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thought i'd go ahead and share this email reply i received in my email today regarding joining the army nurse corp. i'm six years too "senior":p to join, so i'm posting this for those who have had questions about joining, what they offer etc. just because i'm too ripe for the task, doesn't mean i can't help those of you who are still green enough to join. and...you're welcome in advance. :) just doing my duty as an american that america loves to reject. :chair: :rotfl:
renee
thank you for your email and interest in the united states medical department.
here's what we can offer you in the army nurse corp to include the basic qualifications.
as a member of the army nurse corps, you'll be given opportunities to apply your nursing skills that aren't available in the civilian community. your role as an officer will afford you the chance to lead a nursing team in caring for your patients. the autonomy to practice nursing as
part of the health care team is unlike most civilian health care facilities. your professional judgment will be the driving force behind ensuring that all aspects of a patient's care are addressed and you'll be responsible for initiating coordination of a patient's multidisciplinary care.
as an army nurse corps officer, you'll continuously be challenged and encouraged to maintain current nursing knowledge and skills. in addition to free local continuing educational opportunities, you'll have the chance to pursue training in several clinical specialty areas, attend national nursing conferences, participate in nursing research and pursue post-graduate education. you'll also have the opportunity to travel across the globe and provide nursing care in remote settings where your ingenuity and creativity will be exercised and put to the test.
as an army nurse, you'll have the chance to gain education and experience in advanced practice nursing roles such as clinical nurse specialists, nurse practitioners, nurse midwives and nurse anesthetists. regardless of what specialty you choose, you'll be caring for a diverse patient
population in state-of-the-art medical facilities using the latest technology. here are the specialties found within the army nurse corps:
advanced practice nurse
community health nurse
critical care nurse
crna
emergency room nurse
family nurse practitioner
medical-surgical nurse
nurse anesthetist
nurse midwife
ob/gyn nurse
operating room nurse
perioperative nurse
psychiatric/mental health nurse
as an army medical department (amedd) officer, you won't participate in the basic training that all enlisted soldiers go through. instead, you'll attend an officer basic course (obc), a basic orientation course to the army health care system and the army way of life.
here are the basic requirements for getting into the army nurse corps.
active duty (full time):
*all registered professional nurses with a bsn degree from a national league for nursing (nln) or commission on collegiate nursing education (ccne) accredited program are eligible for active duty.
*must be a u.s. citizen.
*age 21 to 46 ½ years old at time of accession onto active duty.
army reserve (part time):
*nurses with a bsn, associate or diploma degree from a national league for nursing (nln) or commission on collegiate nursing education (ccne) accredited program are eligible to serve in the army reserve.
*preference is for bsn prepared nurses. (associates will be considered)
*must be a u.s. citizen or lawfully entered the united states for permanent residence.
*age 21 to 46 ½ years old at time of accession into the army reserve.
if this sounds like something you would like to pursue, have further questions and if you meet all the qualifications; please email me back with your contact information that way i can put you in touch with the health care recruiter to go over your options and benefits in the united
states medical department.
respectfully,
mrs. cynthia d. latta
cyber recruiter
united states army recruiting command
email: [color=#003399][email protected]
[color=#003399]http://www.goarmy.com
being a soldier strengthens you today and for the future because the army develops your potential through relevant and challenging training, shared values and personal experience. soldiers consistently take pride in making a difference for themselves, their families and the nation.
the army nurse corp and the medical community are a lot more open minded than the nation as a whole. But politics being what they are you could be accepted one day and then the goon squad would be around the next. Unfortunately this country and the armed forces are lead by white christian republicans and gay bashing is high on their agenda.
Great info. I was seriously considering joining the Army once I complete my BSN. The only reason I've decided against it is "don't ask, don't tell" policy.The sad thing is, I could really see myself going career in the military until retirement. But I can't see myself lying for twenty years to all the coworkers who'd ask innocent questions I couldn't answer. I have this awful fear that I'd get a year away from pension and then lose it because someone inadvertently found out. Not to mention that domestic partner benefits are getting easier to find in the private sector, but nonexistent in the military. :icon_roll
Hey, maybe we should start an Americans that America loves to reject support group :chuckle
I am currently in a Direct Entry program and will get my BSN in May 2009 and Family Nurse Practioner in May 2010. I have the option of stopping at the BSN point....
I am thinking of joining the Army Nurse Corps. Does it make sense to go in directly after the BSN or wait a year to go in once I have my NP. Either way, I will have no work experience (maybe a year of RN if I get my NP).
Will I go in with a higher rank as an NP? Will the Army still pay my loans off?
Tahnks for any feedback.
I am currently in a Direct Entry program and will get my BSN in May 2009 and Family Nurse Practioner in May 2010. I have the option of stopping at the BSN point....I am thinking of joining the Army Nurse Corps. Does it make sense to go in directly after the BSN or wait a year to go in once I have my NP. Either way, I will have no work experience (maybe a year of RN if I get my NP).
Will I go in with a higher rank as an NP? Will the Army still pay my loans off?
Tahnks for any feedback.
Hello,
I am an RN, (direct entry MENP but not the NP, just the MS nurse generalist).
The Army has a Health Professions Loan Repayment, (HPLRP) which will pay off a large portion of your school loans. Since my undergraduate degree was a pre-req for my MS entry degree they do count towards my current position and were eligible for repayment.
The Army does hire NPs but, when I was considering waiting until I completed the NP portion, following my MS, I looked more into it. From what I saw, there are far more Nurses than NPs in the Army. It seemed to me that the Army does not really utilize NPs at all but does have a strong Physician Assistant base. This may change.
My direct entry didn't not grant a post-bacc BSN but, was an MS entry, so, if yours does grant a BSN then I'd imagine your previous Bachelor's wouldn't qualify for the HPLRP unless it was a pre-req for the degree, (which since it is an undergraduate degree I do not see how it really could be.)
However, I'd really seek information from the Army Nurse Corps. I think I might be one of the first few MS entry Nurses because my application was passed over at the board twice before being accepted. I was actually told "no" about pursueing my NP prior to entry because I was told that the Army nurse corps was not interested in a new graduate NP who hadn't worked clinically for that hands on experience. Is it different than civilian hospitals that did willingly want an NP? Yes, however I am willing because I do want that hands on clinical experience. However, all that said....I recommend that you look into it.
Gen
I found this link about questions they supposedly ask: http://www.military.com/Recruiting/Content/0,13898,rec_step04_questions_med,,00.html I do know that you can get waivers for many things, so if the military is something you are interested in, start talking with a health care recruiter now. A recruiter told me they tend to give more waivers for health care personnel but of course it depends on the condition or past problem. I know I have to give my medical records from my past surgeries to show that it will not impact my performance.
How long until you finish your BSN? Good luck to you!
Tiffany
Here is another link: http://usmilitary.about.com/od/joiningthemilitary/a/intmedstandards.htm
Hope it helps! :) If I find any more information, I'll post it too.
Tiffany
mwbeah
430 Posts
Graduated in 2002, deployed, worked at Carson, now attending the PhD program in Neuroscience at USUHS.
Mike