Army Nursing Questions. Please Help!!!

carolinapooh, BSN, RN · Jun 2, 2005

Ok, hypothetically, if i joined the army now at 18 with no college experience but i KNOW i want to be an RN, what should I do? What should I choose as my MOS? How do I go about going to RN school?

I would choose Army medic (I'm ex-USAF and a Navy brat, so I don't know what they call it) - BUT - in the military there is NO guarantee you will get your request. And trust me when I say that some recruiters DO lie - it's not just a bad joke...so keep that in mind when you go in. Army enlistment numbers are so horrible right now they might say anything to put an "X" in a box.

However, it IS wartime, so they just might NEED medics. Dig around on the Army official website (http://www.army.mil) and see if there is a list of MOSs they currently are shorthanded in. The AF used to put that up all the time.

Go in, get your GI bill, and then go to school when you get out. You can take prereqs while you're in (education in the military, even in forward areas, is pretty good by any standards). Also, while you're in, you qualify for free DANTES and Excelsior exams (check out http://www.excelsior.edu; that's where I finished my own degree after going broke during 3 years of regular college. I tested five classes for nothing - it's fully accredited and fairly highly regarded. They also have nursing degrees and may give you credit for the courses you have to take as a medic - I know they give credit for Navy corpsman courses).

You can also check into armed forces health professions schools - you'll be commissioned - BUT you will owe the military more time as a result. You can also talk to an ROTC officer at a university.

I would do my own research first, so when you go in to see a recruiter, you already have a better grasp of what's real and what isn't. Recruiters tend to blow a lot of smoke; it pays to be a bit savvy going in so you're not swayed into joining the infantry by "accident".

If they say they can guarantee you a job - and trust me, they probably will - tell them you want to see it in writing - a guaranteed MOS has to be in writing in your Delayed Enlistment contract to be binding. Don't take anything verbally.

Not trying to scare you; I've just heard WAY too many horror stories and heard too many from others while I was in. At 22 and a military brat, I was pretty hard to smoke up - I knew what I needed and what the game was.

Remember that anyone can do anything for 3-4 years. There are plenty of kids your age that will be wasting that much time doing nothing. Regardless of the MOS, there is always something positive to get out of military service - even for those who go in solely for college benefits. At least they DID something with four years of their life. My point has always been - hey, they DID it - they signed a paper saying they'd die for their country if necessary. Who cares about the motives that may lie behind it?

Sorry to prattle on so!

andreamae · Jun 2, 2005

What does an army medic do? Is it not possible to get my RN degree while working in the army?

grannynurse FNP · Jun 3, 2005

What does an army medic do? Is it not possible to get my RN degree while working in the army?

You are classified as a medic. It is akin to being a paramedic in civilian life, although I know there are paramedics who will disagree. You can work on your pre or co requistes, while you are on active duty. It is possible to have a contract drawn up guarntee your MOS as a medic. I don't think you will have a problem with that MOS given what is happening today.

Grannynurse :balloons:

lmacks4 · Jun 3, 2005

You can also get the mos 91wm6 It is considered to be a LPN position, you would have to go thru 91w ait but then you also have a year of m6 training. I know the spots are hard to come by but if you are set on it, i'm sure there are ways of achieving it. The only thing is that you would also be enlisted active duty for 6 years as oppsed to the 4 for the medic mos. Anyway, just another option for you to consider. Laura

carolinapooh, BSN, RN · Jun 6, 2005

You can also get the mos 91wm6 It is considered to be a LPN position, you would have to go thru 91w ait but then you also have a year of m6 training. I know the spots are hard to come by but if you are set on it, i'm sure there are ways of achieving it. The only thing is that you would also be enlisted active duty for 6 years as oppsed to the 4 for the medic mos. Anyway, just another option for you to consider. Laura

This is definitely what you should do. This sounds like a great way to go.

I would go in armed (pardon the pun) with this info and go talk to a recruiter. STICK TO YOUR POSITION and do not let him/her talk you out of it or try to tell you "well, you'll be able to cross-train" or something equally questionable. Very few cross train during a war - unless it's to the infantry.

GOOD LUCK and keep us posted!