Becoming an Army Nurse

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Hello, my name is Brandi and I am very interested in joining the Army to become a nurse. I honestly don't even know where to begin. I have so many questions and I want the truth all the good bad and ugly about army nursing lol. Can you pick your own school? Are you able to have a pretty normal family life? Where do you work after graduating. I would love to stay my full 20 years and retire from the Army. My main concern is whenever in the future I get married and have kids I don't want to constantly move. I live in Kentucky. Is there anywhere here I can work? Thank You!

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Brandi,

Are you in Nursing school right now or in the process?, that is going to be your first step...in regards to moving all the time, if you don't want to move, don't join the services, in the army you typically move every 2-3 years not sure about the Navy and in the AF it's usually about 2-3 years, although I have heard people that live for 10 years in one location, but that is not the norm...once your in Nursing School, locate a Health Care Officer Recruiter, no matter what don't go enlisted, you have much better way of life and better opportunities when you join as an officer..also peruse this site a bit, there is a wealth of information that had very similar questions, hope that helps some..

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Specializes in pedies and er.

brandi, I agree w/ huggibear...esp re moving. all military involves moving about every 4 years, as far as I know. gather your information from nurses on here, and then go to the different branches of service for their input. I am on "navyformoms", and the nurses there will help answer any questions you may have. I would have loved to have been a navy nurse, but my dad was army, and never talked about the military while I was growing up...I never knew it was an option.

good luck!

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Specializes in Oncology, Hospice, Med-Surg.

If you haven't started college yet than I'd recommend finding a college with an army ROTC program. That way you can get your school paid for and a monthly stipend and go in as an officer. You can't be deployed while you're in college, during the summer you'll have some training and during the school year you'll have PT (physical training). Once you graduate you'll go for officer training. I considered this option but met my husband whose career can't allow a lot of moving or it'd be destroyed. I chose to just graduate and pay for it on my own, but it is a good option if you can do it.

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Specializes in ICU, School Nurse, Med/Surg, Psych.

P.S forget retiring in 20 years - it has been 30 for quite some time. Go see a recruiter!

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Specializes in Anesthesia.
P.S forget retiring in 20 years - it has been 30 for quite some time. Go see a recruiter!

That is total nonsense. It is 20yrs like it has always been. This is an easily verifiable fact on the internet.

No you don't need to go see a recruiter unless you want to go in as enlisted instead of as an officer right now.

Time that you spend at one duty station before being required to move is dependent on the service you choose, whether you are overseas or not, and your speciality area. Normal times on station are between 2-4.5yrs for nurses.

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Specializes in Anesthesia.
Brandi,

Are you in Nursing school right now or in the process?, that is going to be your first step...in regards to moving all the time, if you don't want to move, don't join the services, in the army you typically move every 2-3 years not sure about the Navy and in the AF it's usually about 2-3 years, although I have heard people that live for 10 years in one location, but that is not the norm...once your in Nursing School, locate a Health Care Officer Recruiter, no matter what don't go enlisted, you have much better way of life and better opportunities when you join as an officer..also peruse this site a bit, there is a wealth of information that had very similar questions, hope that helps some..

Time on station standard in the AF 4.5 yrs for stateside assignments and 2-3yrs for accompanied overseas assignments.

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Specializes in ER / ICU.

Brandi,

I spent 4 years getting my BSN all the while training with the Army ROTC at my university. There is no better deal. I did not pay a single dime for my education. They paid full tuition, I got a housing allowance every month, book money, and just some extra incentive money. It's not quite the same now, they are a little more strict with money because the economy is screwing them too. Upon graduation I had a 4 year commitment to serve on active duty. I honestly can't say enough good things about the Nurse Corp and Army ROTC. You can go to whatever university/college you want as long as they have a nursing program and an ROTC program. And I wouldn't talk to an enlistment recruiter, that's a whole different ball game. Just google army rotc at whatever school you're looking at. The people you'll want to talk to within the program are the "PMS" (professor of military science) or the "ROO" (recruiting officer).

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I see you had a 4 yr commitment to serve on active duty, was this as a nurse or a soldier? I would be interested in knowing that...plus, since you had a bachelor's -- were you an officer upon graduation?

Thanks!

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Oh and it is definitely 20 yrs to retire in the military, not 30. My son is joining at 18 and will be retired at 38 if he stays on active duty that entire time.

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Specializes in ER / ICU.

Both as a soldier and a nurse. You will commission as a 2LT the day you graduate. You will then be an officer in the US Army Nurse Corps...basically you work in a military hospital here stateside or in Germany for minimum of a year before you can deploy.

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Specializes in ED.

1. I'm a 20 year Retired Army veteran. Enlisted.

2. If you want to be an Army Nurse. Then don't enlist as an enlisted person. 4 year degree first then in as officer. Take above advise. Seek out nurse recruiter online. Don't walk into Army recruitment office you'll end up buffing floors. And disappointed.

3. If you don't want to move every 3-4 yes then don't join army. The airforce moves less but every service moves you around vases on their needs not yours

4. Military nursing is a great idea. Remember though. The military is in the war business. There is the possibility of getting shot or blown up. As an army nurse you will have lots of help while doing your nursing work and you will have plenty of opportunities to manage and supervise others. The army provides it's professional plenty of great training.

If I could of had a redo I would gave done college then army.

Good luck.

The military is a dangerous job for all involved. Male female enlisted officer. Nurse or truck driver. It is very dangerous

It's not. The boy scouts. Or girl scouts for that matter

People die.

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