Army Nurse Career
The United States Army needs trained nurses to serve in the Army Nurse Corps. Nursing careers in the Army present an opportunity to develop additional nursing skills while serving one's country.
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Significance
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Army nurses enter the service as officers rather than enlisted soldiers, giving them extra privileges and higher pay.
Function
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Army nurses provide health-related education and assistance for Army soldiers and their dependents. They also provide care in Army hospitals, outpatient centers and physicians' offices.
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Requirements
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While the Army accepts an associate's degree or certificate for entry into the Reserve as a nurse, active duty nurses must have a minimum of a bachelor's degree in nursing.
Training
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Members of the Army Nurse Corps do not participate in Basic Training; however, they must pass the same physical fitness testing as all enlisted soldiers. Active duty Army nurses participate in a 14-week Officer Basic Leader Course at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, while reservists complete a shorter two-week training.
Types
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Army nurses have the option of specializing in a number of nursing fields, including critical care, surgery, gynecology, psychiatry and public health. The Army also provides opportunities for its nurses to attend graduate school to obtain advanced nursing certification as nurse anesthetists, nurse practitioners and nurse midwives.
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