New in U.S. and need some advices

[ICanMF]

Hello everyone, I was trying to find some information about EMT, Combat Medics in U.S. and thankfully I found this forum. Maybe someone can guide me about what I should do because my situation and goal are kinda complicated.

I moved to U.S. just couple months ago, I'm a permanent resident, and I was working as an ICU Nurse in my country before I come here. I'm trying to get my diploma equivalency but I think it'll take some time, maybe 6 months - 1 year more, by the way I'm going to join the military soon. I tried the Active Duty Army but they didn't offer me 68W, I discharged myself and I'm going to join the Army National Guard soon. They guarantee me to choose a specific job in contract. My recruiter told me you can get almost every entry level medical jobs in NG, after I make some research I got kinda confused. Which job gonna be the better option for a nurse who wants to be a CRNA in the future? I just want to improve my skills in the medical field and don't waste my time in temporary jobs.
1- Combat Medic/Paramedic
2- Respiratory Therapy Technician
3- Operating Room Technician

If there's a Combat Medic in this forum I'd like to talk to him/her.

Thanks in advance.

 

[GMCmedic]

Just FYI, a 68W is going to translate to an EMT in the civilian world, there will still be school involved to become a paramedic.

 

[ICanMF]

Just FYI, a 68W is going to translate to an EMT in the civilian world, there will still be school involved to become a paramedic.

Thank you for your answer. I'm not %100 sure but I think there's a way to get the paramedic degree in the 68W in the Army. Even if I get the EMT diploma I'm not sure but it's still gonna be a big plus for my resume. I'm not sure about that because EMT and nurse job descriptions are kinda different than where I came from.

 

[jgmedic]

Yes, you can, as a flight medic, Ranger medic, or i believe an 18D. It's been about 15 years since I really looked into it, but at the time, the only way to get NREMT-P in the military was SEAL corpsman, Recon Corpsman, AF Pararescue, Ranger medic, certain flight medic units in the Army, and 18D(SF medic).

 

[Peak]

If your goal is to be a CRNA then you should talk to CRNAs. @Remi can probably give you better insight than almost anyone else here.

While experience in other fields can build your experience critical care nursing experience is absolutely mandatory for CRNA school. If CRNA is truly your goal I would be looking at how to get to the bedside in a critical care unit as soon as possible, preferably a high acuity adult intensive care unit that sees fresh post ops. You may be better served working as a tech or nursing assistant in an ICU or elsewhere in a hospital so that you have a hiring advantage if/when you get licensed as an registered nurse.

As others have pointed out most military medics are not trained the same as civilian paramedics. With a few exceptions (mostly in the special forces), most combat medics/corpsmen are essentially trained as EMTs who typically have more advanced training and some ALS skills in the management of trauma. Training also varies depending on your exact MOS and where you are actually assigned, there are many military medics who end up working in clinics essentially functioning as medical assistants. Those who are trained at the paramedic level still have a very strong emphasis on trauma care and far less on the management of the medically complex patient.

Respiratory therapists and respiratory therapy technicians are not the same thing, the latter of which has much less translation to the civilian world and won't provided you nearly the critical care exposure that RTs get.

Over simplified CRNAs are responsible for anesthesia and medical management of the patient. OR nurses and technicians certainly provide a valuable role in surgery, but it one that provides at most minimal medical care for the patient. To me this is the least valuable of the three options if you are considering anesthesia or any kind of bedside care for that matter.

I don't know what country you were in but keep in mind that how nurses practice varies between the US and other countries. The United States has one of the most independent nurse practices where critical care nurses are very independent compared to most other countries. While the 'traditional' role of nursing is still present American critical care nurses are very involved in the medical management of the patient. Depending on where you are from you may find that your role in an American ICU to be very different than that of your home country.

 

[RedBlanketRunner]

@Peak Covered the bases admirably.

 

[ICanMF]

If your goal is to be a CRNA then you should talk to CRNAs. @Remi can probably give you better insight than almost anyone else here.

While experience in other fields can build your experience critical care nursing experience is absolutely mandatory for CRNA school. If CRNA is truly your goal I would be looking at how to get to the bedside in a critical care unit as soon as possible, preferably a high acuity adult intensive care unit that sees fresh post ops. You may be better served working as a tech or nursing assistant in an ICU or elsewhere in a hospital so that you have a hiring advantage if/when you get licensed as an registered nurse.

As others have pointed out most military medics are not trained the same as civilian paramedics. With a few exceptions (mostly in the special forces), most combat medics/corpsmen are essentially trained as EMTs who typically have more advanced training and some ALS skills in the management of trauma. Training also varies depending on your exact MOS and where you are actually assigned, there are many military medics who end up working in clinics essentially functioning as medical assistants. Those who are trained at the paramedic level still have a very strong emphasis on trauma care and far less on the management of the medically complex patient.

Respiratory therapists and respiratory therapy technicians are not the same thing, the latter of which has much less translation to the civilian world and won't provided you nearly the critical care exposure that RTs get.

Over simplified CRNAs are responsible for anesthesia and medical management of the patient. OR nurses and technicians certainly provide a valuable role in surgery, but it one that provides at most minimal medical care for the patient. To me this is the least valuable of the three options if you are considering anesthesia or any kind of bedside care for that matter.

I don't know what country you were in but keep in mind that how nurses practice varies between the US and other countries. The United States has one of the most independent nurse practices where critical care nurses are very independent compared to most other countries. While the 'traditional' role of nursing is still present American critical care nurses are very involved in the medical management of the patient. Depending on where you are from you may find that your role in an American ICU to be very different than that of your home country.

Thank you Peak, you answered almost everything in my mind. I'm gonna work as a nurse in here soon but I still need some time for diploma equivalency, like maybe 6 months. I was thinking instead of working on general labor jobs, currently what I'm doing, I can join the Army while I'm waiting for my nursing license and I can earn the benefits and learn something new from training. I'm thinking it's gonna be more beneficial for me. After I finish my training in the Army I can start to work as a RN in civillian side. I'll go to drills just 2 days in a month.

Respiratory Therapy Technician's are 68V in the Army which is not RT's like you said. I talked with some CRNAs in here and they mostly told me to choose the Respiratory Therapy Technician but I'm still not sure about that because I think CRNAs don't know who are 68V's exactly and what they learn in AIT.

 

[CCCSD]

I don’t believe the ANG has 68V slots. Did you talk to a Recruiter?

 

[ICanMF]

I don’t believe the ANG has 68V slots. Did you talk to a Recruiter?

I talked to an ARNG recruiter, not ANG recruiter because as I know in Air NG currently they don't have so many jobs available especially in medical field. I'm waiting for my DEP discharge right now, next week it'll end and I'll go to an ANG recruiting office to talk to them. I think they have Cardiopulmonary Specialist and it's pretty much same with 68V.