Going to NP school, the Army Recruiter contacted me

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An Army recruiter contacted me, asking me if I wanted to join the army as an NP, I told him that my NP school would not start until this August, and I would not be graduating in about 3 years, and he also wanted me to have 1 year NP experience. Anyways, then he said ”You have BSN, right? you can join the Army Reserve, and serve 1 weekend every month, and you can get tuition assistance as well when you are in NP school at the same time." I have paid off my BSN loans, haven't borrowed any for NP school yet, I try not to.

My questions are, 1) how true is that? If that's true, I could just get student loan for NP without worries?

2) If I told my school now that I just have joined the Army Reserve, would it affect my schooling? I mean schedule wise, or some other aspects I am not aware of, I don't want to fail NP school.

Anyone can help answering my questions? Thank you.

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The Army barely uses NPs (its very PA heavy), so I would be wary of this offer. He wants to you join as a RN with the HOPES you'd get a NP slot which is VERY unlikely.

Army reserve RN life is fairly noncommittal. One weekend a month with a 2 week training a year.

Join if you want to join but dont bank on being a NP. I was a reserve RN despite being a NP. I enjoyed it.

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1 minute ago, Numenor said:

The Army barely uses NPs (its very PA heavy), so I would be wary of this offer. He wants to you join as a RN with the HOPES you'd get a NP slot which is VERY unlikely.

Army reserve RN life is fairly noncommittal. One weekend a month with a 2 week training a year.

So it is like a weekend job, would not conflict with my NP school schedules? I mean, like the riot happening right now, will they pull Army Reserve RN to work？I wouldn't want that if it is in the middle of a school year.

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3 minutes ago, Mae_W said:

So it is like a weekend job, would not conflict with my NP school schedules? I mean, like the riot happening right now, will they pull Army Reserve RN to work？I wouldn't want that if it is in the middle of a school year.

It wouldn't conflict, schools have to allow you to go to training regardless (or they help you work around it). Its federal law.

Doubtful, I TRIED to deploy for years and couldn't get a slot, there are enough volunteers generally. The reserves is generally used for humanitarian missions if there are no tactive deployments (not likely right now). But if you get called, you obviously have to go unless there is a GOOD reason,

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7 minutes ago, Numenor said:

It wouldn't conflict, schools have to allow you to go to training regardless (or they help you work around it). Its federal law.

Doubtful, I TRIED to deploy for years and couldn't get a slot, there are enough volunteers generally. The reserves is generally used for humanitarian missions if there are no tactive deployments (not likely right now). But if you get called, you obviously have to go unless there is a GOOD reason,

Oh, dear, GOOD reason, I guess I don't have any reason is that GOOD. hahaha.. So you are saying I could join the army reserve, and it should not affect my NP schooling. BUT Could I can get NP tuition assistance because I was serving in the Reserve as an RN?

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5 minutes ago, Mae_W said:

Oh, dear, GOOD reason, I guess I don't have any reason is that GOOD. hahaha.. So you are saying I could join the army reserve, and it should not affect my NP schooling. BUT Could I can get NP tuition assistance because I was serving in the Reserve as an RN?

It shouldn't. TA is usually reserved for enlisted soldiers, officers usually get generous loan reimbursement or bonuses if you have a specificity (CCRN etc)

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Specializes in NICU/Mother-Baby/Peds/Mgmt.

You'll be assigned to a reserve unit. When they have weekend training you'll go, even if it conflicts with studying for finals or your personal life. When they have 2 week Summer training you'll go, even if...I would call about recruiter/do some Google searches to find out about TA, there might be a minimum time you have to serve to be eligible. I think there's a military link here, check that out. And don't count on never getting deployed, I know someone (not a nurse and enlisted) who didn't volunteer and still got deployed for at least 6 months. Overseas.

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2 hours ago, Elaine M said:

You'll be assigned to a reserve unit. When they have weekend training you'll go, even if it conflicts with studying for finals or your personal life. When they have 2 week Summer training you'll go, even if...I would call about recruiter/do some Google searches to find out about TA, there might be a minimum time you have to serve to be eligible. I think there's a military link here, check that out. And don't count on never getting deployed, I know someone (not a nurse and enlisted) who didn't volunteer and still got deployed for at least 6 months. Overseas.

oh my, 2 week Summer training. I think I will skip.

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Its a part time job that you could make more money picking up a weekend shift at your local hospital once a month. (True for the LTs and CPTs... by the time you get to be a MAJ or higher, that may not be the case.) Yes, there are financial benefits, but there are also challenges.

Your Unit that you drill with each month may be in a different state. The first 6 yrs of my Reserves career required a 9 hour (one way) drive. Yes, there is pay to help you cover the cost of travel, if its needed.

"Tuition assistance" actually means loan repayment for Officers. After a good year, you can apply and the Army will pay a portion of your loan (as long as the loan is at least a year old) BUT they will withhold taxes and on paper, it looks like income.

As someone who joined as an RN with no prior military experience - it was an extremely bumpy process and nothing was easy... but its do-able!

The best reason to join the Reserves are the people you meet, if you are willing to embrace it. If you are lucky - as I am/was - you have a wide variety of really cool health care pros from all walks of life. You embrace the bumps together, you learn A LOT, and you share a common bond. It's a unique experience!

Best of luck in whatever you decide to do! Let me know if you have more questions.

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Since I

16 hours ago, GetBehindtheBarn said:

Its a part time job that you could make more money picking up a weekend shift at your local hospital once a month. (True for the LTs and CPTs... by the time you get to be a MAJ or higher, that may not be the case.) Yes, there are financial benefits, but there are also challenges.

I am worried about not being able to graduate the NP school because of Summer training and deploy (if), the school is one day a week on campus, the tasks should not effect my attendance at school, but the time I need to write a research paper or read several chapters ahead of time things like that would be interrupted. I think I might try later after I graduate and have 1 year experience. Thanks for the info.

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