof.

Being prior military, make sure you send in a copy of your DD-214 if you have not already and you need to get a Statement of Service from the Army. (Being that I was Navy I have no idea how you would get that, I got mine from the NPC.) If you serviced under 8 years you will also need a release of service for your inactive reserve time left, if any, from the Army.

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Thanks to everyone for their input, advice and stories about the USPHS and COSTEP program. Due to circumstances, I will not be entering the COSTEP program. My contingency plan was to get into pharmacy school so, I will be moving to Gainesville, FL later this week to begin my last semester of required pre-reqs. Perhaps the PHS will be in my future in a different capacity? Anyway, thanks to all for the experiences shared and the knowledge gained on my part. It has truly been a pleasure. Those of you still in the application process, I wish you the best of luck!

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update: my background and boards are completed. but my Medical is still pending.. I just received an offer from a very good hospital in NY. I don't know what to do. I postponed the orientation for that hospital to Oct. If till then PHS still can't complete my application, I have no choice but to go to that hospital...

what do you guys mean "my orders have been cut after 1662?"

thanks~~

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Specializes in flight, critical care, ER.

Hi goldensfo, the 1662 is the call to active duty issued by the division (BOP, IHS, etc) you go to work for. You have to have the 1662 before your security clearance stuff goes through. I have been working on this for several months now, but haven't had the difficulties some of you have. I have been in phone and email contact with my CAM and potential employer almost constantly. I just had a phone interview on last Tuesday, so I am hopeful that I will have a job offer soon. Does anyone know how strict the PHS is on weight, or will they give a waiver to give me a few months to work off some extra pounds?

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update: medical, backgound, and board are cleared. my call to active duty is Sept 13. Finally, after 5 months of applying...

"We can do anything we want, as long as we stick to it long enough."-- Helen Keller

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Specializes in Family Med, Mental Health, Public Health.

Yay, golden! I am happy for you. I am still awaiting security clearance, and Im scheduled to go to OBC on Nov 1 for 2 weeks. Then I start with DoD after I get back from training. Congrats! This is the only thing I am waiting on, but it isnt my fault. They never sent me the link until like 2-3 weeks ago so however it long it takes from then. My orders will be effective Oct 31.

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Hey you guys i just turned in my appication to the USPHS this week. I wanted to know how was the application process for you? I am graduaing with my BSN this december. Any information you can give me to help with this process will b e greatly appreciated. Also did any of you get a sign on bonus?

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Congrats goldenfo

Congrats BSN317

cutiepie- be very pro active and the process will be smoother and quicker. Start looking for a position now! Read previous posts in this thread for background and ask questions here and of PHS when they contact you. I got a sign on bonus and a monthly assignment bonus here at the BOP in Tucson.

update for me- started working Aug 12 at the BOP in Tucson. There are some great prices in the housing market down here and I should be closing on a house this month. There are now 5 PHS nurses (I'm the only PHS male RN but there is a cilivian male RN here too) here, it is great to have others to learn PHS, BOP, and Nursing from. The Air Force base is nice and on my way to work, but they don't know what to make of me in uniform when I go on base. There are still RN (5 more) openings here if you want to make the move to a dry and warm climate. Write me back for hiring contacts if your interested.

Ryan

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Ryan when u say be proactive what exactly do you mean? So far I have been in contact with some IHS agencies and i sent in my app to USPHS, but do you mean i need to look for a position now even though I havent graduated? Thanks for your help.

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I graduated in April of this year and pass the NCLEX in June. I put in my application to the PHS in Janurary. The PHS is fairly slow to work on your application until you have agency that will put in orders (a 1662) to hire you. Yes, agencies will not do that until you have a license but they will talk to you before your licensed. It took from June to August to get orders. Ask questions about the area your looking at and if they currently have or have they had PHS RNs. Make sure the agency knows you are a PHS applicant, there are different hiring rules if your PHS over being a cilivian. Many of the IHS agency are pretty remote so think about that. There are more benefits available to you if you are stationed near a military base (shopping tax free on base, easier medical care, reduced prices for groceries, gas, and household goods,...).

By being proactive I mean check on the status of things by asking questions of PHS and the agency that is offering you a job (ask about orders, what comes next, is there anything you need to get people...), otherwise things will not happen very fast. You have to be your own human resources department, PHS and agencies are both busy and you can fall in the crackes if you don't ask questions.

Read this all of this thread too so that you get a better idea of what others have asked and questions they asked.

Ryan

Ryan

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