What is it like being a 66S (Critical Care Nurse) on Army Active Duty?

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 05 Sep 2023 04:29:55 -0400

Looking for some insight on Critical Care nursing on Active Duty.. Currently working in a Trauma ICU as a staff nurse and wanting to get back into Active Duty. I was active duty as a 68W for several years and transitioned to the reserves to complete my BSN. Not really loving the reserve life and considering commissioning as a 66S. However I am concerned that critical care in military hospitals will not the acuity that I enjoy.... Do Critical Care nurses spend time in the ER? Or what are the options for floor time? Really wondering what day to day is like for 66S!

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Sep 5 at 2023 9:25 AM

CSM Darieus ZaGara — Tue, 05 Sep 2023 09:25:33 -0400

While I am not a nurse, nor was I, I can state unequivocally that all major installations have major hospitals whose emergency rooms treat all types and are very busy.

Most major installations have the same every day lives as any other sector of society, add to that the combat training that occurs daily and you have a recipe for a very busy ICU.

Response by MAJ Byron Oyler made Sep 5 at 2023 6:07 PM

MAJ Byron Oyler — Tue, 05 Sep 2023 18:07:42 -0400

All of my junior officer time after the ICU course was spent ICU or ER bedside. ICU did CRRT and ECMO in San Antonio, little bit of burns, and did not leave bedside until I wanted, midway though my time as a major. I would not direct commission as a 66S, come in as a 66H, and do the course. I was ICU in the Army from 2007-2021 and never saw someone come in as a 66S that had the same skills as someone that went through the course. My final for the ICU course was 3hrs, 56mins, all oral, and the only thing I did not have to have memorized was my patient's labs. Hardest course of my life and I hold CCRN, CEN, paramedic license, and am a private pilot and nothing touches the intensity of the ICU course. My instructor pinned LTC below the zone and retired as an O-6. COL Wilson was the real deal. A lot of us RNs, especially those that started prehospital (I was 91B in 1993) think we have the skills to skip straight into the ICU or ER and really none of us do. My first Army RN job was post-partum, yep I was palpating fundus during the early stages of Iraq and will never do that again. Probably saved a baby and doc last month insisting on a urine for a patient that was pregnant in my ER. I think my doc was just going to treat for acid reflux and discharge home. Pretty certain he rolled his eyes when I told him I sent a urine. Nope, she was full blown HELLP. Army had twenty years ago what many today would think are archaic policies, I did then, but certainly do not today. If you want to be a good ICU RN, come in with your 66S; if you want to be a great ICU RN, come in as a 66H, suck it up a bit, do the course, and become a great ICU RN.