What to expect as a new BSN for Army at first duty station

Tanker · Dec 5, 2012

Welcome to the Army Nurse Corps (ANC)! I can tell you exactly what you will be doing as a newly assigned RN. I am a Major on Active Duty and am the OIC of the medical floor at William Beaumont Army Medical Center at Ft Bliss, TX. I am currently at ILE (a school for Majors) and assisting you with this question helps me with an assignment here to post on a BLOG. Win-win.

Assumptions - You are a New Grad (NG), no prior Army experience, coming on to Active Duty (AD).

The ANC has changed the way they grow their new grads. The first thing you will do is go to Basic Officer Leadership Coorifice (BLOC) where you will be with new MDs, Dentists, Vets, Pharmacists, Nurses and other medical folks to learn about the Army and some basic things, like how to wear a uniform and field problems. This is a 10 week course.

The next thing will be to go to your first assignment. Don't worry about going to a CSH (CASH and MASH acronym not used) as they want some experience first now. So, you will go to one of about 7 (?) locations that have the Clinical Nurse Transition Program (CNTP). This program is a preceptorship that all NGs go through. If you have strong civilian experience they will waive the CNTP. You start with about 4 weeks of didactic work, skills, hospital orientation, required training and observing several units in the hospital. After that you go to a Medical, Surgical or Med/Surg unit (my hospital has separate Med and Surg although we support each other. There you are assigned a fabulous preceptor for 10 weeks. Now you learn how to be a real nurse! You will be oriented to the floor and there is a detailed program of what you are to learn, do and demonstrate proficiency. You will increase your pt load as your preceptor sees your progress. During this time you have monthly a seminar with the Director of the CNTP program at your location. At the end of your 10 weeks you are then ready to be on your own. This timeline can adjust longer if the NG needs it.

The main thing we (leadership) wants is for you to develop as an RN first but you have to also progress your Army career at the same time. It is pretty much expected to have "additional duties" to round you out. This can be something as being the person to check crash cart inspection compliance to party planner. Wide variety. these things typically don't require a lot of extra time. You must also mantain your physical fitness.

During this time you will be counseled (not in a bad way) about what is expected of you and to discuss your plans. You can apply for additional training in another area, like ICU, ER, OR, psych, OB, etc typically after about 6 months or so. Don't be in too big of a rush. Learn your basics first. also during this time you can ask to shadow in other areas to get a good idea of what you might be interested in doing. getting the course is just a matter of getting Deputy Commander for Nursing (DCN) approval. If you have done well and shown desire and motivation it will be no problem. The M/S area is the feeder to all the other programs. The courses are about 4 months long and then you will be assigned to one of the larger facilities for a utilization tour to apply what you just learned. This could be back where you were depending upon if there is a need and if you want to return. This is totally optional. I have had some nurses decide that MS is for them.

Typically, you need to be at your first assignment for at least a year before going to your next assignment. If you want to go to a CSH then I recommend that you stay at a busy MS unit for at least 18-24 mos. You will be more prepared by that time having good nursing experience and much better understanding of how the army works. Unless you are assigned to a CSH you are usally assigned to a PROFIS (Professional Filler System) slot with a CSH somewhere. This means you are like an agency nurse for them when they deploy. If they get notice that they are deploying you will go with them. Or, you could just be selected to go on an assignment. We get periodic taskings to send a person somewhere. We don't usually send anyone until they have had at least a year or so of experience. We want you to succeed.

Being in the Army as a nurse can be thought of as 2x the nurse. You have to tend to your RN career and also your Army career. I believe you already understand the RN side having completed or about to. The Army wants you to also be a leader. You will have to work on that aspect. There are definite opportunites to do so. You need to leverage your leaders and also take initiative. One thing about the Army is that you never know when you will be in charge. I have seen that when one is deployed one is often put in a position at least one level higher. So, you may be a floor nurse today but you may go down range and be an OIC. This leadership training/experience is something that doesn't necessarily get developed on the civilian side. Not bashing the civilian side as they prefer to have RN specialists that may be in that one position for many years and be great at it. The Army wants pretty much both - technician and a leader. I encourage you to seek those opportunities and grow with them.

So, to sum it up, your first year will be learning, doing and developing. You are coming oin at a great time. There are so many opportunities that the Army provides that would be hard to replicate in the civilian sector. The army has a program where you can go and get your Master's degree and the Army pays for it and you are on AD while doing it. You then just owe them time, usually 4 yrs. But if you wanted to be a Nurse Practitioner, CRNA, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Nurse Informatist, Nurse Executive, or any number of other options you can do it and get paid while doing it. Plus, you get opportunities to lead and manage. In my opinion you get much more opportunities than in the civilian world.

Again, welcome and enjoy the journey!

MAJ Robert Burdine

ILE Class 2012-003

Staff Group CThe above comments represent the views and opinions of the author only, and should not be interpreted to represent the United States Army or the Department of Defense in any way.

ncox1 · Dec 5, 2012

MAJ Burdine,

I thank you for your detailed explanation which I found to be very informative. This pretty much answers all my questions

I should of included more info on myself to save some of your instructions but if this was as well for an assignment then I hope it was not in vain. I am active duty and have been in the military for 8 years. Apologize on the acronym mix up (CSH, not CASH). I am a AECP Soldier schooling in Houston right now and am tracking on completing my school in May, NCLEX shortly after followed on by BOLC when I'm slotted.

Your advice is sound Sir, I have been a NCOIC of a medical clinic (Opt/Ophthal) for the last 5 years prior to getting picked up for the nursing program so I understand the importance of the job/Soldier balance you mentioned before.

Again, apologies for not saying I was active up front but truly your response was exactly what I was looking for. I am excited to join the Nurse Corps and am reassured that there will be squared away nurses and officers such as yourself who are willing to impart knowledge and experience for new grads such as myself.

Respectfully,

SGT Cox, Nathan

jeckrn, BSN, RN · Dec 6, 2012

The Major gives good info, but if you go to one of the classes you could end up in a smaller facility (MEDDAC) vs a larger one (MEDCEN) in some of the AOC's. One thing that has changed as the Major has stated is that the Army wants to train you first as a RN before deploying you. Unless WWIII breaks out the Army will not deploy you until you have become a 1LT. If after some time you get assigned to a CSH you more then likely will work at the hospital on base as borrowed manpower to keep your skills up.

ncox1 · Dec 6, 2012

jeckrn,

Is time in grade to meet the requirements for 1LT 24 months, 18 with a waiver? If that being the case theoretically I could be at a duty station 2yrs before my first deployment as a nurse?

Just asking for the stability of my family, no issues with deploying.

zombie · Dec 6, 2012

I don't see you being deployed off the bat, like the others were saying. CSH is a funny beast. It may feel like your a reservist at times In a garrison environment. Congrats on AECP it's a good program. I know quite a few folks been through it. Learn your trade, keep a good attitude, and you will do fine. You know the basic army stuff already, just build on that from a different perspective.I was direct commission so I had to learn army talk, courtesies, and had to get used to requesting stuff like passes and PCSing.Good stuff though. Take advantage of opportunities like getting your advanced degree via the army.Take care

nursespouse · Dec 6, 2012

I don't see you being deployed off the bat, like the others were saying. CSH is a funny beast. It may feel like your a reservist at times In a garrison environment. Congrats on AECP it's a good program. I know quite a few folks been through it. Learn your trade, keep a good attitude, and you will do fine. You know the basic army stuff already, just build on that from a different perspective.I was direct commission so I had to learn army talk, courtesies, and had to get used to requesting stuff like passes and PCSing.Good stuff though. Take advantage of opportunities like getting your advanced degree via the army.Take care

^^^^^ AHHHHHHH a ZOMBIE!!!!!!

zombie · Dec 6, 2012

Zombie apocalypse is coming! Don't you watch The Walking Dead? The writing is on the wall! Actually I came up with the handle working nights..... And you know how that is.

jeckrn, BSN, RN · Dec 7, 2012

jeckrn,
Is time in grade to meet the requirements for 1LT 24 months, 18 with a waiver? If that being the case theoretically I could be at a duty station 2yrs before my first deployment as a nurse?
Just asking for the stability of my family, no issues with deploying.

It is now 42 months until you can pin on Captain which translates to 21 months before you are promoted to 1LT if you do not have any constructive credit. I am not aware of any waivers for the TIG at 18 months so you will need to ask your S-1 about that.

As far as deploying as a new nurse what they told us at Captains Career Course last year was that 2LT's were not to be deployed. But as you know it all depends on the need of the Army. There are plenty of O-6's AN's out there who are lite on the right sleeve. So it is hit and miss on deployments, I know many nurses who have volunteered for deployment and who have not and others that have deployed mulitple times.

If you want to get assigned to a FORSCOM unit it will not be until after your first assignment. What branch put out in the spring is that all assignments are for 3 years. Since you have been in the Army for a while it is always subject to change. For stability of your family and if you want to go to a FORSCOM unit in the future try to get assigned to a base which has one that way you only have to do a intrapost PCS move.

ncox1 · Dec 7, 2012

Thanks all, the info is solid. I'm liking the Zombie thing, on DEC 15th I am doing the Run For Your Life Zombie run near Austin, TX. That's what I'm doing for PT to keep myself active are mud runs every couple of months.

I'm one of those rare Soldiers who just has never deployed in 8 years... At first it was cool but now I feel like I'm chompin at the bit to get one in before everything wraps up. I am a combat medic but have an identifier as a eye tech so been stuck in MEDDAC units the whole time. FORSCOM does sound appealing though. Thanks for the info everyone!

anu10 · May 18, 2017

MAJ Burdine,

Thank you for your detailed explanation. However, my situation is little complicated. I graduated from University of Wyoming (2014) as a BSN and worked for almost a year as a nurse. Since I didn't have 2 years of nursing experience, I joined as an Enlistee 68 D (2016) which is an OR tech. I was told it would be easier to apply for army nurse once you are in the army. I already graduated from basic and AIT both with honors. However, due to some paper works I haven't received my orders yet. I was looking at military nursing and almost all the recruiter asks for a 2 years of experience. I was also looking at CNTP and was wondering if I would be accepted in that program since I got my RN license before joining the military. Additionally, my enlistee contract is 6 years of active. I still have 5 years to go. I would greatly appreciate if you have any suggestions.

Editorial Team / Moderator · May 18, 2017

MAJ Burdine,
Thank you for your detailed explanation. However, my situation is little complicated. I graduated from University of Wyoming (2014) as a BSN and worked for almost a year as a nurse. Since I didn't have 2 years of nursing experience, I joined as an Enlistee 68 D (2016) which is an OR tech. I was told it would be easier to apply for army nurse once you are in the army. I already graduated from basic and AIT both with honors. However, due to some paper works I haven't received my orders yet. I was looking at military nursing and almost all the recruiter asks for a 2 years of experience. I was also looking at CNTP and was wondering if I would be accepted in that program since I got my RN license before joining the military. Additionally, my enlistee contract is 6 years of active. I still have 5 years to go. I would greatly appreciate if you have any suggestions.

Wow... I am afraid someone sold you a bill of goods by telling you that it would be easier to come in as a 68D and then somehow get a commission. The nurse corps is overstrength, so yes â€” 2 years is what the Army wants regarding experience. Unless there is some magic that will allow you to transition to the nurse corps, you are looking at the next 5 years as an OR tech. The Army has now invested significant resources in your 68D training.

My advice, so that you don't exit the military in 5 years with a huge gap in your nursing career, is to moonlight as an RN in your free time (subject to the approval of your command) to keep your skills current.