Military Nurse

prettynurseL · Jun 13, 2013

Join first and then go back to school. The military will pay for ur education.

SoldierNurse22, BSN, RN · Jun 13, 2013

In order to join the military, you will need a BSN.

ROTC is usually a good option, especially if you can get the scholarship. However, ROTC is currently having difficulty slotting students for Active Duty, so you may end up in the Reserves. However, if you don't do ROTC and try to get your foot in the door in college, you will need to get experience on the outside before you try to come in. It is very competitive.

Keep in mind that if you do join, you will be indebted to the military for a total of 8 years in most cases. Typically, 4 of those years will be active.

Due to sequestration, we will be working to compensate for the DOD civilians who will only be allowed to work 32 hours a week. That means unpaid, mandatory overtime for military until the end of the fiscal year in October.

Joining the military right now in these economic times during budget cuts, drawdown and sequestration will be difficult. Once you get in, it will not get easier. It's honorable and great that you want to serve, but I feel I would be remiss if I didn't describe some of the challenges facing us right now.

SoldierNurse22, BSN, RN · Jun 13, 2013

Join first and then go back to school. The military will pay for ur education.

I forgot to mention that this is an even worse plan than anything described in my previous post.

Getting in through ROTC is competitive.

Getting in after you've graduated with a BSN is even more competitive.

Enlisting, trying to get permission to go to school, getting compensation for school once you're in, going to school while trying to fulfill your duties as a soldier (I know several who were in school and got deployed...guess what ended up taking a back seat?) and THEN trying to compete for a commission with every other enlistee in your branch who also wants to commission? BAD, bad plan. Easily the hardest route of all. And that isn't even touching on the funding issues that may soon be hitting the incentive programs for active duty/reserve servicemembers.

If you want to be a nurse, go in as a nurse or work it out so that the military will be taking you in as a nurse after school.

I have a friend who IS a nurse. He has his BSN. He's a sergeant on active duty. But he is still working as a medic because it is so difficult to get selected for Officer Candidate School, pass the rather rigorous course, and commission.

elisabethm · Jun 20, 2013

SoldierNurse22 has really great advice. Definitely try to get into the Nurse Corps while you're in school. It's competitive, but going against already experienced nurses is even harder. You should also lurk around this forum if you haven't already. There are threads here about a ton of different options, including Army ROTC, Air Force ROTC, the Navy Nurse Candidate Program (my program! :) ), and the Air Force's new grad program. Good luck!