How do I become an Army Nurse??

[theshirls]

Hello. I'm currently enlisted (not a medical MOS) in the Army and coming up fast on my ETS date. I want to become a nurse but I also would like to be an officer in the Army. I'm going to be living in Southern California (Near Oceanside) once I get out of the Army.

So here are my questions. If I go through ROTC what is a good school to go to? I've been trying to look around online and it seems like there is a long wait list for all of them. My concern is I'm 23 and I know there is an age limit to your graduation date if you are wishing to get the ROTC scholarship money. I know you can skip ROTC and become a nurse then become an officer. But does it have to be a BSN or can you do it with an ADN? If that's the case can I go to a vocational school (and skip the wait list) for that? Or maybe I could get my LVN at a vocational school, then get my BSN at a school that offers ROTC? Would that help at all for the wait? I'm concerned about the waitlist because I don't want to become to old to be an officer and I don't want to lose momentum in school.

Any advice on the subject would be wonderful!!!

[MikePLSDCA]

Congrats Ma'am, that's quite an accomplishment. Maybe I'll see you around in a few years!

-Mike

[Gennaver, MSN]

Congrats Ma'am, that's quite an accomplishment. Maybe I'll see you around in a few years!

-Mike

Hello,

I look forward to you doing the same too then!

Gen

[HEXOCHUXA]

If you want to enroll in ROTc program and get a scholarship for nursing school you can do it before you are 27. There is another option, you can just go to school, pay with your own money, and then after you get your license become an army nurse (they will pay your loans, j ust make sure you apply for the program before you graduate, somehwere in your junior or senior year). But in both cases you need to have a BSN, so you are better off goinf for a BSN directly. Having an LPN will not help you skip the waiting list.

[HEXOCHUXA]

Are you already working as an army nurse? I am in my senior year in school and I am contemplating joinging the army as a nurse (after I get my license). I have recently talked to a recruiter, and she made it sound so attractive. Is it really as good as it sounds?

[Gennaver, MSN]

Are you already working as an army nurse? I am in my senior year in school and I am contemplating joinging the army as a nurse (after I get my license). I have recently talked to a recruiter, and she made it sound so attractive. Is it really as good as it sounds?

Hello,

I am just completing my nurse track, (which follows OBLC).

After working in the civilian health care environment during the last 18 years I am enthused to join Military healthcare. However I do not have experience to share with you.

:) Good luck!

Gen

[Cajun9479]

Hey LT Genn!

I guess this is mainly for you, or anyone else in the Fort Sam area. I knwo that you are on here frequently and offer some good advice. So here is my situation:

I recently recieved "temp" orders to go to OBLC March 7, and will be stationed at Fort Sam after, with a passing score on my NCLEX in Feb. I was wondering about the timing of everything. I am to report for inprocessing march 7, then OBLC starts March 25, I think. So when do I need to get there to set up and find a house?

I graduate in about a month and there is a 2-3 month gap between graduation and leaving for San Antonio. I am wondering if I should just head out there after graduation and work in a hospital there until OBLC. Do you know of any good ones?

Also, when do you start getting paid? Sign-on payment? I think your situation was similar to mine (new RN and new to the military) I have so many other questions, but I will just put these few up for now. Promise there are many more to follow, praying someone will have time to answer them.

Thank you so much for your time, or anyone else's that can help me out!

Eric