The "Nursing Officer" Merged Thread

[sarahsmom]

Has something changed? Individuals who access "Protected B" information needed only "Reliability Status". Of course other caveats apply depending on the physical location or IT system that the individual may need to access to perform their job.

Directive on Security Screening

Medics all need secret clearance to work in the clinic. I figured it had to do with the fact that health info is Pro B. I figured civilian RNs would need the same.

 

[sarahsmom]

Yes they need security clearance. They need secret I believe as all MEDICAL info is considered Protected B.

sorry had to fix a word - I wrote media but meant MEDICAL

 

[KanD]

I recognize that this is a broad question with multiple variables at play (merit, fit, experience, chance, injuries, etc.), yet I'm interested in knowing what the career and rank progression for an OCdt Nursing Officer typically looks like over the course of a 20 year timeline?

Is following a realistic progression?

Years 0–3: 2Lt
Years 3–4: Capt
Years 10+: Maj
Years 15–20+: LCol

 

[Blackadder1916]

I recognize that this is a broad question with multiple variables at play (merit, fit, experience, chance, injuries, etc.), yet I'm interested in knowing what the career and rank progression for an OCdt Nursing Officer typically looks like over the course of a 20 year timeline?

Is following a realistic progression?

Years 0–3: 2Lt
Years 3–4: Capt
Years 10+: Maj
Years 15–20+: LCol

Probably not a realistic progression today; in 20 years time (unless the Earth shifts on its axis) possibly still not realistic.

A couple of charts from a 2021 Joint Command and Staff Programmme paper (written by a senior nursing officer) may give you an indication of the number of positions above the rank of Capt that are available to nurses (who wish to remain nurses and not transition to HSO).

BARRIERS AFFECTING MODERNIZATION OF THE CAF NURSING OFFICER OCCUPATION

 

[MedCorps]

After the Nursing Officer study (about three years ago) there was a massive change in rank structure and employment model. All of this below applies to the Regular Force only. HSO as a occupation has died back a few years ago, in around the time of the nursing and HCA study which ran concurrently.

You commonly see now post graduation / RN:

Years 1 to 3 years - Lt - There are no 2Lt Nursing Officers, less some very rare situations.

Captain - some stay at this rank forever as it is competitive to get to Major. It is the working nurse rank. If you want to do clinical work as the bulk of your work then this is the rank to be.

Major - You can do this as fast as 5 years as a Captain now if you are awesome. There are way more of these in the past (40) and they seem to be everywhere. Some are clinically focused (specialty practice leaders) Many say they do a lot of clinical but do not because of the workload of being a Major leading other nurses / things. Nurses at this rank can complete for "Regulated Health Officer" positions against Pharmacy, Bio-science, Social Work, Physio, although there are not many of them to complete for (if any currently).

LCol - I think there are like 6 of these. Quickest you will see this is likely 7 years as a Major if you were a superstar, but likely much longer. Very competitive. Nurses at this rank can complete for "Regulated Health Officer" positions against Pharmacy, Bio-science, Social Work, Physio. I think one has done that so far for a year or two and then returned to nursing jobs.

Col - There is one full Col now - the Chief Nursing Officer double hatted as the COS for DGHS-Clinical. Nurses at this rank can complete for "Regulated Health Officer - DSA" positions against Pharmacy, Bio-science, Social Work, Physio - but none have done so yet.

 

[KanD]

After the Nursing Officer study (about three years ago) there was a massive change in rank structure and employment model. All of this below applies to the Regular Force only. HSO as a occupation has died back a few years ago, in around the time of the nursing and HCA study which ran concurrently.

You commonly see now post graduation / RN:

Years 1 to 3 years - Lt - There are no 2Lt Nursing Officers, less some very rare situations.

Captain - some stay at this rank forever as it is competitive to get to Major. It is the working nurse rank. If you want to do clinical work as the bulk of your work then this is the rank to be.

Major - You can do this as fast as 5 years as a Captain now if you are awesome. There are way more of these in the past (40) and they seem to be everywhere. Some are clinically focused (specialty practice leaders) Many say they do a lot of clinical but do not because of the workload of being a Major leading other nurses / things. Nurses at this rank can complete for "Regulated Health Officer" positions against Pharmacy, Bio-science, Social Work, Physio, although there are not many of them to complete for (if any currently).

LCol - I think there are like 6 of these. Quickest you will see this is likely 7 years as a Major if you were a superstar, but likely much longer. Very competitive. Nurses at this rank can complete for "Regulated Health Officer" positions against Pharmacy, Bio-science, Social Work, Physio. I think one has done that so far for a year or two and then returned to nursing jobs.

Col - There is one full Col now - the Chief Nursing Officer double hatted as the COS for DGHS-Clinical. Nurses at this rank can complete for "Regulated Health Officer - DSA" positions against Pharmacy, Bio-science, Social Work, Physio - but none have done so yet.

Thank you for this.

Do the majority of Nursing Officers remain as Capts for the remainder of their career? Is there any SpecPay?

 

[dapaterson]

Thank you for this.

Do the majority of Nursing Officers remain as Capts for the remainder of their career? Is there any SpecPay?

A Captain (excluding allowances) tops out at approximately $140K annually. NPs are slowly being integrated into the CAF medical system, and receive advanced incentives to their pay.

 

[MedCorps]

I would say the majority stay as Captains when you look at the occupation overall, including those who release.

There is a strong number who want to practice clinical nursing at that rank (mental health, primary care, medical surgical, OR, critical care, NP, anaesthesia assist , flight, special operations). The opportunities to do these direct patient care things at the rank of Major are much less.

There is a number who do not want be senior officers and take on staff, administrative and leadership roles as a Major.

There are a number who do not want to post multiple times to get the points / experience required to become a Major.

There are a number who lack the leadership, experience profile, education and administrative competencies to become a Senior Officer as a Major.

And finally there are a number who spend between 4 and 10 years in the CAF and the opt to release at the rank of Captain for civilian work / non-work.

That being said, if you are motivated, disciplined, flexible and smart becoming a major is a very achievable goal in your career. That is even more true now with the growth of Nursing Majors in the CAF post nursing study.