Iam a recent graduate from an RN program considering enlistment. I have ?'s about life as a nurse in the army. If there are any nurses who post I would like to hear from you.

There are a few on here. One to look for on the boards is CiderAlpha. She can provide you with some good answers.

Only one thing, you say you are a graduate from a nursing program, but you didn't specify degree. So, just as a FYI, to qualify for a commission in the Active Army as a RN, it has to be a Bachelors degree

I am a nurse in the Army Reserve, assigned to a combat support hospital.

What questions do you have?

I am an AD but Starting my BSN in thefall.Ilike the idea of having a monthly stipend, the option of a sign on bonus and/or student loan repayment. What does one do as a nurse in the reserves? What are the skills that are learned, used and taught? I am intereted in reserves Ihave 4 kids 15,13,7,& 6, so that would be my option to serve at this point. It will take 2-3 years to domy BSN and at that point I would consider AD. I feel maybe they would give me a dependantwaiver at that point.Wewould be able to prove financial stability my husband has a CDL and I would have one 18 year old at that point and one 16. I would go in at the reserve level as an O-2? Thatis another plus we have a medical recruiterin our area. I know I need to talk to him not just a regular recruiter. As a student what is the deployability staus? Are you exempt at that point or is that not always true? It is not so much I fear the deployment I understand it is part of the deal, I just want to be able to blast through the rest of my school and not get knocked back a tear or so. It is hard to pick up after you have time off.

Deployment is part of the reserve package for many. Just because you are in school does not automatically excuse you from deployment, thought I understand that there is some effort made NOT to deploy those in a nursing degree-completion program. You have to understand that that is no guarantee, however.

I don't know why you would enter the Reserves as an O-2 - you are a new grad with no nursing experience (as an RN), so very wet behind the ears in that regard. I would NOT count on that; you're most likely to enter as a Second Lieutenant (O-1).

Whatever skills are used on drill weekends will depend on the tasks assigned your unit on drill weekends, and what type of unit it is. If a CSH, you might spend more time putting up and taking down the physical hospital than evaluating patients. If another type of medical unit, you may go into a military medical facility as adjunct staff - and treat patients/train enlisted subordinates. It varies from unit to unit.

What is the training that would be required? The info I have seen on the reserves says no basic. Is it an officer training course in general or is it specific only to nursing?

You would go to OBLC. It is around 9 weeks with a 2 week nurse track. It would be in Texas. The Army site is out dated. Nurses used to go for a 2 week period. But now it is a lot more involved. YOU will take a PT test after being there for a few days. If you pass then you will do PT 3 days a week. If not then you will do PT 5 days a week. They will re-test before graduation. I have been told that if you don't pass then,, they give you 180 to be able to pass. If not then you are out. Please check out allnurses.com. Go over to specialty.. click on that... go down to the 3rd entry.. click on that... A whole host of nursing spec. will pop up.. Scroll down to MILITARY... You will find tons of threads from current and want a be military nurses. This is great... I'm sure you will like it. There is a thread on there right now. I think it is right at the top. It says... Currently At OBLC.. You can read them. On the bottom of of this thread right before the section where you can post, there is a thread> I believe it reads something like "my experience At OBLC... click on this too. Good info. There is also a blog you can search on google or allnurses. This is from a nurse that went through OBLC. On allnurses it says something like... Interesting blog about OBLC.. Good luck to you.... Sorry so long... And current Army nurses.. keep posting.... WE LOVE TO HEAR ALL ABOUT YOU AND YOUR JOBS!!!!take care all..... and again sorry so long... I just want to help as many people as I can.

Hello:

I tried to find the blog about OBLC on google. Wasn't able to. So, if you are interested go to allnurses.com and do a search. Type in Interesting blog about OCLC. I believe I found in within the first 6 or so pages of threads. And as well you will see other info. about the training and such that one would endure with the nurse corps... Good luck... thanks again to all that respond.. take care

I found the posts on allnurses.com. They seem to be very informative, thanks!

In the way the OP worded her original question any ANC or 68wM6 could answer her question. 68WM6 is a LPN, you know as in Licensed Practical NURSE? If you are wanting to question just RNs then state so, don't assume that the generic term Nurse does not apply to LPNs. LPNs are Nurses, RNs are Nurses. Be specific.

I can't agree 100%, Sekar.

A "Practical Nurse" is an LPN - in Texas, an LVN.

A "Registered Nurse" is an RN.

There is significant difference between them.

But your suggestion to be specific as to which type of "nurse" information is being requested, related to the military, is spot on.

While you all are on the topic of “Nurses,” can I ask a question?

I am a Nurse Practitioner with over 20 years experience (various EMS/nursing/hospitals/etc.)
Any ideas about NP use in the Army?
Any ideas how my experience may help me signing?

I have not hit the point where I want to pester a recruiter…

NPs are used much as they are in the civilian world. A lot of out-patient/clinic care in your specialty area (family practice, women's health, peds, etc.). Less likely to see field duty, but that seems to be changing as PAs and NPs are used a bit more interchangeably these days.

When you do get to the pestering-a-recruiter point, make sure to contact an AMEDD Accessions Officer. Ordinary recruiters, found in the little recruiting offices in malls and such, do not handle medical professional recruitment. You can call your local recruiting office, but ask to be referred to the AMEDD officer recruiter.

quote:

Originally posted by Cider33Alpha:
NPs are used much as they are in the civilian world. A lot of out-patient/clinic care in your specialty area (family practice, women's health, peds, etc.). Less likely to see field duty, but that seems to be changing as PAs and NPs are used a bit more interchangeably these days.



When you do get to the pestering-a-recruiter point, make sure to contact an AMEDD Accessions Officer. Ordinary recruiters, found in the little recruiting offices in malls and such, do not handle medical professional recruitment. You can call your local recruiting office, but ask to be referred to the AMEDD officer recruiter.

Much appreciated....

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