Army Reserve Nursing

Specialties Government

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Specializes in CCRN.

I received approval for my commissioning into the United States Army Reserve as a Critical Care Nurse. I have to sign my contract and take the oath. For current army reserve nurse officers, Is there anything you wish you would have put in your contract but didn't realize until it was too late? Special pay and loan repayment are in there but are their specifics that need to be made clear within those? Thanks a lot everyone!

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Specializes in Adult Critical Care.

Contracts don't get individualized in my experience. You usually get to pick between 2 or 3 'stock' contracts; loan repayment or special pay or both or neither. They don't add or subtract language for one person.

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Specializes in Adult Critical Care.

The main thing to look for is your experience credit. Your DOR (date of rank) should be back-dated to reflect constructive credit (i.e. 50% of your full time RN experience).

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Specializes in CCRN.

Sweet thanks for the info! I will check on the DOR info to make sure it is correct. What about the delayed deployment condition? I'm finishing up some online classes and was told you could get a temporary delayed deployment condition put in the contract. Do the recruiters put that in or is that something you work out with your unit? I don't mind being deployed but it sure would help if it waited at least one more semester!

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Specializes in Adult Critical Care.

I'm not as familiar with reserves. My best guess is that it's something you work out with your unit; I can't imagine commissioning with temporary non-deployment language in your contract.

There's many endless places one can deploy, but many medical people go to the hospital in Bagram, Iraq. You will very likely have wifi there.

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Specializes in EMT, ER, Homehealth, OR.

You will not be qualified to deploy until you have completed OBLC which you will not do right away.

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Specializes in CCRN.

Thanks for all the responses, this was very useful information. Also I was thinking of declining the loan repayment for now so that my initial contract is shorter (to ensure) this is something I enjoy). If I decline it now, how likely is it that I can get it on my next contract if I like the position and re-up?

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Specializes in EMT, ER, Homehealth, OR.
Thanks for all the responses, this was very useful information. Also I was thinking of declining the loan repayment for now so that my initial contract is shorter (to ensure) this is something I enjoy). If I decline it now, how likely is it that I can get it on my next contract if I like the position and re-up?

No matter if you take a bonus or not your contract is for 8 years, the only thing that changes is how many years you have to drill for. I you decline it now the chances are you will not get it in the future. As an officer there is no re-up. You will be commissioned & in the reserves until you resign your position. After 8 years and you decided that you want to get out and do not resign your commission you will still be in the reserves and could be activated in the future. From what we just heard the ICU ISP bonus is going up for active duty, you might want to look at this for the reserves. There are some things that can be written in your contract like a school or something but not much.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ER, Cath lab.

I'm looking at the same. I have 2.5 years ICU and CCRN as well as CFRN. By the time I finish my BSN I will pass my 3 year mark. If I get 50% time credit for my civilian experience would this mean I go in as an O2 instead of an O1?

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
If I get 50% time credit for my civilian experience would this mean I go in as an O2 instead of an O1?

Yep, you should. :)

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Specializes in U.S. Army Reserve 1LT 66S - ICU.

possibly, but the 50% (constructive credit) starts at the time you get your BSN - so you might come in as an O-1 but you will qualify for special pay with your CCRN so keep that up and goodluck!

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
possibly, but the 50% (constructive credit) starts at the time you get your BSN - so you might come in as an O-1 but you will qualify for special pay with your CCRN so keep that up and goodluck!

No, the Army considers ALL time as an RN for experience, not only the time as a BSN-prepared RN. The Navy is the only one that only counts BSN onward.

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