Is a BSN Mandatory For Military Nursing?

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..or is an ADN acceptable for Guard/Reserve duty? I am a second-career into nursing guy, have an M.A. in another field, am a retired 0-4 from the Air National Guard. I will be finishing my ADN program within the year and would love to get back into uniform in the Reserves or Guard (Army or Air Force). I realize that this kind of a unique circumstance, but any help would be much appreciated!

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Specializes in ER, Trauma, US Navy.

I believe the Army reserves willtake you with an ADN. Look for a person named Corvette Guy on here, he has the info on this. As far as the NAvy is concerned, we only take BSNs.

LT Dan

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:nurse:
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..or is an ADN acceptable for Guard/Reserve duty? I am a second-career into nursing guy, have an M.A. in another field, am a retired 0-4 from the Air National Guard. I will be finishing my ADN program within the year and would love to get back into uniform in the Reserves or Guard (Army or Air Force). I realize that this kind of a unique circumstance, but any help would be much appreciated!

Jwaz,

Hi there! I am an ADN graduate looking to join the service. I have talked to recruiters for AF and Navy and BSN is required even for the reserves. Right now the Army Reserves are the only branch that accepts ADN. I also have BS in other area but it doesn't help for me to be a nurse in the military. Have to have BSN except for AR. I am starting as 0-2 due to 7 yrs of emergency room experience.

Hope that helps! Best of luck with your continued service!

Kristy

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Specializes in Critical Care.

It is if you want to be an officer.

And personally, I wouldn't want to bring the skills and services an RN license brings to bear without the respect of being an officer that goes with it.

I have a BA-Biology and an ADN. I recently (last year) inquired about Naval Reserves as a nursing officer. They said no, and immediately tried to recruit me as an Intel Officer (I was in intel when I was enlisted and I have a bach degree, just not BSN.)

They did mention that if I ENLISTED, they would probably put my nursing skills to use.

I politely declined.

~faith,

Timothy.

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Specializes in ER, Trauma, US Navy.

Right, they will enlist you and then make you a corpsmen, I don't think so. They'll try anything, I swear.

LT Dan

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Yeah, the Navy recruiter tried that with me...saying sign up as enlisted then we will help you get your BSN and you will be commissioned "right away" HAR HAR HAR HAR...LMAO...please...

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Thanks all for sharing your experiences! I began my military career as an E-1, retired as a Major, so it would be real difficult for me to go from a Field Grade Officer back to enlisted. Looks like I'll stay on the sidelines for this and use my nursing skills in the civilian sector...Once again, thanks everyone! -----------

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Okay, now I have to tell you guys that I have said from the start that I preferred AF or Navy and then was bummed to find out that as an ADN I couldn't join. That was okay, I felt good about the Army Reserves too, just felt that I would be deployed for longer periods with them (I have NO problem with deployment, that is not the topic of conversation)...well, today I rec'd an email from an AF recruiter saying that with my experience as a nurse I may still be able to join the AF AS AN 02! WOO HOO! Say some prayers for me please that what I choose is God's will and not mine! I just pray that I remember to keep Him as my first priority throughout my decision making!

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Specializes in Telemetry, OR, ICU.
I believe the Army reserves willtake you with an ADN. Look for a person named Corvette Guy on here, he has the info on this. As far as the NAvy is concerned, we only take BSNs.

LT Dan

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

Army Nurse Corps Requirements

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Specializes in Telemetry, OR, ICU.
Thanks all for sharing your experiences! I began my military career as an E-1, retired as a Major, so it would be real difficult for me to go from a Field Grade Officer back to enlisted. Looks like I'll stay on the sidelines for this and use my nursing skills in the civilian sector...Once again, thanks everyone! -----------

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

Army Nurse Corps Requirements

BTW, I accepted direct commission, 1LT USAR, back in 2003 w/ADN. The next year I completed my BSN via RN-BSN program. Last DEC 2005 I accepted volunteer active duty orders for 3 yr AD committment w/report date of APR 3, 2006.

Have you considered the USAR Army Nurse Corps? Be advised, to be eligible for MAJ a BSN is required, just as to be LTC eligible a Masters degree is required.

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Thanks for the info Corvette Guy! I would have no problem going back to "green" from "blue"...Just wondering, did you have to attend any resident Officer Basic Course or any other in-residence course after you received your Commission? How did you find your Reserve unit to be, (I assume it was with a Medical unit), and what type of duties would you normally do during a weekend drill?

My reading of the reg.'s appears to say that you would retire at your highest-held rank, so even if I didn't obtain my BSN and remained a Captain, I would still receive 0-4 pay at age 60.

Like you mentioned in other posts though, there are so many loopholes and different ways of getting things done, that unless there are glaring problems, I imagine most of those requirements to receive a Nurisng Commision may be "waived"?

I am going to contact a Army Reserve recruiter to get some more details....Thanks again, and Good Luck in Ft. Lewis...OOOH AHH!

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