It's a fact, by 2025 the nursing shortage in the US is expected to reach 260,0001.
Recent headlines by national news outlets bring this fact to our newsfeeds and inboxes daily.
Have a look at this tiny sampling:
- "This Nursing Shortage Requires Innovative Solutions" - Forbes
- "Texas Nursing Shortage Leaves Thousands of Positions Unfilled" - CBS News
- "Nursing is in Crises: Staff Shortages Put Patients at Risk" - New York Times
It is also a fact that the armed services have more than 73,000 enlisted medical personnel2. That’s a lot of people potentially available to transition into civilian healthcare jobs!
This article will explore
- Why You Should Hire a Former Medic or Hospital Corpsmen
- Employment Challenges Faced By Veteran Medics and Hospital Corpsmen
- Overcoming Employment Challenges in Healthcare
- CME Corp. Proudly Hires Veterans
Why You Should Hire a Former Medic or Hospital Corpsmen
According to Dan Goldenberg, Executive Director of the Call of Duty Endowment, Medics and Hospital Corpsmen receive more than $100,0003 of field training and then acquire years of experience.
By the time these men and women leave the service they already have the skills to become Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs), Paramedics, or Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs). They also have the training to enter school to become a Registered Nurse (RN). Some schools already consider military training as credit, lessening the time needed to complete the degree.
In addition to training, many of these veterans have earned their experience rendering lifesaving aid in high stress environments.
Why wouldn’t you recruit a former military medic or hospital corpsman?
Hiring former military medical personnel to civilian healthcare jobs is a win-win, it lowers veteran unemployment and eases the shortage of nursing staff.
Employment Challenges Faced by Veteran Medics and Hospital Corpsmen
Against all logic, data demonstrates that 50%6 of former medics and hospital corpsmen who want to continue their careers in civilian healthcare cannot find jobs.
It seems there are several barriers4 blocking military medical veterans looking to transition to civilian medical facilities. These barriers are translating into a huge loss of opportunity for healthcare systems facing crises. Here are some of the challenges:
- The educational benefits available to veterans from the federal and many state governments are not clearly communicated leaving many veterans unaware.
- Although veterans leave the service with the skills and experience for work in civilian healthcare, too few colleges recognize or give credit for military education/experience.
- Military medics are well-trained, if not overqualified, for work as an EMT or LPN. But because standards for these certifications and licenses vary by state veterans may be required to take courses for skills and knowledge they already have, just be accredited.
These barriers are real but not the end of the story.
Overcoming Employment Challenges in Healthcare
States like Idaho are ensuring that Universities and Colleges provide academic credit for military education and training. Florida is one of several states offering certification and licensure to medics based on their military training. Non-profit organizations are also working to bring national level solutions to this problem. For example,
In 2021 the Call of Duty Endowment launched the #CODEMedicalHeroes campaign to raise $3M dedicated to bringing the issue of certification barriers preventing medics and hospital corpsmen from turning their experience into a civilian job to the forefront of healthcare worker shortage conversations.
Executive Director Dan Goldenberg summed up the mission of the campaign this way,
“They shouldn’t have to take new coursework. They shouldn’t have to pay licensure fees. They should simply be able to pass a test that proves their knowledge and be able to have the credential. That’s at the most basic level of what we’d like to see”5.
CME Corp Proudly Hires Veterans
CME Corp. knows firsthand the value of recruiting and welcoming veterans into the company fold. We are proud that 10% of our employees are veterans or active reservists.
Although not a healthcare facility ourselves, our veterans include an 8404 Hospital Corpsman, Medical Corpsman from Walson Army Hospital Fort Dix, NJ, and an Army Medic!
We are actively looking for Biomedical Technicians and Medical Equipment Sales Representatives.
Share this post with a veteran or Visit us for more details about open positions.
As the healthcare industry faces unprecedented staffing shortages, it just makes sense to recruit medical personnel veterans.
Resources
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4664494/
- https://www.military.com/daily-news/2021/06/21/training-oversights-could-leave-military-medics-unprepared-combat-report-finds.html#:~:text=The%20U.S.%20armed%20forces%20have,combat%20theaters%20at%20any%20time
- https://www.npr.org/2021/11/17/1056397211/military-vets-with-medical-skills-find-it-difficult-to-get-civilian-health-care-
- https://www.healthcaredailyonline.com/transitioning-from-military-medic-to-civilian-healthcare-professional/
- https://workingnation.com/military-medics-face-obstacles-in-transition-to-civilian-health-care-jobs/
- https://www.hireheroesusa.org/veterans-can-bolster-our-healthcare-system/
About CME: With two corporate offices and 35+ service centers, CME Corp is the nation’s only equipment focused medical equipment distributer. We are the premier source for more than 2 million healthcare equipment products, from more than 2,000 manufacturers.
Our Turnkey logistics and biomedical services allow us to help healthcare facilities nationwide reduce the cost of the equipment they purchase, make their equipment selection, and schedule delivery, installation, and maintenance without impacting patient care. From medical equipment purchases to renovations and new facility construction CME Corp is your partner for seamless capital medical equipment purchases, delivered on time and in budget.
