Army Nurse Corps FY2013

zombie · Jul 6, 2012

I was in your position.

I took the 30k bonus for 4 years at the time, I kick myself now... I missed out on the 20k per YEAR for four year bonus they offer and I am only eligible for it after doing 3 out of 4 years of my current obligation. Of course my recruiter didn't know/mention this. This is the CCRN ISP bonus.

You may get about a year of constructive credit so you will come in as a 2LT make CPT probably in 3 years.

Get your CCRN and visit the USAGPAN website and apply and come into school directly. So I basically took the route your taking now. You have to meet the same requirements to commission as an officer. But your basically adding on the school app.

Nothing wrong with this route but consider going to school at the front end.

AjaxAndronicus · Jul 10, 2012

I was in your position.
I took the 30k bonus for 4 years at the time, I kick myself now... I missed out on the 20k per YEAR for four year bonus they offer and I am only eligible for it after doing 3 out of 4 years of my current obligation. Of course my recruiter didn't know/mention this. This is the CCRN ISP bonus.
You may get about a year of constructive credit so you will come in as a 2LT make CPT probably in 3 years.
Get your CCRN and visit the USAGPAN website and apply and come into school directly. So I basically took the route your taking now. You have to meet the same requirements to commission as an officer. But your basically adding on the school app.
Nothing wrong with this route but consider going to school at the front end.

Zombie,

Thanks for heads up, I'm meeting with my recruiter this week to go over my packet and se whether direct to usagpan is feasible. Started an app for usagpan, but am torn b/c I want to get in and get some experience in the ANC/deployment exp before going to grad school

just_cause, BSN, RN · Jul 10, 2012

Deployments are winding down.. by the time eligible to be deployed.. post board, waiting for commission, bolc, getting to unit.. etc likely lower chance then now. I'd like to deploy as well... I'm here and waiting but likely won't get the opportunity either.

AjaxAndronicus · Jul 16, 2012

Deployments are winding down.. by the time eligible to be deployed.. post board, waiting for commission, bolc, getting to unit.. etc likely lower chance then now. I'd like to deploy as well... I'm here and waiting but likely won't get the opportunity either.

I hear you, hopefully there will be oconus opportunities, maybe the Stan, maybe somewhere new. I guess serving others is ultimate goal no matter where you are.

lizzardmommy · Aug 3, 2012

I am so excited to see a thread that seems to apply perfectly to my situation. I have been searching this website since 2008 when my dreams of becoming an army nurse began. Now after nearly 5 years of nursing and finishing my BSN I am ready to apply this year! My application is complete and I have my physical next month. I too am hoping to sit for my CCRN this October and have just started seriously studying. I have NO military experience and NO friends or family members to offer me guidance in this area. It feels as if I am completely blind in this area. I have 2.5 years experience as a critical care RN on a Burn/Trama unit and now 2 plus years experience on a Neuro/Trama ICU where I work as a night charge nurse. I haven't a clue as to whether or not I am a strong applicant and if I really truly have a chance of being accepted this year.

My biggest fear right now is having to work as a floor nurse or having to work in a medical ICU. I love trama and surgery and it is where all of my experience is! I would also love to get my paws back into burns! I am wondering how I can assure (if at all possible) I join as a critical care nurse. Also, I was told that with my experience (even though limited to 5 yrs) I could be reccomended for Lt1? When everyone says, "get it all in writing" what the heck are they speaking of? What am I forgetting to ask for and what can I be so bold as to ask for?

I was told by my recruiter that I had a good shot and that the Army tries to give nurses their first choice of duty stations when they first enlist? Was he just blowing air in my ear or is this true? I have ambitions of going to school for my masters in psych nursing and or to P.A. school. Should I include this in my letter of intent? I apologize for the endless questions, but you all seem so knowledgeable!

zombie · Aug 3, 2012

LizardMommy,

Hi, how long have you been nursing as a BSN RN? your time as a anything other than a BSN nurse does not count toward constructive credit (which will help with your initial rank). With that being said, if it is only a small amount of time and you come in as a Second Lieutenant, I wouldn't sweat it at all. Time seems to fly and you will rank up to captain in less than 5 years. The pay initially is probably less than what you get pay (most likely), but believe me after about 5 years it equals out and will > than your civ pay especially with bonuses available (if they are still around by then, they should). I worked civ ICU and the only regret is that I joined sooner in my life and I could retire earlier!

As for the ICU type they vary upon the size of the hospital your at. In San Antonio they have several ICUs including a very good burn ICU. In some places you will encounter a Combined ICU where you have basically everything including stuff like Step down because your hospital may or may not have a tele floor. So it all depends. You will be assigned to a location and in that location you can communicate your desires where you want to work. As for working the floor it mostly would depend on your Additional skill identifier. An 8A is the identifier for an ICU nurse so if you have this you almost certainly won't be assigned to the regular floor. I suggest you get a skill check off sheet your CNS on your ICU can fill out and then turn it in with your packet so you can come in grandfathered with the identifier like I did.

As for your first duty station, yes I do believe they try work with you on that. With that being said, you can't say you want to go to puerto rico or something like that. The army has to be there with a slot that they need you. Some places are like in Hawaii, San antonio, washington state, D.C, Ft. Bragg, Germany, Korea and others. I wouldn't sweat this much either, I mean at some point you will hit up a few of those places and go where you want to go.

Once your in the Army, You want to be a Psych Nurse and get your masters? But you want to work in the ICU? I am confused here cuz. The route I would suggest for this would be to come in as a 66H regular med surg nurse and volunteer to work in the psych ward and then try to get a slot for the psych course and get the identifier and work in the psych ward for a bit. Then apply for the Long Term Health Education & Training and have the Army send you to school to get your DNP in Psych nursing (a good deal cuz its free with time served which is like 5 years but they pay for everything for like 3 years or whatever). The only reason why I say come in as a med surg nurse and work in psych ward is that I think they like for you to have some psych experience. Dunno though.

PA school, you just need your GRE scores min and get your packet together and put in for it after you join there are some time on station etc requirements. But, its quite doable.

Your letter of intent should be whatever you want. I don't think mine was too great I did it on night shift like at 5am and when I look back on it it kind of sucked I think lol. I personally would suggest it to be focused on one path instead of saying you want to do like 3 or 4 different things. But, I don't think it would matter too much.

Just be flexible, have fun during your journey; paperwork sucks i suggest you keep a book with important paperwork and you could scan them and keep them online in your email or something if need be, after a while you will learn what to keep and what to throw away; no matter what your attitude is most important try to stay positive; You will wait quite a bit doing most things in the army just be aware your getting paid; don't complain so much, instead try to help out to fix it or shut up; I can go on but you will see where I am going with this.

Good luck!

Editorial Team / Moderator · Aug 3, 2012

Hi, how long have you been nursing as a BSN RN? your time as a anything other than a BSN nurse does not count toward constructive credit (which will help with your initial rank).

Actually, that's incorrect. The Army counts all time as an RN, not just starting upon completion of a BSN. I had 14 months of constructive credit when I joined, and had only had my BSN for a few months.

AjaxAndronicus · Aug 3, 2012

Lizzard Mommy,

Sounds like you have all the right qualifications for the Army Care RN, like Zombie said, get your manager or CNS to fill out the SI 8a paperwork, your recruiter should have those documents.

With regards to guaranteed critical care, its needs of Army first, then needs of applicant. I have my Si 8a filled out and my packet is sent in, just waiting for approval of cv/background and commission board in OCT (GULP!) That being said my recuirter told me that there are not set on their recruiting mission this year and he wanted to know if I would be willing to go in as a 66H with priority to go school for 8a (ICU) of M5(Er). THis is partilaly because of the transition to 66T army trauma nurse ( ablend of ICU/ER) but who knows. The question you have to ask is to you want ICU more than you want to be an Army nurse? In my case, I want into the system as a soldier, nurse and officer more than I want ICU.

Good luck on your application! If you have any questions just hit me up on PM

Hopefully we'll be down in Ft. SAM this Winter!

lizzardmommy · Aug 4, 2012

Hey All,

I am up early this letter trying to "find my hook" and finish writing my letter of intent. I wish I could just churn this thing out but, like with most everything I am a die hard perfectionist. I have 5 years total as an RN and just graduated with my BSN this March. All 5 years have been in ICU and prior to that I worked as an aide on the progressive/medical floors. I love ICU. It is who I am and I go to work everyday excited and happy. I love my job and don't want to imagine not taking care of critically ill patients. I haven't gotten this far without having to make sacrifices however, and if I had to work on a progressive floor for awhile I could certainly do that. Afterall, we learn from everything we do and I probley should have spend some time on the floors before I entered the ICUs as a new nurse years ago.

The advice about career paths was very helpful. I can see where anyone would be confused about my indicision as to which area of healthcare I wish to travel down. I was hoping very much to get stationed in TX at one of the larger hospitals, but am okay once again putting my time in wherever as long as I am able to join and serve.

I guess what still confuses me is that I see everywhere how limited the slots are each year for nurses, and I wonder if I truly have a chance this year? Further, I dont' see people posting that they weren't chosen the year they applied or anyone stating that it took a few years of applying to get in. Has anyone else heard any of these kinds of experiences?

I can't think of a better way to spend some of my winter than in Ft. SAM so I too hope to meet you this winter!

chudder · Aug 6, 2012

Why not USAGPAN? You sound like a good candidate, and your chances of getting a slot *might* be better than coming in as a critical care RN.......

Irishliz · Aug 8, 2012

Hi everyone! I just came across this thread and wanted to say hi :)

I am currently in the process of becoming an Army Nurse and also waiting excitedly to see if I am chosen to attend USAGPAN next June. The process has been rather lengthy and frustrating at times, but the end goal of becoming an Army Nurse and attending USAGPAN makes it all worthwhile. After being a nurse for almost 9 years, with 7 in the critical care setting, I feel that Army nursing will provide me with the new experiences I crave to take my practice to the next level.

I am happy to share my experiences with the Army Officer process as well as the USAGPAN process with anyone...and hopefully I can learn from you all as well about what to expect in my transition to the military life.

Take care and good luck everyone!

Liz

GretchRB · Sep 4, 2012

Hi everyone! I'm also sending in my packet for the Oct/Nov board. I'm just waiting of my mgr's to return my evals. I'm shooting for OB/GYN nursing...I've been an L&D RN for approx 18 mo in a high risk OB unit. I'm prior service (5 yrs AD/Medic), and I'm looking forward to going back in! It took me a while to convince my hubby that it was the best move for us, and the fact that I missed the Army. :) My biggest hurdle right now is losing the weight...didn't realize how much I had packed on since I got out in 07. Do you know if we have to pass the height/weight prior to getting our orders cut for BOLC or just when we are graduating? Any ways...thought I would say hi! I hope to meet all of you sometime this winter!