Recruiter called last nite-need advice

[Linda8]

Hello military nurses,

I have been reading some of the threads and am impressed with you all; Congratulations and THANK YOU!!

I turned 47 this week, and will be graduating from AD RN in Connecticut program in 3 weeks. I have been working as a nurse intern in ICU for a year, and am going to work there after graduation. Love it!! Permanent resident alien (UK). Daughter in college, supportive husband at home. Registered to start BSN this Fall, need 7 classes, should take 2 yrs. part time. BSN is a priority for me. I can't believe they want me (reserves, of course), I thought I was too old, but they must have raised the age limit (it was 45). I feel like I should do this if I can, it feels like the right thing to do. Based on the threads I've read:

-I'm too old to be eligible for military retirement (will be 67)

-I should expect to be deployed for up to a year, maybe more than once (recruiter said low possibility of deployment-surprise!)

-How much ICU experience do I need? Do they provide any actual training in an ICU?

-What do you do 'on Drill'?

-Recruiter said I could be going to Officer School by the end of the summer-thoughts on this? I want to get my ICU orientation behind me first, right?

-AM I CRAZY for considering this? I need honest (even brutal) advice, please offer what you can.

Thanks, Linda :)

[Linda8]

Hi,

Thanks you guys for the checking you have done for me. I'm meeting with the recruiter on Monday afternoon, so I will post what he says. I will watch his lips closely.

I was telling my husband about the physical fitness test, and that it consisted of situps, pushups and a 2 mile run. He asked if that was 'girl'or 'guy' pushups. I of course, had visualized 'girl' pushups, but we quickly concluded that was probably not what the Army had in mind. He said, 'drop and give me 20'.

Result: Army pushups attempted: 1

Army pushups completed: 0

We were crying laughing.

Linda :)

P.S. I realize that this is not in least bit funny.

[Linda8]

Hi,

I found this:

http://www.goarmy.com/amedd/nurse/corps_specialties_requir.jsp

here it seems to say Permanent Resident is OK.

Linda :)

[wtbcrna, MSN, DNP, CRNA]

Hi,

I found this:

http://www.goarmy.com/amedd/nurse/corps_specialties_requir.jsp

here it seems to say Permanent Resident is OK.

Linda :)

My faith in recruiters has been restored.....not.....lol...

Sounds great though!!!

Let us know how it goes!

Good Luck

[ANC_Maj]

This probably goes without saying at this point, but make sure you are working with a Healthcare Recruiter - it does make a difference. If something you hear from the recruiter doesn't sound right, check it out by asking around. Also, it wouldn't hurt to blatantly ask the question "What will my rank be?"

OK - as far as the pushups are concerned, you were right no "girl" pushups for this man's Army! Here are the standards for passing and "maxing" the APFT for your age and gender

2 mile run - 24:00 pass, 17:36 max

Push-ups - 10 pass, 34 max

Sit-ups - 30 pass, 66 max

Good luck and please share what you learn from the recruiter.

ANC_Maj

[Linda8]

Hi,

The recruiter signs himself:

SFC/US Army Reserve

Healthcare Counselor

[athena55, BSN, RN]

Hi Linda 8:

Thank you for considering giving of yourself and attempting to become a Commissioned Officer in the ANC!

I was the "ripe' ol' age of 49. Just made my BMI....BUT I was able to re-join a gym and began training in earnest. Before I could do 2 push-ups (barely) Now I can do 20 before starting to strain. Sit-ups not so much of a problem, but that 2 mile run YIKES! I hate to run, why, I don't even run for the ferry! Thank goodness I like to bicycle around my county which helped me prepare (I don't own an automobile).

For your physical, be prepared to do the "duck walk" believe it or not that was the hardest, for me, I kept falling over (sigh) but I done did it!

Good Luck May 1 Keep us posted

athena

[Corvette Guy]

Linda8 - Hello, and I think it is great your interest in the Army Nurse Corps, Reserve Component [RC]. I would have posted on your Thread sooner, yet my time is very limited these days D/T my Critical Care Nursing Course at Madigan Army Medical Center.

First, ANC_Maj is an excellent resource on allnurses.com for ANC info. So, I agree you should listen to what an Army Health Care Recruiter [AHCR] tells you. Are they correct 101% of the time? Nope, but more because they were never a member of the Army Medical Department [AMEDD] & not because their lips are moving [LOL!!!] Yes, I'm well aware that some of the Armed Forces Recruiters are known to leave out info, or stretch the truth when speaking to a military candidate. Yet, very few out an out lie. Again, AHCRs are in a different category than your typical recruiter. The AHCRs mission is to recruit from the professional [healthcare profession] civilian sector those individuals which AMEDD Officer potential. BTW, a few AHCR Stations have recruiters that are ANC Officers.

Second, the age limit is 46. However, the AMEDD needs qualified ANC members. Therefore, I would guess a waiver in your case would come into play. Here is a website you NEED to visit; Army Nurse Corps Overview Then, notice on that page in the upper left corner are other areas of interest specific to the ANC that you can click; Corps Benefits, Corps Specialties & Requirements, AMEDD Careers & Jobs, and Corps Profiles.

Third, ANC_Maj posted the APFT [Army Physical Fitness] requirements for your gender & age. PLEASE, make sure you can do at least the minimum. Plus, you need to find the body weight & BF% allowed for your gender & age, too. I could dig up the info, yet an AHCR should be able to provide you with the applicable charts for your easy reference. I have noticed many new ANC Officers come on board unable to pass an APFT & do not meet the HT/WT standards. These two areas are definitely critical to a successful ANC career.

Fourth, no matter what the AHCR tells you ANC Officers [RC] have three years to attend the AMEDD OBC [ 2 week Officer Basic Course]. Again, they can be uninformed in some areas, yet still very knowledgable in other areas. When I took oath of office for reserve commission I was an ADN. I was already knee deep in an RN-BSN program and 11 months after joining the ANC [RC] I completed my BSN. I did not attend AMEDD OBC until 15 months after my reserve commission. I told my reserve unit my expected BSN graduation date, and they allowed me to request an OBC date that would allow me to graduate without interruption. You can go to monthly drills [now termed battle assembly] and even the two weeks annual training before going to AMEDD OBC, at least I did. BTW, the two weeks annual training, at least in the ANC, is not training per say. My first annual training was working fulltime on the Stepdown Unit taking care of Mech Vent patients at Brooke Army Medical Center. I was solo on my second day with 2 patients. I worked 12 hr shifts. It was great!

Anyway, it is possible for you to come on to the ANC [RC] as an ADN, then finish your BSN while making your monthly reserve obligations. BTW, it is my understanding you are most likely not going to be mobilized [brought on to active duty for 6-18 months] until you have completed the AMEDD OBC. I say most likely D/T we are at war [GWOT- Global War on Terrorism], yet technically you are not ANC qualified until completion of AMEDD OBC.

Another thing; you need to make it clear to your AHCR you want to be designated as critical care nurse in the ANC, rather than a med/surg nurse. However, you may not have enough civilian nurse experience for the AMEDD to accept you as a 66H8A, which is an ANC critical care nurse code identifier. Maybe, arrangements [as in needs to be written in your military orders] can be made for you to attend the CCNC the AMEDD C&S offers so you can gain the 8A critical care identifier. This way you can join the ANC [RC] as a med/surg nurse [66H], then in the near future gain the 8A skill identifier. Plus, I know of ANC 66Hs that work in the ICUs via there reserve unit. You have to be an advocate for yourself in the ANC, which is fine because your an officer & an asset to the AMEDD.

I hope I have not caused you more confusion. My post are what I have experienced first-hand, or from reliable sources. I will not advise you on which direction you should take towards the ANC [RC]. However, I will do my best to share relevant experiences to help you become better informed in order for you to make the best decision for you and your family.

Pssst, IMHO the AMEDD ANC is an outstanding place for registered nurses regards to respect, honor, advancement, and vast opportunities in nursing education.

[nuberianne_RN]

Last year my husband sought out some info to join the Army as a healthcare administrator. He was given info that said he did not need to be a US citizen. However, he was later told that he has to be a citizen and was given the copy of the instruction that stated this.

For everyone that is thinking of joining the military one valuable piece of advice I can give you is this. Superiors may threaten you, recruiters tell you what you want to hear, and your fellow sailors, soldiers, etc. pass on great rumors. However, if it is not stated in an instruction (written regulation) then IT IS NOT TRUE! As a vet who spent six years in the military (non-healthcare related) I cannot stress to you how important that is.

Oh yeah. One more piece of advice. Whenever you are promised anything. GET IT IN WRITING!

I wish everyone the best. Take care.

Nuberianne

[Linda8]

Hi everyone,

Well, we met. The unit I would be drilling with has inflatable buildings and no patients. Ever, unless they are deployed, which historically has been every five years or so. All they do is practice with dummies, and make sure they are at the appropriate level of readiness. My role would be supervision and writing performance evaluations, with various other administrative duties. No patients.

I do not want to offend any of you that do this, I realize how important it is. But I would hate it and dread my drill weekends, which I couldn't stand. I am so disappointed.

Regarding the citizenship issue, non-citizens can be commissioned, as I was told. They (we) are not eligible for 'financial incentives', sign-on bonuses, stipends, etc. To retire after age 60, you have to apply to the reserve unit for permission to stay.

To gain the 8A designation, 1500 hours of critical care experience are required, or passing the Army school program.

I asked if I could 'shadow' for a half a day with the unit, and I was surprised that the answer was 'probably'. They are going to find out for me. I should try to see for myself, right? So, that's where it stands right now.

Linda

[Corvette Guy]

Hi everyone,

Well, we met. The unit I would be drilling with has inflatable buildings and no patients. Ever, unless they are deployed, which historically has been every five years or so. All they do is practice with dummies, and make sure they are at the appropriate level of readiness. My role would be supervision and writing performance evaluations, with various other administrative duties. No patients.

I do not want to offend any of you that do this, I realize how important it is. But I would hate it and dread my drill weekends, which I couldn't stand. I am so disappointed.

Regarding the citizenship issue, non-citizens can be commissioned, as I was told. They (we) are not eligible for 'financial incentives', sign-on bonuses, stipends, etc. To retire after age 60, you have to apply to the reserve unit for permission to stay.

To gain the 8A designation, 1500 hours of critical care experience are required, or passing the Army school program.

I asked if I could 'shadow' for a half a day with the unit, and I was surprised that the answer was 'probably'. They are going to find out for me. I should try to see for myself, right? So, that's where it stands right now.

Linda

Must be a CSH Unit? Too bad they are not a USAH Reserve Unit, which would support an Army Medical Center. Then, you would spend one day out of the weekend taking care of patients at the Army Medical Center.

[Linda8]

yes, an 80 bed CSH.

[ArmyKitten]

Fourth, no matter what the AHCR tells you ANC Officers [RC] have three years to attend the AMEDD OBC [ 2 week Officer Basic Course].

Anyway, it is possible for you to come on to the ANC [RC] as an ADN, then finish your BSN while making your monthly reserve obligations. BTW, it is my understanding you are most likely not going to be mobilized [brought on to active duty for 6-18 months] until you have completed the AMEDD OBC. I say most likely D/T we are at war [GWOT- Global War on Terrorism], yet technically you are not ANC qualified until completion of AMEDD OBC.

Sir, the 2 week Officer Basic Course is no longer being offered. They are also no longer offering the 2 week prep course prior to the All-Corps OBC. All components (Active Duty and Reserves) will now attend the same Officer Basic Leader Course (formerly OBC). You also have to factor in attendance at BOLC-II prior to attending OBLC.

According to the briefing given to me yesterday afternoon regarding deployments, the current policy is that new 66Hs are not deployable for 6 months after they arrive at their first duty station (after completion of OBLC). While still a 66H, us newbies are given a code of 66J for the PROFIS system until the 6 months have passed.