It must have been a misunderstanding then. The classic inflection of what you think the writer's tone is, in this case negative, when it was really was positive. I just re-read it and I wonder how I could have misunderstood such a positive message.
As for on the hook, it was a term, as I pointed out, and perhaps sense I am on army.ca, have spent a good portion of my life in the forces, been on tour, worked as a med-A while going to nursing school, and I am joining as a NO I think I would be considered pro-military. One could say I don't need a hook to join. With that being said I felt obligated to share my experiences and observations. Some of the things I said were based on what other people have told me, and from friends of mine who are NO now, while the rest was based on myself.
I am trying to paint a picture to help this individual decide.
Picture this:
You are a Capt. NO and you are now going to an ER to develop you skills. You show up and you are pared with a RN who shows you the ropes. Are you in charge? No it is more like a 2IC role. It will never be just you and your patients, but you and your patients, and the nurse who is working there. That might be ok out of school, but say it is 4 years down the road. Could you see yourself in the student role all the time? Just like in school? Do you want to work in many fields? Like ER, NICU, or CCU, work ECMO, ect... Some of those options are not there for you. Ask yourself what type of person you are and if this will work for you, and if you can see the unique challenges of work as a NO balancing out your career.
Or maybe:
You want to do the NO thing, and the idea of going overseas, doing clinics, and the military training excites you and you can't see yourself going to the hospital day after day. You pick up things quickly and you are not worried about rusting out, and the role you will have when you will be working in the hospital is fine with you. You don't care if you have a buddy who is showing you the ropes when you are doing your clinical time as once you walk out of the hospital it doesn't matter.
Like I said, it is all about where you fit in, and how you want to serve. I am not saying don't go for it but really think about what you want to do. In my case, I think it is obvious by now, I am the first story. I have worked in the medical branch and I know the deal. I know what a NO does, and how the training goes, and my answer was simple: I will work as a civi and then use my skills as a NO when the military needs me, and in the mean time I can use that time to develop my skills.
Am I happy that I did it this way? Going through school, the answer would have been a maybe. Did I reconsider from time to time? Yes, especially when I was working with the military anyway, but now that it is done it is all good. I am at my end point, the place I wanted to be.
