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What They Do
Nursing Officers provide primary patient care to sick and injured Canadian Forces members, either in Canadian Forces Health Care Centers in Canada, or in acute care hospitals while on operation abroad. Nursing Officers also provide preventive, occupational and environmental health care services.
Nursing Officers work within a collaborative practice model with other members of the health care team. Nursing Officers have the opportunity to work in different domains of nursing practice including:
- Care delivery
- Policy development
- Administration
- Training and education
Working Environment
Nursing Officers usually work in hospitals and clinics in a collaborative practice with other medical team members. The work schedule is generally eight-hour or twelve-hour shifts, similar to a regular hospital. Nursing Officers may be called to assist in exercises, medical evacuation flights and emergencies, such as air crashes.
In field medical units, those working in support of military operations abroad, Nursing Officers live and work in the same environment as the Canadian Forces members they treat.
Career Development
The starting salary for a fully-trained Nursing Officer is $51,000 per year; however, depending on previous experience and training the starting salary may be higher. Regular promotions through the junior officer ranks take place based on the completion of required training and on the length of service as an officer. Once promoted to the rank of Lieutenant (Navy) or Captain, their salary is approximately $74,000 per year.
Nursing Officers who demonstrate the required ability, dedication and potential are selected for opportunities for career progression, promotion and advanced training.
After enrolment, you start basic officer training at the Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec, for 15 weeks. Topics covered include general military knowledge, the principles of leadership, regulations and customs of the Canadian Forces, basic weapons handling, and first aid. Opportunities will also be provided to apply such newly acquired military skills in training exercises involving force protection, field training, navigation and leadership. A rigorous physical fitness program is also a vital part of basic training. Basic officer training is provided in English or French and successful completion is a prerequisite for further training.
Second language training is available following basic officer training; depending on your ability in your second language, it may take from two to nine months.
Nursing Officers attend the Canadian Forces Health Services Training Centre in Borden, Ontario. They are introduced the Canadian Forces Health Services organization and history, the roles and responsibilities of the different military clinical team members, and the unique conditions of offering nursing care in a deployed, operational care setting.
Nursing Officers are required to complete a clinical preceptorship programme to ensure they have the clinical competencies required to deliver care in acute care military setting. The length of the preceptorship depends on each Nursing Officer’s level of clinical experience.
Nursing Officers may be offered the opportunity to develop specialized skills through formal courses and on-the-job training, including:
- Critical Care
- Mental Health Nursing
- Perioperative Care
- Emergency Room Nursing
- Aeromedical Evacuation Nursing
As they progress in their career, Nursing Officers who demonstrate the required ability and potential will be offered advanced training. Available courses include:
- Advanced Leadership
- Advanced Management
- Advanced Administration
- Instructional techniques
If you already have a university degree and license to practice as a registered Nurse in a Canadian province or territory, the Canadian Forces may place you directly into the required on-the-job training program following basic training. basic training and military officer qualification training are required before being assigned.
Regular Officer Training Plan
The role of the Canadian Forces Health Services Reserves is to provide trained personnel to support, augment and sustain Canadian Forces Health Services organizations for Canadian Armed Forces operations and training activities, while building and maintaining links between the Canadian Armed Forces and the local community.
This position is available for part-time employment with the Primary Reserve at certain locations across Canada. Reserve Force members usually serve part time with a military unit in their community, and may serve while going to school or working at a civilian job. They are paid during their training. They are not posted or required to do a military move. However, they can volunteer to move to another base. They may also volunteer for deployment on a military mission within or outside Canada.
Nursing Officers may serve with the Royal Canadian Navy, the Canadian Army or the Royal Canadian Air Force as part of the Canadian Forces Health Services Group. They are employed to provide primary patient care to sick and injured Canadian Armed Forces members, as well as deliver preventive, occupational and environmental health care services. Those employed on a part-time basis usually serve at a Reserve medical unit at a location within Canada and assist in teaching and maintaining the clinical skills of non-licensed members such as the Medical Assistants.
Another part-time career opportunity exists for clinical specialists and nurses with an emergency, critical care, operating room or mental health specialty to broaden the medical support capability for the Health Services by joining 1 Canadian Field Hospital Detachment Ottawa. Members of this unit complete a minimum of 14 days of service and/or training at any time during the year, doing any or all of the following: providing health care services to military members, teaching and monitoring clinical skills of personnel at a local Field Ambulance unit, attending field exercises to practise and/or provide medical care in a military field environment. Members of this unit live anywhere across Canada. There is a small headquarters and administration section located in Ottawa, Ontario to assist them. This unit provides a more flexible option than the Canadian Forces Health Service Reserve Field Ambulance Units. It does not put as much demand on your time but provides you with opportunities to work as a member of the Canadian Armed Forces. All members of the Canadian Forces Health Services Reserves have an opportunity to work overseas as members of a deployed Canadian Forces Health Services Team, on a voluntary basis.
Reserve Force members are trained to the same level as their Regular Force counterparts. All members complete Basic Military Training, which covers topics such as rank structure, wearing a uniform, marching, firing a weapon for self-defence or defence of your patients (as per the Geneva Convention), and surviving in a field environment. This training varies in length and is usually available in two-week sessions or on weekends. You must also complete basic occupational training, which teaches you how to employ your clinical skill/profession within the military environment. This training lasts six weeks, is usually available twice a year, in one-, two- or three-week sessions and takes place at the Canadian Forces Health Services Training Centre in Borden, Ontario.
Reserve Force members usually serve part-time with their home unit for scheduled evenings and weekends, although they may also serve in full-time positions at some units for fixed terms, depending on the type of work that they do. They are paid 85% of Regular Force rates of pay, receive a reasonable benefits package and may qualify to contribute to a pension plan.
Find a unit in your area and start the application process for part-time employment now or send an e-mail to the following address for more information: HealthServicesReserves@forces.gc.ca.
