Crazy for wanting to go enlisted route?!?!?!

[yuma_nurse]

I am an ADN nurse and am thinking about enlisting in the army reserve. I will be starting my RN to MSN program in jan and just dont want to wait the over 2 years it would take me to finish. I know I woud have to go through basic traning and I would not be considered an nurse in the reserves until I finish school and somehow obtain my direct commission. Does this sound crazy? Is it so much better to just wait? In need of any advice!!

[NBerry]

I was also a 68W (combat medic) in the National Guard while I went to college. I would definitely suggest that you not go the enlisted route. It sounds like you will end up wasting a lot of time. The training is fantastic (for those who have not had medical training or combat medical training), you experience a lot of things that you would not have if you had just gone direct commission. If you want to just jump in to get the experience I would suggest joining the ROTC and contracting while you finish your BSN. They can offer you summers at major Military Treatment Facilities which would really be a grea opportunity before commissioning. My university also has a Graduate ROTC so you may want to look into that route if you are set on your MSN. I personally have just graduated with my BHS and miss the clinical aspect of health care. I am applying for the BSN program for next fall and plan on contracting through the ROTC if I make it in. Right now you just want to find a job that is needed in the Army and excel in it. They aren't even accepting prior-service 68Ws back into the Army now. Good Luck!