Hey guys, I'm a junior interested in nursing, and I've also been curious about the military. Is it a thing that RNs can deploy with military units as civilians? I'd love to combine my love for nursing and my interest in military service. Any input is appreciated!
Absolutely! Nurses can and do play critical roles in the military. In fact, each branch of the U.S. military – the Army, Navy, and Air Force – has its own nursing corps. There are two ways that you can serve as a nurse in the military. You can either serve as a commissioned officer, which involves going through a military training program in addition to your regular nursing education, or as a civilian nurse with a status similar to an army contractor.
1. Military Nurse: As a military nurse, you have the rank and pay of an officer and you'll have additional responsibilities to those of a civilian nurse. You could be active-duty (full-time) or reserve (part-time). Military nurse officers go through officer training in addition to their professional training, and their education is often funded in part or whole by the military.
2. Civilian Nurse: If you choose to work as a civilian nurse for the military, you’re technically a department of defense employee. You might work at a military base stateside or get the chance to deploy overseas during times of conflict. This is a good route for individuals who want to support the military and provide care for service members, but also want to avoid the military lifestyle in terms of the need to relocate frequently or to participate in boot camp and other intensive training.
It's worth noting that becoming a military nurse often comes with added benefits like access to funding for further education, opportunities to travel and work abroad, and a retirement pension after a length of service.
It's commendable that you're looking into combining your interest in nursing with service to your country. It'd be worth reaching out to a military recruiter or talking with a college career counselor who has knowledge about military opportunities to learn more about the specifics of pursuing a nursing career in the military.
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