Registered Nurses
Background
Nurses are a key part of the staff at military hospitals and clinics. Registered nurses direct nursing teams and give patients individual care to help them recover from illness or injury.
What They Do
Registered nurses in the military perform some or all of the following duties:
- Assist physicians during surgery
- Change bandages and dressings
- Give injections of pain killers, antibiotics, and other medicines as prescribed by physicians
- Help physicians treat patients
- Keep records of patients' condition
- Provide care for mental health patients
- Provide life support treatment for patients needing emergency care
- Supervise practical nurses, nurse aides, and other support personnel
Physical Demands
No information available.
Special Requirements
Graduation from an accredited school of nursing and a license to practice nursing are required to enter this career.
Helpful Attributes
Helpful attributes include:
- Ability to express ideas clearly and concisely
- Desire to help others
- Self-confidence and the ability to remain calm under pressure
Helpful School Subjects
No information available.
Helpful Fields of Study
No information available.
Work Environment
Registered nurses work in hospitals and clinics. Some work in sick bays aboard ships or in mobile field hospitals. Others work in airplanes that transfer patients to medical centers.
Services offering this career:
- Air Force
- Army
- Coast Guard
- Navy
Hiring Practices
To serve in the military, a person must be at least 17; the maximum age for enlistment varies. To enlist, a person must pass a physical exam and an aptitude test. An enlistee must also meet military standards of discipline and be a US citizen or permanent resident alien.
This position is for officers.
Wages
The military is competitive with the civilian world when it comes to pay and benefits. All branches offer the same basic pay and benefits.
Pay depends mainly on rank or grade as well as length of service. Bonuses and the situation in which the person is serving (for example: flight duty, sea duty, hazardous duty) also affect pay.
Cost-of-living increases usually occur every year, based on inflation. The military also pays allowances for food, clothing, and housing. All these factors combined are called Regular Military Compensation (RMC). They should all be considered when comparing military pay to civilian pay.
There are two main parts to RMC: basic pay and allowances. There are also additional incentives for special abilities, training, or hazardous duty.
Check out the RMC Calculator to calculate your RMC based on your inputs.
Training Provided
Job training consists of 14 to 27 weeks of classroom instruction. Training length varies depending on specialty.
Course content typically includes:
- Anesthesia, respiratory therapy, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation
- Care of emotionally disturbed patients
- Health care for children
- Nursing techniques
- Practices and principles of military nursing
Civilian Counterparts
Civilian registered nurses work in hospitals, clinics, and private medical facilities. They also work for public health agencies, nursing homes, and rehabilitation centers. Civilian registered nurses perform duties similar to those performed in the military. They often specialize and may be known as public health nurses, nurse practitioners, or general duty nurses.
Related Civilian Careers
Employment and Outlook
In peace time the services have about 11,000 nurses. In times of military action the number may be different, depending on the type of specialties required. Each year the services need new nurses due to changes in personnel and the demands of the field. Positions for registered nurses in the Coast Guard are filled by US Public Health Service Officers. Depending on the prior experience that nurses bring with them to the military, their job assignments may vary. After job training, inexperienced nurses work under close supervision. Experienced nurses normally work under less supervision. In time, nurses may become nurse supervisors. Eventually, they may become directors of nursing in hospitals or advance to senior health service management positions.