I thought the military needed nurses

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Specializes in Urgent Care.

I am a former Army 11B (Infantry). Active duty for 3 years and then a reservist in a drill sgt unit for a few more years, honorable discharge. I am 39 and will be getting my associates degree and my LPN next year. I will also do the LPN to RN Bridge program at the same school.

I went to see the recruiters about what options I might have to get into the nurse corps. Well, it pretty much seems like ZERO, I am too old! I thought they had raised the max age already to 39 or so and said you wouldnt have to repeat basic either for prior service. As a recruiters assistant at one time I remembered that your service time was added to the maximum age (ie i am already at 39 but get + 6 years for my active and reserve time) But for a commission the max age was like 33. I will be 42 when I get my RN.

They told me I could sign back up as an enlisted 11B, but no guarantee of rank (I was an E-5) or of wether or not I would have to repeat basic. But that ain't happening, I will get commissioned in the Nurse Corps or they dont get me.

The WA National Guard recruiter said we can go to state HQ and get an interview with the Nurse Corps and see about getting a waiver at the state level. Although I dont know if that will allow me to much chance to practice in what I want for my specialty, Psych.

I really want to work with the kids either in or coming back from Iraq. I think as a former Grunt who went to Panama, Honduras, and a long, remote assignment in Egypt in the '80's I am able to understand and help these kids more than Joe Blow nurse from the civilian world.

Anybody have some ideas of how to make sure my carreer goes the direction I want here? Either with how to get in the nurse corps or another path to working with these young vets?

Specializes in Telemetry, OR, ICU.
i am a former army 11b (infantry). active duty for 3 years and then a reservist in a drill sgt unit for a few more years, honorable discharge. i am 39 and will be getting my associates degree and my lpn next year. i will also do the lpn to rn bridge program at the same school.

i went to see the recruiters about what options i might have to get into the nurse corps. well, it pretty much seems like zero, i am too old! i thought they had raised the max age already to 39 or so and said you wouldnt have to repeat basic either for prior service. as a recruiters assistant at one time i remembered that your service time was added to the maximum age (ie i am already at 39 but get + 6 years for my active and reserve time) but for a commission the max age was like 33. i will be 42 when i get my rn.

they told me i could sign back up as an enlisted 11b, but no guarantee of rank (i was an e-5) or of wether or not i would have to repeat basic. but that ain't happening, i will get commissioned in the nurse corps or they dont get me.

the wa national guard recruiter said we can go to state hq and get an interview with the nurse corps and see about getting a waiver at the state level. although i dont know if that will allow me to much chance to practice in what i want for my specialty, psych.

i really want to work with the kids either in or coming back from iraq. i think as a former grunt who went to panama, honduras, and a long, remote assignment in egypt in the '80's i am able to understand and help these kids more than joe blow nurse from the civilian world.

anybody have some ideas of how to make sure my carreer goes the direction i want here? either with how to get in the nurse corps or another path to working with these young vets?

did you see an army health care recruiter? you are not too old. fyi, you need bsn for active duty army nurse corps, which falls under the [amedd] army medical dept., as well as bsn to be maj promotable in the army reserve nurse corps. you can enter the army reserves w/adn and accept direct commission as an army nurse corps officer. then, like i did you could complete an rn-bsn program and transfer from the rc to ac. btw, the lpn [91wm6 mos] will get you on ad as an enlisted member in the amedd. do not come on ad as a 91wm6 since your goal is the army nurse corps.

here are the specialties found within the army nurse corps:

  • advanced practice nurse
  • community health nurse
  • critical care nurse
  • crna
  • emergency room nurse
  • family nurse practitioner
  • medical-surgical nurse
  • nurse anesthetist
  • nurse midwife
  • ob/gyn nurse
  • operating room nurse
  • perioperative nurse
  • psychiatric/mental health nurse *[66c]

*be advised, the 66c army nurse aoc is not short. i would suggest you make inquiry about the 16 week psych/mental health nursing course offered at walter reed army medical center. however, this course requires 1 yr of military nursing & 1 yr med/surg nrsg experience that can be gained simultaneously. therefore, you would have to become a member of the army nurse corps as a med/surg rn [66h] first.

s1_requirements.gif

to qualify for an appointment as an officer in the army nurse corps, you must:

  • meet the prescribed medical and moral standards for appointment as a commissioned officer
  • be a united states citizen or have a permanent visa
  • have an associate's degree in nursing or a three-year nursing diploma or a bachelor of science in nursing for reserve; have a bachelor's degree in nursing (bsn) from an accredited school of nursing for active duty
  • have a valid, unrestricted rn license
  • be 21-**46 years of age

**you are correct that your prior military service will actually reduce your chronological age.

i sent you a pm with specific info on the army health care recruiting office you need to contact in wa!

I can only agree with the above posting. You need to talk to a medical recruiter, not an enlisted recruiter. They simply don't know what the programs are that are available. The military is constantly changing the age requirements according to their needs. If they need more nurses, they will up the age limit, if they have enough numbers, then the age limit will drop. It all depends on what the limit is on the day you sign your contract. I'm currently 33, just graduated and will probably not join up again (I was a navy medic for 10 years) for another year or two. Good luck

Like they all said, check with a Health Care recruiter. I believe the max age is 46 for Nurse Corps. I am trying to get in and I am 48 but have 4yrs active duty. And I already retired from the NG. My recruiter ran it up her chain and they seemed positive about approval and it may take 6mos to a yr but it may go through. You just need the right contacts.

Specializes in Telemetry, OR, ICU.
Like they all said, check with a Health Care recruiter. I believe the max age is 46 for Nurse Corps. I am trying to get in and I am 48 but have 4yrs active duty. And I already retired from the NG. My recruiter ran it up her chain and they seemed positive about approval and it may take 6mos to a yr but it may go through. You just need the right contacts.

I repeat... YES, the max is 46 years of age. You are correct that your prior military service will actually reduce your chronological age.

Balder:

I am not in the military - in the process of completing my packet now - but I've talked to a lot of recruiters recently about serving as an RN, and I'd say you are getting the runaround. All that prior service time, and they are telling you that you are too old?? Makes no sense. I live in Illinois and get recruiting flyers from the USAF, army, navy and NG quite frequently. G figure; I'm NPS. Tried to enlist after 9-11 but couldn't because of age. I'm now 44 and can still get into the ANC, the USAFNC or the NNC. If your recruiter is jerking you around, move on down the line. Being prior service, you know that already!

Best of luck!

Specializes in Telemetry, OR, ICU.

Hey Balder,

Update?

I've seen ads/articles saying as old as 47 for NPS.

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