Why am I not happy with military nursing?

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Just thought I would share my thoughts. I am assigned at a major Army med center. I've been a RN for just over a year now. Like most new RNs I'm assigned to Med-Surg. I have no complaints about patient care and I enjoy doing it. I just feel their is way too much politics at my facility. I feel like just another number in the system and that most of what my command says is all talk.

I feel guilty of my negative feelings because I was enlisted in the Army before RN school. Yes sometimes I didn't like it while I was enlisted, but my leaders took care of me. It just doesn't feel like the Army I know and love. Recently, I have talked to other Junior RN officers that feel the same way and want to get out when their contract is up. Also, there are people being held back from specialty schools that are in their contract. Many people beg to PROFIS deploy just to get out my facility.

Is this facility or Med-Surg specific? Am I wrong in feeling that Nursing in the Army is more political than civilian? I have RN friends in the Navy and Air Force and they love it.

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Are you @ Walter Reed? I was considering putting it as my first choice until I kept hearing the same things that you mentioned... lots of politics and "brass" walking around... I hear it's an awesome hospital though... I'm sorry you are having a bad expreience and I hope it gets better for you!

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Specializes in ARMY MEDIC.

Unfortunately, I have heard the same things and seen them at my unit. It is the reason, that once I began to make rank, I thought about putting in for a Warrant Officer Position as opposed to becoming an ARMY RN. Its sad, but there is alot of "good old boy" networking going on in places, those that are liked and are in with the big wigs tend to get the schools and thus get promoted. The sad thing is that I see it even on the enlisted side. It is why I "fly under the radar," so to speak and stay out of the drama that goes on so that I can get my NCOES and get promoted.

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Honestly, it kind of makes me sad to see good people want to leave. I know there are very good people that care at the top. I am respectful of their position and rank. Playing the game is not for me.

I was told by some of my NCOs before I commissioned to remember where I came from. I cherish that comment. We just gotta remember that we are all a team and need to work together. There is a lot of pressure to perform. I just wish I could feel the team presence and Espirit De Corps. I guess this issue will be something I'll work on if I make some rank. Right now I'll just keep doing my job the best I can.

I too, am impressed with the level of care provided. I know our service members are well taken care of! Thanks for the replies.

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military def varies by facility. I hated it at first. I worked at a place that rhymes with shwalter shreed and was misrrable. It was a direct reflection of the constant "dog and pony show", angry civilian counterparts, and politics in general. Its unfortunate because the care given to clients in certain areas was stellar and almost incomparable. As a whole, though, it was just a dismal place. I just PCSed to Madigan...i mean Shmadigan, and i love it. I have a totally different outlook and actually enjoy coming to work. I never thought i'd say that. I guess just see where you end up. Best of luck to you! :)

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Once again, sorry about the typos. I'm using my phone to respond.

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

I agree completely. I've been in for about a year now and I've never seen so many unhappy new nurses (2LT's). I can list a million reason why so many of us are so unhappy but I will just say this for future RN's thinking about joining the army, please think about it..especially if you are a direct commission and think nursing in the army will be better.

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Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
Is this facility or Med-Surg specific? Am I wrong in feeling that Nursing in the Army is more political than civilian? I have RN friends in the Navy and Air Force and they love it.

*** Sounds like your typical large hospital med-surg floor to me. Exactly why I chose to not work med-surg, army or civilian.

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Specializes in EMT, ER, Homehealth, OR.
*** Sounds like your typical large hospital med-surg floor to me. Exactly why I chose to not work med-surg, army or civilian.

Agree, have work an many different civilian hospitals over the years and some are good and some are bad. Just like military facilities

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