What to expect as an Army nurse?

[roswell]

Greeting to all.

I am an active duty soldier currently attending nursing school through the AECP program. I will be graduating school in about a month and looking forward to getting back into the swing of "Army life."

I was wondering if any one out there could offer some info or words of advice as to what I should expect during my first 3 - 6 months as an Army nurse. I'm not talking about OBC, I'm talking about when I get to my first assignment.

Alot of my civilian friends already have jobs lined up and have an idea of what to expect as far as working conditions, length of preceptorship, etc....

But I really dont know what to expect from an Army hospital.

Also, can anybody provide some insight as to good assignments/duty stations? I chose FT Carson, Ft. Campbell, and Alaska on my "dream sheet," but you know how reliable those are. Any recommendations on a good duty assignment or even a head's up on places not to go.

Finally, if anybody else out there has recently gone through the AECP program, can you tell me at what point you found out what your duty assignment would be. I know that I wont get written orders till after the NCLEX, but we had been told that we would at least find out where we were going before we graduated. Three weeks out, and still no word, and of course the "higher ups" have no clue as to when.

Any info, insight or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[Kim O'Therapy, BSN, RN]

Greeting to all.

I am an active duty soldier currently attending nursing school through the AECP program. I will be graduating school in about a month and looking forward to getting back into the swing of "Army life."

I was wondering if any one out there could offer some info or words of advice as to what I should expect during my first 3 - 6 months as an Army nurse. I'm not talking about OBC, I'm talking about when I get to my first assignment.

Alot of my civilian friends already have jobs lined up and have an idea of what to expect as far as working conditions, length of preceptorship, etc....

But I really dont know what to expect from an Army hospital.

Also, can anybody provide some insight as to good assignments/duty stations? I chose FT Carson, Ft. Campbell, and Alaska on my "dream sheet," but you know how reliable those are. Any recommendations on a good duty assignment or even a head's up on places not to go.

Finally, if anybody else out there has recently gone through the AECP program, can you tell me at what point you found out what your duty assignment would be. I know that I wont get written orders till after the NCLEX, but we had been told that we would at least find out where we were going before we graduated. Three weeks out, and still no word, and of course the "higher ups" have no clue as to when.

Any info, insight or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

I don't have any information for you, but wanted to stop by and thank you for your service to our country.

[Sleepy Lion]

Greeting to all.

I am an active duty soldier currently attending nursing school through the AECP program. I will be graduating school in about a month and looking forward to getting back into the swing of "Army life."

I was wondering if any one out there could offer some info or words of advice as to what I should expect during my first 3 - 6 months as an Army nurse. I'm not talking about OBC, I'm talking about when I get to my first assignment.

Alot of my civilian friends already have jobs lined up and have an idea of what to expect as far as working conditions, length of preceptorship, etc....

But I really dont know what to expect from an Army hospital.

Also, can anybody provide some insight as to good assignments/duty stations? I chose FT Carson, Ft. Campbell, and Alaska on my "dream sheet," but you know how reliable those are. Any recommendations on a good duty assignment or even a head's up on places not to go.

Finally, if anybody else out there has recently gone through the AECP program, can you tell me at what point you found out what your duty assignment would be. I know that I wont get written orders till after the NCLEX, but we had been told that we would at least find out where we were going before we graduated. Three weeks out, and still no word, and of course the "higher ups" have no clue as to when.

Any info, insight or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Hey I commission in exactly 22 days into the ANC. From the ROTC perspective we did the dream sheet just like you did. The difference being that we were able to find out from our Brigade Nurse Counselors what they assigned us pending successful passing of the NCLEX first time go. I have been told that should you fail to qualify as a first time go whatever duty station they have been given you will go on to someone else.

Personally I put Bragg, BAMC, WAMC as my top three and I got my number one. But I am sure things are different for you since you aren't ROTC.

We'll probably end up at OBC together...that is if the good ol University of Illinois gets all the information to the state quick enough for me to make the July OBC timeslot.

I'm looking forward to getting out of the National Guard (used to be an 11B) and getting on with my career.

See you downrange.

[Corvette Guy]

Hey I commission in exactly 22 days into the ANC. From the ROTC perspective we did the dream sheet just like you did. The difference being that we were able to find out from our Brigade Nurse Counselors what they assigned us pending successful passing of the NCLEX first time go. I have been told that should you fail to qualify as a first time go whatever duty station they have been given you will go on to someone else.

Personally I put Bragg, BAMC, WAMC as my top three and I got my number one. But I am sure things are different for you since you aren't ROTC.

We'll probably end up at OBC together...that is if the good ol University of Illinois gets all the information to the state quick enough for me to make the July OBC timeslot.

I'm looking forward to getting out of the National Guard (used to be an 11B) and getting on with my career.

See you downrange.

Sleepy Lion - Congrats on your soon to be direct commission!

My reserve commission was 9/25/03 & on 3/31/06 accepted oath of office for regular commission.

Here are a few pics of the most recent event...

[texas-rn-fnp]

I went through the AECP program also. A month and a half after I arrived to Fort Hood, I was sent to the 21st CSH to deploy to Iraq for a year. Definitely a good learning experience, but not something that was very nice. I finished my 3 years in the Army and changed to the Air Force. There are advantages and disadvantages to each service. You just have to decide what is more important to you. The Army has a high op-tempo. The likiness of deployment is high, but they also have more resources and more opportunities for training and advancement than the Air Force. If you have specific questions, you can PM me and I will be glad to answer them to the best of my ability. Good luck with your new career!

[thalesairborne]

Hello,

I am an active duty soldier and I am trying to participate on the AECP program (nursing). I have finished the majority of the pre-requirement from most universities. Does anyone know which university can give a letter of acceptance a year ahead since I want to apply for the fall of 2008? (I am deploying in a month

[Gennaver, MSN]

Hello,

I am an active duty soldier and I am trying to participate on the AECP program (nursing). I have finished the majority of the pre-requirement from most universities. Does anyone know which university can give a letter of acceptance a year ahead since I want to apply for the fall of 2008? (I am deploying in a month

Hello,

Since you are deploying in a month do you think a family member may help you with applications back home? I think that most universitites try to make it standard that "until" you complete all of your pre-requisites for them you are not "accepted" to their nursing program officially.

It is the junior and senior year when you are "officially" in their programs. However, if you order up several sets of your officially sealed transcripts and keep them sealed and ask your family member to make calls and send out apps for you, maybe you could get the letter?

The few schools that I know of, and not related to military at all, would only mail out letters of acceptance the spring or fall ahead of acceptance.

I didn't go through the program though, and hope that others answer you soon enough before you deploy, (so you do not need to worry about it until you can take action).

Gennaver

[Jarnaes]

Contact the AECP program director and ask which schools currently have AECP students. That way you don't waste your time on schools that's never heard of the program. That was my biggest mistake when I did AECP- I wasted both time and money on a few applications.

[Rme4life]

sorry about the post. i should have looked at the date of the first post. answered a question that i am pretty sure no longer needed an answer.

[military girl]

When did you go the Iraq with the 21st CSH. I just got back from deploying with them (Apr '06 - Apr '07).

[Gennaver, MSN]

When did you go the Iraq with the 21st CSH. I just got back from deploying with them (Apr '06 - Apr '07).

Hello Military Girl,

Nice to read you.

If you have a chance...would you know how a person finds out what unit they will be assigned to? Is it based on your post assignment? Thanks. As a soon to be new nurse I am pretty sure that I'd be at the bedside for abit but, naturally, like many am willing to deply and curious how it works.

Gen

p.s. if this isn't appropriate to answer, then no worries

[cobber]

This is prolly a dumb question....but what is the difference between the ANCP and the AECP? I am in the ANCP and heading to OBLC in aug.