Got a military brochure in the mail...

[buckettgirl]

The other day, I received a mailing from the U.S. Navy. They want me to be a Navy Nurse. I wasn't too pleased to be receiving anything from the US military, let alone an attempt to draw my attention away from my personal career goals.
The funny thing is, I am a junior in college, I take nursing classes, but I haven't even applied to the nursing program, yet. I intend to be in the Ft. Hays State University nursing program next fall, I will then have 2 years left of school and graduate in May 07.
This letter from the Navy said that they would pay me *up to* $17000/year for my last 2 years of school, to do with whatever I please, in return for being a navy nurse. My dad thinks that I should do it. I don't think I should - I have a house, a husband, 1 cat, and 4 cockatiels (they are my kids) - it may sound simple, but that is my family.
If I wanted to find out what the deal REALLY is about, then I have to send in the information card.
I want to know how they could have gotten my name, address, major and anticipated graduation date. I feel very intruded upon. Is it legal for my university to give this out? Is this the only place they would have gotten it from?
For any of you who work in health care that read this...something else in that letter kinda rubbed me the wrong way to. Basically it said that if I were a navy nurse, I would get greater respect and HAVE MORE CONTROL OVER MY PATIENTS. Control over patients isn't anything that is advocated in nursing - we work with the patients, and help the patients, and advocate for the patients rights - but not control!
I was irked by this because there is a severe nursing shortage in the U.S. already, and it is only going to get worse...many of the nurses are in their 50's and aren't too far off from their retirement. If the military gets people to join who have degrees in healthcare, who is going to take of the people here??

sorry, that was my rant for the day...

[KurtNYC]

1. Interesting info

no apology needed.

It is not uncommon for credit card companies and the like to solicit college students. I know doctors who were offered huge credit lines while still in college (grad school).

[Streetdoc270]

2. not control as in 'I tell you what to do'

but controll as in you have more opertunity to work on your own without asking a doctor what to do or for permission to treat your pts.

[buckettgirl]

4. that isn't something that should be mentioned

I will not have a medical degree. I will not be a nurse practitioner, MSN RN. BSN and ADN nurses are basically there for the patient needs and to help carry out doctors orders. There is already a great amount of nurse autonomy (of course depending upon where you work), but there are some things that I do not ever want to be responsible for, either.
Also, the way it was worded - when I get home I'll post a quote of what it said...it certainly didn't come off as meaning more autonomy in care and decision making.

[Book Lover]

3. What I find ironic is

that when my mother went back to school to become a nurse (public health), none of the services wanted her (she was 35+). My advice is don't bother; they won't pay for everything, and they have you in a contract you will not get out of.

The control item raises my eyebrows, too. I don't want a nurse who controls me; s/he is one of the people on the team who help me come back to health.

Best of luck to you in your career. Nursing is the toughest job in the world, next to parent.

[Javaman]

5. Fill in * name and send it back

[Javaman]

6. If you have a student loan, they know where you are.

[Jim__]

7. All you have to do is trust the Bush Administration.

Look at how they are treating the people who are currently in the military. You can't get out, even if your enlistment is up. If you've gotten out recently, they're dragging you back in.

Today, I would not join the American military. I don't trust the people currently running our government.

[buckettgirl]

10. Oh, I don't trust the govt. either..

About a decade ago, the other would have been tempting.
I told my husband that I would only consider it WHEN they reinstate the draft...if only for the sake of finishing school. And even then, I don't know that it would be worth it...

[Scooter24]

8. Military Recruiters

have access to your information both in high school and college. If you read your school's privacy policy you might find the language that specifically states this.

[caligirl]

9. Don't do it

I'm an inactive R N and my college roommate was a Navy nurse, she hated it. She complained about the choices of duty stations and the attitudes of Navy nurses. Its a culture , from what you said, you won't like. You have a husband for one. If you aren't prepared for the military culture and the stress separations will put on the two of you don't do this. My husband was military (twenty years)and I grew up in the military..
I think unless your school refused to cooperate with Uncle Sam, the government gets your info possibly under the Patriot Ant(high schools are affected this way, they have to make our kids names available to recruitors unless you opt out as we did.) Otherwise it may be that your school is a land grant school. It got its land from the gov't and so has to provide info to recruiting.

[luaneryder]

11. Were I in your shoes

I personally would not do it. The military is well known for promises made and not kept. Control of your patients? Well, as an officer you would have inherent control of all those with less rank, but from the sound of your post you don't seem like a person who needs to be "in control" of others. You sound like you're going to make a hell of a nurse! The civilians need you here. Why would your father want you to do this?

[buckettgirl]

12. my dad is weird

he said it would be a great opportunity to see the world, to get out western Kansas.
I'm all for getting out of western Kansas, but I have no desire to see the world or get on an airplane or a boat of any kind.
I don't need an opportunity to see the world...if that is my destiny, the time will come. I am more concerned with the good I can do here, not to mention that I am too settled down to run around the globe...lol

[caligirl]

14. traveling nurses

Nurses are hired by cruise lines, use to kno one./ Nurses can join a traveling nurse corps and accept assignments to Hawaii for instance. You do not need to owe your nursing career to the military complex to travel. I would look at AJN or one of the other journals in your library for more info. Look in the back.

[Pepperbelly]

13. maybe the 'more control' thing was about ...

enhanced responsibility perhaps?

:shrug: