Can a 52 y/o nurse join the army reserve nursing corp?

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Specializes in MICU.

I originally posted a question in the yahoo search- Can a 52 year old nurse get a waiver to join the army reserve nursing corp?

and one of the results directed me to the allnurses website which I have just become a member. The result was specifically a post

by athena55 who I would like to have contact with as she became a reserve nurse at age 52. I have no previous military experience so I am wondering how possible it would be for me to fulfill this dream I have had for a long time but never acted on because of having kids. Would appreciate any advice or info on this topic. I would do it without pay if it would help make this dream happen

:uhoh3:

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Hello, I don't know the answer to your question, but wanted to direct you to the Government and Military Nursing forum here on allnurses.com. You might get more answers if you post your question there.

https://allnurses.com/government-military-nursing/

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Satisfy your curiosity. Call or visit a recruiter.

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Specializes in Cardiac, ER.

Post a topic with athen55's name in it,...she will answer you! You can also send private messages.

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I believe 42 is the cut off age, but thats just what I remember someone saying once.

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Satisfy your curiosity. Call or visit a recruiter.

One caveat: Get any oral agreements put in writing and signed.

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If you contact a recruiter, you need to make sure that you are talking to a healthcare recruiter. Calling the general recruitment office can give you the phone number (and location) of the healthcare recruiter, but that is all. I know for active duty you can try for an age waiver, but I am not certain about the reserves. But as someone else mentioned, the government/military forum here is a fabulous resource.

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Your question is one that I'm personally interested in and have tried - unsuccessfully - to get authoritatively answered. I'm a bit older than you but have 10 years of prior Army infantry service. When I became an RN last year, I contacted a recruiter who was a friend of one of my retired Army buddies. He told me that the age limits for medical personnel were waiverable and suggested that I contact a medical recruiter. That's where the process stopped: I phoned the recruiter's office 5 or 6 times but was never able to get anyone and no one responded to my voice mails. The enlisted recruiter that I was able to talk to told me that the word is that the Army Medical Department (AMEDD)recruiters are flush with applications from both recent nursing school grads and experienced nurses, which may explain why I've not gotten a response

The published age limit for Army Reserve nurses is 52 (requires a waiver though) - I saw some articles indicating that this limit was now increased however. Technically, it would seem that you are eligible with the proper waiver. I would contact an AMEDD recruiter in your area - you local enlisted recruiter's office should be able to give you the proper contact information. From what I can see, BSN's need at least 6 mos experience and ADN RNs must have 12. The other branches of service won't commission anyone but BSNs.

In my case, it looks like I'm SOL for the Nurse Corps but may be able do some unpaid volunteer work.

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Specializes in NICU.

yeah, my Dad is in the army nurse corps and and has told me that they have way too many nurses right now and actually don't have the budget to pay for them. Apparently they're going to ask the army doctors to "borrow" some of their excess funds to pay for the nurses and/or force some people to retire.

He said that they are hiring a few new grads this year, as they do every year, but that these are very few and far between. Best of luck, but I fear that it is a fierce competition....

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Active duty will accept personnel up to age 49, while the Army Reserve has an age limit of 52. Both may be waived for those with prior military service.

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All branches of the Military have tightened requirements. Officer slots are limited and for those who do qualify the process is long. I know BSN is a also required.

You could always work as a contractor on a base somewhere. FYI- 8 years of Prior Service wouldve made you 44 in the eyes of the Army.

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Specializes in MICU.

I am a 52 y/o RN who has been out of nursing for 19 years raising kids. I'm trying to get a job right now. I want to know if I even have a prayer of getting into the army nurse corp at my age and having been out of nursing so long? What are the best areas of nursing to have experience in to get accepted? Are applicants to the corp competing against other nurses? From reading other posts, it sounds like there aren't a lot of nursing positions available in the army? any comments most appreciated!!!

Anybody know the name of a healthcare recruiter in Denver/Colorado area? thanks!!!:D

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