What will change for a 68W reclassing to 66H?

2015-07-22T02:50:25-04:00

enrolled in ROTC with the goal to become a 66H, how will my experiences transfer, what are the daily tasks that I will most likely do, and how will my my daily life be affected?

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 22 at 2015 7:02 AM

2015-07-22T07:02:50-04:00

You're aware that a 66H is a Nurse right? Specifically it is a med-surg nurse, med-surg nurses work in a variety of hospital settings. You could be assigned to a standard med-surg floor where you'll care for patients coming out of surgery or who have been admitted for a number of other reasons. Expect your experience as a medic to help you with medical terminology, placing IVs, and drawing blood but it also depends on what you've done as a medic. A medic who has been in a hospital and a medic who has spent all of their time on the line will have very different backgrounds to draw experience from. If you have any specific questions I'd be happy to answer.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 22 at 2015 7:59 AM

2015-07-22T07:59:03-04:00

I believe for the most part, new nurses are sent to hospitals, as opposed to a CSH or FST. For starters you'll be on a Med Surg floor, and after about two years there, when you're a 1LT, you'll get a choice on whether you want to stay in Med Surg and get the certification, or go to the ICU, ER, or other specialization courses. There's a lot of options out there, and the OICs and other RNs at your hospital will be able to assist.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 22 at 2015 9:09 AM

2015-07-22T09:09:40-04:00

It's a trap!

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 22 at 2015 9:53 AM

2015-07-22T09:53:39-04:00

Your experience as a medic will certainly help you in being a nurse. You will know both sides of the fence, as it were. I spent 2 yrs as a medic on a Med/Surg ward at LRMC, and witnessing what the nurses do on a daily basis (granted this was from 2000-2002) their duties were: Changing dressings; hanging/giving meds; charting; diaper changes (for those retired folks that are bed ridden and incontinent); responding to codes. Then, the normal patient/nurse ratio was about 5-6 patients per nurse. Regardless, you will learn soooo much as a Med/Surg nurse once you start working on that ward. It's long hours, but the knowledge and experience payout is worth it. Your daily life will depend on what shift you get. being brand new, you may be put on the night shifts. Depending on how the Head Nurse schedules things, you could be 3 shifts (12 hr shifts) on and 4 days off, or vice versa. You will need to learn how to adjust your daily life to that kind of scheduling.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 23 at 2015 4:42 PM

2015-07-23T16:42:18-04:00

68w to 66h. Great opportunity. Get bcls instructor certified at your local mtn. Volunteer to teach CLS refresher.

Response by MAJ Byron Oyler made Jul 24 at 2015 4:47 AM

2015-07-24T04:47:47-04:00

Quite a bit will change. Medics and EMTs are trained more to black and white standards/parameters where as nurses are expected to assess. Medics are trained that a BP 80/40 is very bad and will likely bolus normal saline until better where as a nurse will look at patient hx, any mental status changes, and are they producing urine. Crystalloids verse colloids. It is a fun change with increasing knowledge and abilities. What carries over from 68W to 66 series are the technical skills such as IVs, EKGs, foleys, etc. You already have patient care experience that when your nursing school peers are afraid to enter the room, you will already be in there and completed your assessment. You do not have to do ROTC to commission into the nurse corps however as of late, ROTC grads have a much better chance at commissioning than direct commissions and changes with the needs of the Army.

Response by LTC Tom Hartley made Jul 26 at 2015 6:14 PM

2015-07-26T18:14:35-04:00

Your clinical experience will give you a sound reference add you begin to practice as a professional nurse. Much of what you learn in nursing school will help you understand the why you do and allow you to make more decisions about care, planning, and collaborating with other professionals about care. Of course you will commission upon completing your degree, which will change life.

Response by 1LT Susan Bailey made Sep 6 at 2015 4:35 PM

2015-09-06T16:35:45-04:00

Some tips:
Leadership- you've already been developing this as you've worked your way up to SPC, but I would continue to work on it as a self development project. Read some great books on the subject and emulate their examples. Leadership in your role as a 66H can take a myriad of forms so it will be important to develop a several different skill sets.

Managing stress: make sure you have got a few different ways to handle stress. I was a Direct Commission when I came into the Army and not only did I have to contend with adjusting to real world nursing (vs.theoretical in school) but also to Army life. That first year after nursing school is probably the toughest of all the following years of practice. This is speaking after having 24 years under my belt now. You will have an advantage because of your previous military experience, but you still have that first year, and it is tough in ways you won't be able to anticipate. So having multiple positive ways to deal with stress will be important.

What your day to day experience will be like will vary from practice setting to setting. For example working in a deployed status in a MASH will be different than working in a fixed facility in CONUS. Just do your best to learn the full art and science of nursing. And embrace flexibility because that is one thing you will have to be to be successful as a Nurse Corps Officer.

Use every experience good or bad as a way to learn. You just never know what experience or skill you will need to adapt, improvise, or overcome in a situation. There have been many times over the course of my career where I have had to lean on a skill or experience from my time in nursing at one point or another to help with the current situation.

Learn how to advocate for others. This will be an important skill when you have to stand your ground for the sake of your patient. I have had to do this on multiple occasions. It's tough when you're new, but in my mind it is an absolutely necessary skill to acquire because you are the last line of defense for the patient. At the same time you need to know what battles to take on.

My bottom line has always been safety. I have never been afraid to admit if I didn't know something, if it impacts safety. I've even said on occasion to a Doc that I don't mind looking stupid to them if it meant my patient was safe which surprised them, but at least opened the door to discuss what signs/symptoms they would prefer me to report should I see, and then I'd pass this on. Over time as you learn and the docs see that your only interest is the patient's welfare you'll gain their respect. So the next time you call you'll be better preparedwith the information they need to help the patient.

Learn to communicate well, if you don't currently feel this is a strength. Most errors in healthcare occur secondary to a communication snafu. Use nursing school as a way to learn and increase this skill so when you hit the wards this isn't a major issue. Most DoD facilities have used the TeamStepps approach - check it out.

Don't be afraid to ask questions as you are learning and getting precepted into your new role. This also helps your Preceptor know what your strengths are and to anticipate learning needs. As much you will know leaving school, you don't know what you don't know starting out as a new nurse. And trust me, there will be a lot!

Kudos for asking questions early on! Willing to help if you have more that I can help with. Cheers!

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 1 at 2016 5:28 PM

2016-06-01T17:28:38-04:00

It's a great change! I did the same thing.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 31 at 2018 8:04 PM

2018-08-31T20:04:53-04:00

If you are active duty chances are you’ll be working in a medical center on a MED-surg floor until you have experience and can progress to other specialties. It’s pretty similar civilian side as well. You’ll do everything for tons of charting oto IVs, meds, pumps, cleaning patients, etc. From there you can branch out to other branch details like OR, ER, etc. or go back ointo school for NP, CRNA, etc.