Is military nursing for you?
The Military Nursing staff comes from many backgrounds, countries, religious groups, and racial groups. In peacetime, military nurses will look after active servicemen and their dependents. In the aftermath of an attack, the army provides medical services around the United. See the benefits of wearing a military uniform and learning cutting-edge technological tools here in a report compiled by Capt. P. Dreater and his Maj.M. De Jong. The opinions or assertions mentioned in this article are private views of the authors and are interpreted not as official or as reflecting the views or beliefs of the Department of Air force and Defence. Planning to pursue a career as a military nurse? Acemyhomework will help you with your course work to ensure you score exemplary grades.
How to Become a Military Nurse
Becoming a military nurse is one of the best decisions you can make. It’s rewarding, challenging, and exciting! You will be helping people in need while making lifelong friendships with other nurses who share your passion for caring for others. As an Army nurse, you are part of a team that provides care 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. If you are a rural nurse, you typically work in critical care nursing.
Here are the steps of becoming a military nurse
Earn a Nursing Degree
The first step towards becoming a military nurse is earning a nursing degree from a school accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. The CCNE accredits schools across the country so students have access to quality programs at affordable prices. There are many different types of professional military education available including associate degree, bachelor's degree, or master's degrees. Some schools offer specialized training as well or the officer basic leadership course. Do you need help with nursing degree courses to progress your military nursing career? Acemyhomework is here to help.
Take and pass National Licensure Examination
Once you earn your military nurses' care license, it must then be approved through the state board where you live before being accepted into active duty service of the military healthcare system. This process varies depending upon which branch of the armed forces you join.
Gaining Civilian Experience or Enlisting as a New Military Nurse Graduate
After completing basic training, most new recruits enter their respective branches of the Armed Forces and begin working toward their civilian licenses. However, if you want to work directly under a commissioned officer, you may enlist instead. If you choose to do so, you'll complete additional training and education prior to entering active duty.
Become a Registered Nurse
Once you've completed all necessary requirements, you're ready to apply for RN licensure.
You should expect to take several tests such as NCLEX-RN, PRAXIS I & II, and MNA. These exams help determine whether you meet the minimum standards required to practice as a registered nurse.
If you successfully pass these exams, you will receive your license allowing you to start practicing as a registered nurse. Your license will also allow you to serve overseas.
As a military nurse, you will provide medical services to patients throughout the world. In addition to providing direct patient care, you will assist doctors and surgeons during surgeries and procedures. You might even perform research studies to find better ways to treat diseases and injuries.
Certificates for Military Nurses
There are various certifications offered to military nurses. Here are just a few examples:
- Advanced Cardiac Life Support - Provides emergency treatment for cardiac arrest.
- American Heart Association Basic Life Support - A course designed to teach CPR skills.
- Critical Care Transport Team Certification - Allows you to transport critically ill patients between hospitals.
- Emergency Medical Technician -Provides advanced life support skills to save lives.
- Flight Attendant Training Program - Helps prepare flight attendants for careers in aviation.
- Healthcare Provider Coursework - Designed to give healthcare providers knowledge about health issues affecting veterans.
- Nursing Assistant Certificate - Prepares individuals to work in hospital settings.
Places Military Nurses Work
In order to become an effective member of the Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marines, you need to know what type of job opportunities exist within each branch. Each branch has its own unique set of duties and responsibilities that can vary greatly based on location. For example, some positions require extensive travel while others don't.
Here are some common places military nurses get job responsibilities after they finish serving their time with the United States government:
Hospitals
Being a military nurse you can work at any number of different types of facilities including general hospitals, trauma centers, burn units, intensive care wards, surgical suites, etc.
Military branch clinics
These clinics offer primary care services like physicals, vaccinations, dental checkups, eye examinations, blood pressure checks, etc. They often have limited hours but many locations stay open 24/7.
Veterans Administration Hospitals
The VA has been responsible for treating injured soldiers from every war since World War II. The VA offers free medical care to eligible veterans who live near one of their facilities. Some VAs also accept non-veteran patients.
Roles of a Military Nurse
A good military nurse must be able to do more than simply administer medication and bandage wounds. As a military nurse, you'll play a vital role in helping wounded troops recover quickly so they can return home safely. This means being prepared to handle emergencies ranging from minor cuts and scrapes to serious illnesses and traumatic injuries in all medical facilities.
Your training prepares you to deal with all kinds of situations in your respective military branch. It teaches you how to recognize symptoms of illness and injury and how to respond appropriately when someone needs immediate attention while working in a military hospital.
Here are some roles of professional nurses:
Emergency Room Military Registered Nurse
This position requires specialized education and experience as well as certification by the American Red Cross. ER RN's provide direct patient care during times of crisis such as accidents, natural disasters, terrorist attacks, wars, etc.
Intensive Care Unit Military Registered Nurse
An ICU RN works closely with doctors and other healthcare professionals to ensure that patients receive proper care. These professionals monitor vital signs, perform procedures, assist surgeons, and help keep patients comfortable.
Operating Room Military Registered Nurse
OR RNs specialize in providing anesthesia before surgery and assisting physicians throughout surgeries. Their main responsibility is ensuring that everyone involved receives quality care.
Perioperative Military Registered Nurse
A perinatologist specializes in caring for women during pregnancy and childbirth. Perioperative RNs may work in labor & delivery areas, neonatal nurseries, operating rooms, postpartum recovery units, and special birthing centers.
Medical-Surgical Military Registered Nurse
MSRNs focus primarily on delivering high-quality health care through diagnosis and treatment. MSRNs usually work in outpatient settings where they treat people suffering from various diseases and conditions.
Military Nursing Ranking System
There are several ways to rank your job performance within the military. You might earn points based on your level of education or years of service. Or you could get paid extra if you're highly skilled.
The ranking system used depends on what branch of the armed forces you serve in. For example, Army nurses use different criteria than Navy nurses.
Benefits of Military Nursing
When you choose this military nursing career path, you have access to many benefits including healthcare coverage, tuition assistance, retirement plans, and much more. Here are just a few examples of these perks:
- Healthcare Coverage - Healthcare insurance provided by the government covers most services offered at hospitals and clinics.
- Tuition Assistance - A military nurse who has served their country long enough will often qualify for financial aid to pay for school. Some schools offer scholarships specifically geared towards veterans.
- Retirement Plans - The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs offers a variety of programs designed to support active-duty personnel and retirees military nurses.
Military Nursing Career Advancement
As an experienced military nurse, you can advance quickly. If you want to become a supervisor, then look into becoming a chief nurse first. This means you'll be responsible for supervising others while working under one of them. As time goes on, you can move up to higher positions like a director or vice president.
If you'd rather stay behind the scenes, consider becoming a manager instead. Managers oversee operations and make sure everything runs smoothly. They also train new employees so they can take over when needed.
If you decide to leave the military after serving as a nurse, there's no need to worry about finding another position right away. Many employers hire former servicemen because they know it takes experience to do well in any field. So even though you've been out of uniform for some time now, don't let that stop you from getting back into the workforce.
Contributions of Military Nurses
Nurses play a vital role in keeping our nation healthy. Their contributions include helping patients recover from surgery, providing comfort to those facing death, taking care of wounded soldiers, and treating injuries caused by accidents. In addition, Military nurses help prevent disease outbreaks by monitoring patient safety standards and educating other medical professionals.
In short, military nursing is a rewarding profession with plenty of opportunities for advancement. It's not easy but it pays off big time!
Challenges Military Nurses Face
While being part of the Armed Forces may bring certain challenges, it also brings rewards. One challenge faced by military nurses is dealing with stress. Because of the nature of their work, military nurses must deal with trauma every day. And sometimes, things go wrong. When something does happen, military nurses face additional pressure trying to figure out how to handle the situation.
Another common problem for military nurses is burnout. Burnout occurs when people feel overwhelmed by too much responsibility and end up feeling exhausted all the time. Fortunately, there are ways to avoid burnout. For example, if you're having trouble coping with your workload, talk to someone else about what's going on. You might find that you aren't alone. Also, try scheduling breaks throughout the week. Finally, remember that you deserve downtime. Take advantage of free time whenever possible.
Frequently Asked Questions About Military Nurses
Q: What kind of jobs are available for military nurses?
A: There are many different types of careers open to military nurses. Some examples include hospital administrator, emergency room physician, intensive care unit doctor, operating room technician, respiratory therapist, pharmacy tech, physical therapy assistant, radiology technologist, surgical scrub tech, speech-language pathologist, social worker, and more.
Q: How long will I have to serve before retiring?
A: That depends on where you live and whether or not you choose to retire early. If you plan to continue working while still in the service, then you'll be required to complete at least 20 years of active duty. However, if you want to start planning retirement earlier than that, you should contact an accountant who specializes in military benefits. He or she can tell you exactly how much money you stand to receive based on your rank and length of service.
Q: What is it like to be a military nurse?
A: For a military nurse you're likely to have the most skilled nurse at work. Military nurses enter the service and can be assigned from any position based on aptitude or desire. They have the chance to travel to various countries as well as other states to live, work and complete their assignment training. Your clinical skills will stay developed as an advanced skill as you develop critical thinking abilities and your time management will also be tested in a fast-evolving environment. As a nurse, you will have excellent opportunities to develop clinical skills to be tested quickly in a military environment. The military nurses provide medical attention at the frontline overseas.
Q: Can I get my degree without leaving the Army?
A: Yes, most schools offer programs specifically designed for veterans. These programs allow students to earn both college credits and military training simultaneously. The best way to learn which program works best for you is to visit each school website and read through its information section. Then call them directly to ask questions.
Conclusion
If you've always wanted to join the armed forces, now is the perfect time to do so and we are here to help your dream come true. Not only will you gain valuable experience as a nurse, but you'll also enjoy some great perks like health insurance coverage and tuition assistance. Plus, you won't need to worry about paying back student loans because they're paid for during basic training. So why wait any longer? Get started today and let us help you with your coursework!