Advice on being a Army nurse

[the316]

Hello,
I am studying to become a nurse, and want to join the Army Nurse Corps thru the Reserves or National Guard. I am 42 and in great shape. I signed up so I could read and ask questions in the Military Nurse forum.

The main question I have is when I get commissioned into the ANC, I will have no prior military experience. And as I understand it, when you go in this way, you do not go to BCT. Its a different Officer Basic Course..? My dream is to become a combat nurse, but will I be eligible without BCT??? I will work anywhere, but I would prefer to be in a faster paced environment... Can I get airborne-qualified?? I have many things to learn.......

[jimemt]

Hi the316 --

I'm ex-Navy from a couple of wars ago. Though I can't speak directly to being a military nurse, I might only suggest that you carefully pursue the toll it can take emotionally during war time. I have a very good friend who was a new nurse deployed for 3 months on the USS Repose off of Viet Nam. She still has flash backs to some very bad memories. At the end of her short tour, she feared she could no longer feel any compassion for her patients.

Also, there is a nurse with whom I have corresponded a few times who works at, I'm guessing, Walter Reed (she hasn't disclosed the actual place other than to refer to it as a "military hospital." You can read her blog at From Our Perspective; some thoughts:. Look for Clara Hart on the page.

This being said, I applaud your desire. Though I'm way past being part of any military organization, I can see myself poss working in a VA hospital sometime during my career.

Best to you --

Jim
Newbie RN

[DGrimmJr]

Hey Everyone,

Just curious as to some interesting assignments/duty stations those who have served have had or any interesting stories anyone is willing to share from their military nursing experience (good and/or bad).

Dave

[SoldierNurse]

Just redeployed [returned] last month from 15 month deployment at Camp Bucca, Iraq. I would not advise anyone to volunteer for a CSH deploying to Bucca. Very hard mission for so many reasons; patients are detainees, the detainee population is too large for the level of health care provided, and the LSA is miserable. I suppose if I'd been there for only 6 months I would not be so bitter towards the AMEDD. Now, those ANC officers not organic are deployed for only 6 months.

I will never forget June 9, 2007, when a rocket mortar hit Compound 8 [only 200 meters from the hospital]; 8 dead & over 70 injured. I was charge nurse the preceding night shift when we were hit around 0745. Ran for a bunker, then ran back into the hospital. Assumed care of one the casualities triaged in the ER. Transferred him to the ICU and was his primary nurse until I was relieved by another nurse around 1300. Came back around 1900 the same day. We were busy for several months d/t the MassCal.

Actually, I have lot's of memories from the deployment. It feels strange to be back home with my wife, even after a month. Nonetheless, a very good feeling. Hard to explain. Kind of like it was a very bad dream. I certainly don't have PTSD. Although, many Soldiers in my unit were on antidepressants. I'm having no trouble sleeping except for this damn arm sling. A combo of wearing IBA vest [w/attached gear > 40 lbs.] & lifting weights tore my supraspinatus... rotator cuff.

This past Friday I visited the OR at Madigan Army Medical Center. LOL, d/t versed I don't remember leaving the holding area for the OR. I woke up in PACU to the sound of a nurse very upset. I asked her what was wrong and she said my blood pressure was too high. I asked what was it and she said SBP in the 170's. Well, I usually run a little high, in the 150's. I told her to give me labetalol and to relax. She told she already did & was going to give me another dose. I told her she better not bottom me out and to get my wife in her. My wife is also an RN.

Anyway, I stayed the night and was discharged Saturday morning.

It is good to be back.

[SoldierNurse]

Originally Posted by the316

Hello,
I am studying to become a nurse, and want to join the Army Nurse Corps thru the Reserves or National Guard. I am 42 and in great shape. I signed up so I could read and ask questions in the Military Nurse forum.

The main question I have is when I get commissioned into the ANC, I will have no prior military experience. And as I understand it, when you go in this way, you do not go to BCT. Its a different Officer Basic Course..? My dream is to become a combat nurse, but will I be eligible without BCT??? I will work anywhere, but I would prefer to be in a faster paced environment... Can I get airborne-qualified?? I have many things to learn.......

Combat nurse? If, you are thinking of what you have seen in war movies where an infantry Soldier gets hit with direct fire and someone yells... MEDIC, then you are in for a rude awakening. Most ANC officers deployed to the Middle East are with a CSH unit. However, most places you find a CSH will be in a combat zone. I heard the whistle of mortar rockets and saw smoke from rocket mortar hits. I saw brains hanging out the back of a skull.

BTW, all those accepted into the ANC go to OBLC, which is not the same as basic training for enlisted Soldiers. Yet, upon completion of OBLC your good to go regards to getting deployed to the Middle East where you can be introduced to mortar rockets, IEDs, and lot's and lot's of sand.

PSSST, please do yourself a favor and talk to both an Army Health Care recruiter & AF nurse recruiter before making final comittment.

[DGrimmJr]

Glad to hear you're home and doing well. Thanks for your service

[OldSquidNewNurse]

Glad to her you made it back safely.:beer_yum:

[SoldierNurse]

Originally Posted by OldSquidNewNurse

Glad to her you made it back safely.:beer_yum:

LOL, had L Rotator Cuff surgery last Friday D/T old age & IBA vest that weighs over 40 lbs. with attached gear while in Iraq.

Yes, great to be back.

Thanks!

[DGrimmJr]

Hey all,

I have been doing my research on the Army Nurse Corps and some people have told me that Army RN's have a broader scope of practice than civilian RN's. Can anyone elaborate or go into greater detail on that? I appreciate any feedback you can give me. Thanks!

[SoldierNurse]

Originally Posted by DGrimmJr

Hey all,

I have been doing my research on the Army Nurse Corps and some people have told me that Army RN's have a broader scope of practice than civilian RN's. Can anyone elaborate or go into greater detail on that? I appreciate any feedback you can give me. Thanks!

I am your SME... subject matter expert

My answer however may sound weak... my answer is yes & no.

Military RN's follow the same scope of practice per each individual's state nursing license, i.e. my license was issued to me by the Board of Nurse Examiners for the state of Texas. However, the standards of care applied to the battlefield, while in principle are based on civilian care, adhere to the principle of performing the correct intervention at the correct time in the continuum of combat care.

I was deployed to Iraq. I worked in an MTF, medical treatment facility, rather than an aide station. We did come under mortar rocket attacks, although by definition it was considered indirect fire. Anyway, I mention this to point out most of the time an ANC officer will be at some type of an MTF and strictly adhere to the same scope of practice as civilian counterparts. The difference with ANC officers being the specific situation, and mission.

I hope that helps.