What is it like being an Army Nurse?

2016-07-19T14:32:03-04:00

Thinking of getting into nursing in my civilian career. Just wondered what Army Nursing was like in the Guard and reserves. Are there alot of nursing slots? What would you do in a deployment setting?

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Jul 19 at 2016 2:42 PM

2016-07-19T14:42:52-04:00

I obv realize you're speaking of army, however, purely as a suggestion, I just thought you might care to know about and or look at the usphs commissioned corps, and their Jr and SR COSTEP programs, their functional equiva to ROTC. If you'd care to know more I can further explain, however, just look them up using Google, you should easily find all of them, hope was of interest be eager to your thoughts, many thanks. Also, look at the multi svc PA program in TX I believe at either Brooks AFB, or ft Sam Houston from what I recall, I think you could!d also go PA as usphs, as well, under their health SVC ofcr or HSO category, many thanks.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 19 at 2016 2:43 PM

2016-07-19T14:43:11-04:00

There are 2 nurses in the army. The LPN which is the enlisted version and the rn which is officer. In the ANG you can have an associate degree in nursing and be commissioned but you can't rank higher than captain. So to answer your question further we need to know if you are looking to get your RN or LPN

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made Jul 19 at 2016 2:46 PM

2016-07-19T14:46:08-04:00

Can't speak to the amount of slots, but Army Nurses in the Reserves tend to have 1 of 2 missions: Backfill active duty MTFs when active duty personnel are pulled to deploy or to deploy as their own integral field units. As for deployment, it depends on what type of medical unit you belong to. Non-practitioner ANC officers tend to fill slots in Role II and III units (FST, Med Co, CSH, etc). You do your regular clinical duties, just in a field setting. The field setting makes things challenging and interesting.

Response by Col Dona Marie Iversen made Jul 19 at 2016 3:16 PM

2016-07-19T15:16:10-04:00

Check out Air Force Flight Nursing, majority of missions flown by Guard & Reserve. Always recruiting for these slots. You fly missions on a variety of aircrafts CONUS & O'CONUS. Must be an RN or can be an EMT/paramedic for an enlisted slot. Contact me if you are interested, more then willing to answer any question and help guide you. Best Wishes! AIM HIGH!

Response by CSM Thomas McGarry made Jul 19 at 2016 3:20 PM

2016-07-19T15:20:13-04:00

As a former 68W M-6 (LPN) with two deployments as such as yes backfill Nurses are always needed!! One thing that is an advantage is that in my Army reserve career as an LPN I went through three Unit deactivations' With these deactivations they always stood up a new hospital unit section in the geographic area because they do not want to loose HC Professionals!!

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 19 at 2016 3:47 PM

2016-07-19T15:47:27-04:00

LTC Private RallyPoint Member Ma'am? You got this?

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 29 at 2016 4:41 AM

2016-07-29T04:41:56-04:00

I'm an LPN on a FST (forward surgical team) for the Army Reserve and we are always needing RNs. They keep promoting up and so transferred out to the CSH (combat support hospital). RNs on the FST are either ER, OR or ICU due to our mission is providing urgent surgical support to the front line. Teams are small: 20-25 people, so every individual is crucial to function. It's hard, rewarding work.

I'm very fortunate to be a part of the FST. The CSH does not deploy as often and provide care as a more clinical setting, although there is an ER, OR and ICU incorporated into it. Their monthly drills are far less exciting. FST is a lot of hard work, but I never envy the CSH.