Need info on RN-BSN with nursing ROTC

Dranger · Dec 25, 2013

-Can you do Army ROTC through an RN to BSN program? I have been talking to an Army ROTC officer at a school I will be applying to. I have only emailed him a few times so I haven't received much information. However, he stated that he currently has a RN to BSN student in his ROTC program. So i may have answered my own question with that. But would I have to go full time or can i got part time? If I went full time I would be finished in about a year. If I prolonged it I could go two years which sounds like the minimum to be in ROTC. If I decided to go part time and prolong my education for 2 years will they allow me to be in ROTC?
-I am also looking at a program (University of Maryland School of Nursing) that offers RN-BSN online. Do you think they would allow RN-BSN online as well as going through ROTC?
-I just graduated nursing school two weeks ago (thank god!) I do take my NCLEX on Friday. After I take my NCLEX i am scheduled to take a TEAS V test to be able to transfer to another school. After my NCLEX i plan on calling the ROTC officer who wanted to speak to me because he said my situation was "unique" because I want to do RN-BSN online and ROTC for 2 years. Ill post any updates but right now I am looking to pass boards and start applying to schools. Just two in fact.

-Yes I know a guy who did RN to BSN and it took him about a year and a half but he prolonged it to two years with filler classes. You just have to maintain full-time status always. He was prior service so no LTC needed but he did go to LDAC. Just pick up another minor or take some fun classes, also realize that ROTC class itself is 2-3 credits.

-Online? I am going to say no. For one it's counter intuitive to have you as a ROTC student at say University of Nevada but you are doing online classes at Maryland. You have to be going to one of the home programs affiliate schools in the area. For example my ROTC program had 5-6 universities attached to us because they didn't have a program. Besides if the Army is going to pay for it, a in-class program is always going to be better than online.

My advice is to skip the online idea if you want to do ROTC because I doubt it's possible and it will hurt you for a number of reasons regarding ROTC.

Dranger · Dec 25, 2013

I was researching the LTC and here is the website
Leader's Training Course | goarmy.com
The way it sounds is that you can take this course as an option to propel you directly into the Advanced upperclassman classes. I may be wrong so someone can clarify that for me.
For me I want to start in Fall 2014 but I see a problem because if i was to be accepted (say around March or so) than that does not give me much time between being accepted and starting the program before even stepping foot on a campus and a ROTC unit.

If you are not prior service you HAVE to do LTC before you start the last two years of ROTC to catch you. Also, you better get on the ball fast because there a lot of changes coming to the ROTC program structure making LDAC double the length and adding more initial entry training for new cadets.

Not to mention I have heard reports of nursing cadets this year getting forced reserves OR put entirely into another job field within the Army. Nothing is guranteed.

jsbartl · Dec 25, 2013

With the online course I live in Maryland so only about 35 minutes away from UMD and they have their ROTC classes at John's Hopkins. I understand what you mean by University of Nevada ROTC and online at UMD. But I wouldnt see the problem since I won't be a campus student I will commute to Hopkin's for ROTC and online classes for UMD. Does that make sense? So i am assuming I would not be able to work part time while being full time at school with ROTC? That is why I wanted to do online because online would be easier for me so I don't have to commute for school but only commute for ROTC while still being able to work. So if i prolonged it to two years you said I would have to add a few extra classes? Do you think it would be like BS classes like basket weaving or phys ED that I could do? I do not want to minor in anything else. I was figuring that I would be considered full-time if I was part-time taking RN-BSN classes while doing ROTC classes. Thank you for the help by the way. It is very helpful. So in regards to LTC, if I only took a two year RN-BSN program than would I have to take LTC this summer or next summer or not at all since I would not have to go on to the last two years since I am only doing 2 years instead of 4. I am not worried about doing reserves to be honest. I rather do reserves but i wouldn't mind doing active duty. I just don't want to get screwed by the Army and put into a different specialty.

jsbartl · Dec 25, 2013

I guess I am in a predicament because i just accepted a full-time nursing job at my local hospital. I want to get my BSN as soon as possible which means I have to apply by February 12th or so. I have already started working on everything so it won't take me long to apply once I finish my NCLEX and TEAS test. The issue is that my parents are leaving to go to Germany in July and are leaving the house to me and my girlfriend. So we are paying rent to them and paying for all utilities. I want to do ROTC and take my BSN classes so that ROTC can pay for them. But, it sounds like I wont have time to work and pay for bills since I would have to be a full-time student. I guess unless I do very easy online classes. Oh Merry Christmas by the way!

jsbartl · Jan 7, 2014

Good news I passed my boards! I also scored a proficient on the TEAS test which I got a 80.7% which sounds like it is pretty good. I am now applying to both schools and looking to set up a phone call or meeting with one of the ROTC officers at University of Maryland. I will try and update on how it goes and what my options are for any other people.

jflo2014 · Mar 17, 2014

Great news! I am graduating with my ADN this May 2014. I still have to take some general ed classes before getting into the RN-BSN. So, I will be taking those general ed classes in the fall and wont be starting the RN-BSN Program till the spring semester of 2014. Like you, I was hoping on joining the ROTC program, while working, and doing my RN-BSN at the same time.But now Im thinking it might be a little to much. Let me know what you decided to do so that I can broaden my options in how to go about my situation.