Army Commisioning 2012

Editorial Team / Moderator · Jul 13, 2011

October is the beginning of the new fiscal year, so yes, that is probably when the next selection board will be held. As far as CNA experience counting toward constructive credit, I highly doubt it. I received no credit for my 8 years as a paramedic, only my years as an RN.

SoldierNurse22, BSN, RN · Jul 13, 2011

Experience that doesn't involve your nursing license absolutely will not count. That's a load of crap. If that were so, I'd be getting credit for 10 years of volunteer work and 4 years as an EMT/CNA. Last I checked, I'm not a CPT or even a 1LT(P).

sa[RN]ah · Jul 14, 2011

Speaking of FY2012 selection board.. has anyone heard anything, or know if they're anticipating it being as competitive as this year's? I tried getting intouch with my recruiter to get the scoop.. but it seems he's no longer recruiting. I had applied last year, but my chances were pretty slim since I hadn't even graduated and had zero experience.. so Im keeping my fingers crossed for some better odds this year!

docteri · Jul 15, 2011

my recruiter implied that the CNA experience would make me not a "new Nurse". Any comments on the newness problem? This is all ironic since Ive been a practicing chiropractor for 10 years. I have lots of patient experience, just not starting IVs or drawing blood!

Editorial Team / Moderator · Jul 15, 2011

Your recruiter is incorrect. A CNA is not a nurse (obviously), so it won't count; you will still be a new nurse if you're actually a new nurse.

SoldierNurse22, BSN, RN · Jul 15, 2011

Lunah is correct. Your chiropractor experience will obviously help you with patient care and such, but you still have skills to learn that are unique to nursing (and trust me, there's plenty!), so you'll probably be put in a clinical transition program (an orientation program that assists new nurses) to help you adjust.

jeckrn, BSN, RN · Jul 15, 2011

my recruiter implied that the CNA experience would make me not a "new Nurse". Any comments on the newness problem? This is all ironic since Ive been a practicing chiropractor for 10 years. I have lots of patient experience, just not starting IVs or drawing blood!

How did you go from being a chiropractor to a nurse? As others have stated, a CNA is not a nurse. The A stands for assistant just like a PTA is not a Physical Therapist. Also, have you been talking with a enlisted recruiter or a health care recruiter? From what it sounds like what you have posted it is a enlisted recruiter.

docteri · Jul 17, 2011

I was speaking with the Health Care recruiter for the Army. I have been researching the military program a great deal and had suspicions about using a CNA cert to get me anywhere.

I love being a chiro, but my joints donot. I am still young (enough for military) and want a change of pace while I can still lift my arms. My husband is a soldier reservist. He got sick this year with blood clots and a factor 5 defect! who knew. Now my goals now are to get him to lower elevation and spend time with him. We both love to travel, but cannot with my practice. Chiropractic is actually quite personal, my patients like the way I do things. Relief docs just do not do it the same. As a nurse in the military, I can fill in for someone and no one will care that much...ahhh autonomy!

jeckrn, BSN, RN · Jul 18, 2011

I was speaking with the Health Care recruiter for the Army. I have been researching the military program a great deal and had suspicions about using a CNA cert to get me anywhere.
I love being a chiro, but my joints donot. I am still young (enough for military) and want a change of pace while I can still lift my arms. My husband is a soldier reservist. He got sick this year with blood clots and a factor 5 defect! who knew. Now my goals now are to get him to lower elevation and spend time with him. We both love to travel, but cannot with my practice. Chiropractic is actually quite personal, my patients like the way I do things. Relief docs just do not do it the same. As a nurse in the military, I can fill in for someone and no one will care that much...ahhh autonomy!

Can totally understand about relief doc, but your comment about relief nurse I dont. Patients know if you are a good or bad nurse. I realize its not like when you have a relief chiro. Hope your husband is doing ok. Was he able to stay in the reserves long enough to get his 20year letter? It would stink if he was close and was med boarded out. If your are commissoned you will need to look into the EMFP to ensure that you are stationed at locations which are good for your husbands health.

docteri · Jul 18, 2011

My hubbies commander sent him to the medical board and asked for a promotion packed at the same time? He gets to take lots of coumdin and wear funny old man compression socks when he walks alot. His is a bit shy of his 20 with the army. He still has 5 years left on his day job, so we will be separted for a bit when I commission. Such is life.

I know there are good nurses and bad nurses and our patients can tell the difference. When you are scheduled off you can be off. I have people call for "emergencies" all weekend. I even get asked questions or told of progress in the supermarket.

jeckrn, BSN, RN · Jul 19, 2011

When you are off you off. But with that said if you get called in you must go. Each hospital, floor does it different. It depends on the mix of military/civilians, how the local contract reads, how the call rotation is done.