ADN with 10yrs looking for advice regarding reserves

just_cause, BSN, RN · Apr 2, 2010

I would highly recommend not joining now but joining 1 year out from grad date of BSN.. you can join active duty or reserve from that point - potential for bonuses depending on exp / specialty. From that point reserves will somewhat depend on what units are in your area - not purely your background.....

jeckrn, BSN, RN · Apr 2, 2010

Depends on what you want. If you join now there are programs to help pay for schoool ie STRAP. Also you will have time in grade & time in service. Once you complete your BSN you can either go active or stay reserves. If you go active after reserves you will not recieve a sign bonus, but will have student loan repayment and tution assitance while in school. If your plan is to stay reserves I would start the paperwork now for the next fiscal year which starts in October. The reason why is since you are a med/surg nurse more then likely there will not be a sign on bonus anyway. But if you plan is to go active then you need to why out the benefits of your time in the reserves, ie more time in service, eligible for promotion sooner vs the sign on bonus. With your experience more then likely you will come in as a Sr. LT (O2) or jr. Capt (O3) all depending on how they figure your constructive credit. If you join the reserves your time will be counted 1 for 1 vs 1/2 as you wait to join. What I mean by this is with your 10 years of experience you should have 5 years of constructive credit. If you join now you start with the 5 years and by the time you finish your BSN saying it takes 2 years you will have 7 years. If you wait your time would be 6 years. If you go from reserves to active your rank and time in grade will not change. Hope this helps you some.

Also ICU nurses in the Army are classified as med-surg nurses with a skill identifier of ICU just like ER nurses are.

carolinapooh, BSN, RN · Apr 3, 2010

The constructive credit is not the same for each branch. I believe I'm correct when I say the AF only gives constructive credit for BSN time. For one year's experience with a BSN, you'd come in as a second Lt with six months' time in grade. I had two years' experience post BSN and came in as a second Lt with a year's TIG, which means I'll make 1st Lt (not senior Lt, that's not a rank - I don't want the OP confused) in December of this year instead of it taking two years.

I have no idea how the Navy figures constructive credit.

I also can't speak for the Army, although I know you can enter the Army Reserves (someone please correct me if I'm wrong) with an ADN as an officer and must have your BSN to advance beyond the rank of Captain.

just_cause, BSN, RN · Apr 3, 2010

Correct Army reserves is only branch where you can commission with an ADN (or any non-4year degree..) but limited to 1LT or CPT... but as a note there are limited number of slots they accept a year.

If overall goal is to be active duty officer RN then I'd recommend not joining reserves... the transition is not always 'that easy or quick'. If you want active duty I'd look at joining the Army Nurse Candidate Program.

You can start paperwork and get selected essentially now (as soon you have BSN acceptance letter and less then 2 years left in school) and upon graduation you will commission, gain monthly stipend now along with small bonus now... key thing is peace of mind of job upon graduation as an officer in nurse corp. If you have about 1 year in time of school with grad letter you can start normal commission process and gain lump sum bonus - which is what I'd recommend vs doing nurse candidate program - slightly better award / less obligation time... even if you want a long term commitment there is not benefit to having a long obligation as you will gain more obligation through other training / school options while in the Army anyhow...

Is ultimate goal active duty or reserves? I'd start from that question. Then say how long until your BSN date - 2 years, 1 year, or? That will help determine which application route makes most sense....

I'd NOT recommend doing enlistment 'for the experience' as this could interfere with BSN program with honestly little benefit at this time if you are on track for a bachelors.

v/r

carolinapooh, BSN, RN · Apr 3, 2010

I second the avoidance of the enlisted because you just may find yourself wrapped up in your enlisted job with no time or opportunity to pursue your commission - it does happen. And I would highly recommend staying out of the AF Reserves/ANG as an enlisted member if your goal is to ultimately commission. The AF is notorious for making a commission difficult to obtain for its enlisted members. I finally got a commission the fourth time I tried - AFTER I separated and after I got my BSN.

I'm only talking AF because it's the only branch I'm qualified to chat up. :) ANY military service is valuable experience, and I discourage no one from joining the branch of their choice. Just be sure you're making the right choice for you before you commit to the Army, Navy, or the Air Force.

If it's money you need, though, the Army is usually the first to ante up and has the cash to spend. The AF is notoriously tight with her bucks up front, but gives out decent bonuses and loan paybacks once you're in. Again, unfortunately, I have no clue what the Navy's up to these days.

allnurses Guide · Apr 3, 2010

The constructive credit is not the same for each branch. I believe I'm correct when I say the AF only gives constructive credit for BSN time. For one year's experience with a BSN, you'd come in as a second Lt with six months' time in grade. I had two years' experience post BSN and came in as a second Lt with a year's TIG, which means I'll make 1st Lt (not senior Lt, that's not a rank - I don't want the OP confused) in December of this year instead of it taking two years.
I have no idea how the Navy figures constructive credit.
I also can't speak for the Army, although I know you can enter the Army Reserves (someone please correct me if I'm wrong) with an ADN as an officer and must have your BSN to advance beyond the rank of Captain.

Although, the AF will only take a BSN the last I knew any RN experience (ADN/Diploma/BSN etc) counted towards constructive credit.

jeckrn, BSN, RN · Apr 3, 2010

You are correct the AF only takes BSN and counts your experience as a ADN. The Army will commission you in the reserves with a ADN but there are a limited amount of slots. The Navy will not count your time as a ADN only the time after you recieved your BSN. I have been a RN since 98 and in the Capt(O3) in the Army Reserves since 02. While completing my BSN I was looking into the Navy to go active and they would only bring me in as a Ensign (O1). It was a no brainer and switched to active Army.

Even thou it is listed in the regs how constructive credit is calculated I have never figured it since you read on here how people with the same amount of experince are given different amounts even with the same service.

NSJodi · Apr 3, 2010

Thanks everyone for their posts! I am really looking at Reserves only. I was concerned that I would have difficulty switching roles later if I enlisted. I've always been a "learn from the ground up" type of person so that is what attracted me to enlisted. On the practical (i.e.financial) side I could only afford a year's worth of deployment on E-2, E-3 pay. I'm 37 so the army or nat'l guard are likely my only choices. Looks like going in after BSN is the better option. Thanks again!!

carolinapooh, BSN, RN · Apr 3, 2010

You can go into the Air Force until you're 42 as an RN.

jeckrn, BSN, RN · Apr 5, 2010

If you are looking at reserves and you want to be commissioned in the Army Reserves I would say do it now. Why wait, but if you are looking at the AF or Navy you will have to wait until you get your BSN

Jumpy · May 1, 2010

Wow. I have an ADN, and this thread has been quite helpful. Thank you everyone!