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Home > Archive > Nursing > September 2004 > Anybody here know about transitioning from an Army nurse to civilian nurse?
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Anybody here know about transitioning from an Army nurse to civilian nurse?
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| Jabba 2004-08-31, 10:12 pm |
| It's been a fun (okay, not always fun) ten years in the Army. I am an
Army nurse (currently stationed in Iraq) and want to know if anybody
knows about the transition from military to civilian nursing and if
any of my ten years can be counted towards retirement if I land a job
as a government employed civilian nurse at a military hospital.
I've heard many rumors but haven't found any solid sources. I've heard
that you have to "buy time" towards retirement as a civilian nurse and
that you have to do 30 years as a civilian to retire.
I've been here close to nine months. I've seen too much trauma, pain,
and death. Considering how long the U.S. commitment is to this place I
will likely have to return here within a year of being home (i.e. Good
Ol' USA). I consider myself a patriot. I just think that I'm losing my
humanity and sense of caring that I know I once had. I simply don't
want to see what I've seen anymore. I'd rather spend the rest of my
life as a nurse on some ortho ward taking care of elderly THR rather
than 20 year old children with their heads blown to pieces.
The current Army policy has soldiers deployed for a year to year and a
half, some reservists could spend two years deployed. That is just too
much time away from family, away from friends, and exposed to endless
suffering. Fellow nurses, I'm sorry. I've just seen too many blown up
Iraqi kids, injured civilians, and body bags to want to do this again.
I need a break and the life as a civilian nurse who can get away one
or two days a week to see a movie and/or spend dinner with the family
is just to appealing right now. I'll do the rest of my time as a good
soldier. I'll continue to take care of my patients, whether they be
EPW, Iraqi civilian, or other. I just need an out and the out right
now is as a civilian nurse.
If you know of any ex-military civilian nurses or know where I can
find transition out of the military links please help me out. Thanks.
Jabba
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| Thanks for the help Will.
I didn't realize there were so many avenues of approach. I want to
keep working as a "real nurse". I just don't fancy the idea of seeing
traumatic injuries every day. Seeing gangsters stabbing themselves and
shooting each other with 22's is nothing compared to seeing a soldier
who took an RPG to the head.
I am also looking into getting my masters which could help with giving
me a break from being in the "ready to be deployed" pool. I've heard
about working at the VA hospital and it is a possibility as well. I've
been told that you have to "buy your time" when you try to convert
time spent in the military towards retirement in the civilian sector.
I'll have to weigh it all out when I get back home.
Jabba
wc <wc@worldnet.att.net> wrote in message news:<GCaZc.539133$Gx4.369693@bgtnsc04-news.ops.worldnet.att.net>...
> You should be able to get a job in the VA very easily, they are crying for
> nurses now. Your prior service would count. You could go to Antarctica
> (now there's a switch for you) with a govt. job where prior service would
> count. You could join the US Public Health Service, and your prior service
> would count. You could be a *real nurse* with the Public Health Service.
> You could work with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, for example. There are
> several avenues for you.
>
> You could "educate" yourself by staying in the military and going on to
> school for higher education. What's wrong with a PHd in paper shuffling?
> Pays good. . . "That General" is about to lose her job, you know, the one
> with that long list of abused pows hanging around her neck like charms.
> Hell, replace her, and BE NICE.
>
> I wish you well.
>
> Will, crna
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| Thanks for the help Will.
I didn't realize there were so many avenues of approach. I want to
keep working as a "real nurse". I just don't fancy the idea of seeing
traumatic injuries every day. Seeing gangsters stabbing themselves and
shooting each other with 22's is nothing compared to seeing a soldier
who took an RPG to the head.
I am also looking into getting my masters which could help with giving
me a break from being in the "ready to be deployed" pool. I've heard
about working at the VA hospital and it is a possibility as well. I've
been told that you have to "buy your time" when you try to convert
time spent in the military towards retirement in the civilian sector.
I'll have to weigh it all out when I get back home.
Jabba
wc <wc@worldnet.att.net> wrote in message news:<GCaZc.539133$Gx4.369693@bgtnsc04-news.ops.worldnet.att.net>...
> You should be able to get a job in the VA very easily, they are crying for
> nurses now. Your prior service would count. You could go to Antarctica
> (now there's a switch for you) with a govt. job where prior service would
> count. You could join the US Public Health Service, and your prior service
> would count. You could be a *real nurse* with the Public Health Service.
> You could work with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, for example. There are
> several avenues for you.
>
> You could "educate" yourself by staying in the military and going on to
> school for higher education. What's wrong with a PHd in paper shuffling?
> Pays good. . . "That General" is about to lose her job, you know, the one
> with that long list of abused pows hanging around her neck like charms.
> Hell, replace her, and BE NICE.
>
> I wish you well.
>
> Will, crna
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