Nursing in the Reserves....What is it?

[S.T.A.C.E.Y]

Hello!  I'll be graduating from my nursing program (BScN) in Spring 2007, and was looking into nursing in the reserves, but I'm not really sure what it involves.  I plan to be working in an Emergency room in the Toronto area after graduation, and plan to stick with this area.  The reason why I am interested in the reserves is mostly for the opportunity to do go work overseas.  My question is, how does the reserves nursing thing work?  From what i've read, it says 14-days a year, but the training looks like it would be Full Time for several months!  How long would it likely be before I would be eligible to go overseas? Would I be able to remain working in an emergency type setting, or would I likely be moved to med-surg b/c I would be relatively new.  Any answers someone could provide would be really helpful.

Thanks,

S.T.A.C.E.Y

 

[cplcaldwell]

Reserve? Meds? Tronna area?

Start at 25 Fld Amb. Click Here

You will find some very knowledgeable CFMS types on here though, I expect they'll be by sooner or later...

 

[Donut]

S.T.A.C.E.Y

There's two options open to you, if you want to serve but stay in the TO area.  One option is the Primary Reserve, which in Toronto would be 25 Field Ambulance.  A typical reserve fd amb parades one evening a week as well as one or two weekends a month, depending on where you are.  Our nurses oversee the clinical training people and program.  I haven't tried the link, but if it doesn't work, PM me and I'll get you the contact info.

The 14-day a year option is called the Primary Reserve List, and is a Health Services Headquarters pool of current, licensed clinicians of various flavours, from Paramedics to Nurses to Physicians to Techs.  They "flesh out" the clinical capabilities, fill specific rolls overseas, and are involved in domestic training.

For both of these programs, much of the training is only conducted in a full time format, during specific months.  The PRL seems much more flexible in when it can get people on courses and such.  There's lots of work to be done by nurses in both the P Res and PRL, and I know several of each type are in KAF, but I can't tell you what kind of timeline it would be to get you deployed, as it sounds like that's your goal.

I suspect that almost regardless of what your specialization is, when in KAF everyone gets their fair dose of emerg work.  Plus some scut work, too, I'm sure.

Hope this helps,

DF

 

[Fraser.g]

As a PRes RN in KAF I have to say, get some experience under your belt before coming to the box!
The Critical care course for ether ICU or ER is beneficial although there are GDNOs in theater as well.

Tours are not going to be going away soon so get comfortable in your role, get some experience and then come out! We could use the extra hands!

GF