Army RN FY 2016 question

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Hey Everyone! Hope you all had a good 2015! I am an RN here in NY with three years of Med/Surg (Tele) Experience and almost a year in the CTICU. I was looking to join the military as an RN, I've met with the recruiters and I am now trying to decide whether or not to go Reserves or Active Duty. I really have my hear set on continuing to work in the ICU if I go Active Duty. What can I do to better increase my odds of getting one of those slots? I plan on taking my CCRN. Does anyone know if an accession bonus/what incentives are being offered for commissioning if any at all? Thank you.

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

If you want to come in as a specialty nurse, you need to work with your recruiter to obtain the specialty identifier for ICU. Ideally you will need your CCRN and whatever the required number of hours are in an ICU setting — I seem to remember it was 1750 hours in the previous two years or thereabouts, that's what it was for the ER specialty identifier when I was applying for direct commission in 2010. It's a lot of paperwork and documentation that must be completed by your ICU manager or clinical educator. The identifier needs to be in place before your packet goes to the board. But be aware that it doesn't matter what kind of nurse you are, the Army can put you where it needs you. I know specialty nurses (both ER and ICU) who are not working in those specialties at all.

The Army is actually cutting nurses and is overstrength in all areas, including ER and ICU, so there isn't much incentive for bonuses. There are actually early separation boards contemplating the futures of more than 1000 Army nurses right now. You need to be a very strong candidate to be selected. Your recruiter should have the latest information.

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Oh wow. My recruiter didn't mention anything about the Army being over strength at the moment. I have the required numbers of hours. At least 750 in the last year. It would definitely be a bummer not to work in the ICU since I enjoy it so much. Of course the incentives would've been nice as well if they were still available. Maybe ill consider the reserves a little bit more heavily now since I'd be able to maintain working in the ICU.

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

That's 1750, not 750. Reserves definitely gives you more latitude!

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The recruiter made it sound like that because I have over 1000 hours in this year alone in the ICU I might be alright. The reserves definitely seems like it gives me more latitude as far as keeping my ICU skills up. It certainly would have been fun to travel as active duty. Another thing to unfortunately consider would be the pay cut of going active duty, its pretty substantial which is why I was curious about the incentives. I don't control the powers that be so I'm doing my best to make an informed decision

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Specializes in EMT, ER, Homehealth, OR.

Beside base pay you will receive a housing allowance, free health insurance for you and your family. Also pay is relative to where you live. I am from WNY and would have had to make twice as much to keep the same standard of living if we lived in the NYC area. The housing allowance for Buffalo is around 1/3 of what it would be in NYC.

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
The recruiter made it sound like that because I have over 1000 hours in this year alone in the ICU I might be alright. The reserves definitely seems like it gives me more latitude as far as keeping my ICU skills up. It certainly would have been fun to travel as active duty. Another thing to unfortunately consider would be the pay cut of going active duty, its pretty substantial which is why I was curious about the incentives. I don't control the powers that be so I'm doing my best to make an informed decision

I actually took a substantial pay cut to go back to civilian nursing from active duty. The monthly housing allowance is a big deal, as is the free healthcare and monthly subsistence pay. I gave up about $2300/month with those benefits, not to mention my annual $20,000 in incentive special pay (ISP) as a board certified ED nurse. Don't just look at the monthly earning tables for officers, there is much more to it.

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That's another excellent bit of insight Pixie. I'm assuming Id have to get my CCRN before I can be considered for ISP if they still offer it. The only real reason I worry about the monthly number really is my substantial student loans and quite a large burden that I incurred during the aftermath of hurricane sandy with helping my family rebuild. Right now through my job my health insurance is near free as I'm the only one on the plan.

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Specializes in Adult Critical Care.

I believe they still offer the loan repayment for experienced nurses, depending on the branch you join (AF still offers it).

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That may be true. I haven't researched Air Force. I think the tattoos on my arms are an automatic disqualification

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
That may be true. I haven't researched Air Force. I think the tattoos on my arms are an automatic disqualification

My tattoos were dealbreakers for the Air Force. Anything that covered more than 25% was too much.

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