Help: Joining Army Reserves Nursing

olderthandirt2 · Oct 13, 2008

Hi,
Currently, I am a nursing student completing pre reqs. The nursing school clinical waiting list is long. I have a BS in Information Technology already. Does anyone know if I can join the Army Reserves and get direct commissioned a 2nd Lt then get enrolled into either the AMEDD or a school of my choice for 12 months to complete an ASN from my existing BS?

Hi Aj02,

I am no expert, but if you don't have an associates or bachelors in nursing then you would be "enlisted" not "commissioned as an officer" in the Army Nurse Corp (ANC) .

If you enlist, you would then have to be selected to go to nursing school, if you are not already in nursing school. (this process can be competitive).

If you can start nursing school first, that may be to your benefit. When you speak to a recruiter, make sure it is a "healthcare recruiter" only. Your IT degree will not advance your nursing pathway in ANC,... only nursing degrees.

Good Luck

Cindy

woknblues · Oct 13, 2008

Hi,
Currently, I am a nursing student completing pre reqs. The nursing school clinical waiting list is long. I have a BS in Information Technology already. Does anyone know if I can join the Army Reserves and get direct commissioned a 2nd Lt then get enrolled into either the AMEDD or a school of my choice for 12 months to complete an ASN from my existing BS?

Here is what I have learned.

If you have less than 2 years or less remaining and are CURRENTLY ENROLLED IN AN ACCREDITED SCHOOL, you can go reserve. I believe you will drill only during your available time (like a couple weeks in summer for example), the rest is for your schooling. They will pay up to $2,000 (I have heard less, but I have heard this number as often as not)per month during your schooling. Once you graduate and NCLEX, you then go direct commission O2, and as I also recall, it is 2 years + 2 years each year of schooling covered, for a total required commitment of 6 years in the case of a junior in college going reserve.

Of course, after that time, you will go through the orientation process and then the specialized training modules (perioperative/psych/OB/something else).

Double check all this, but I believe the gist of the reserve-->active process is correct.

olderthandirt2 · Oct 13, 2008

Hi Ajo2,

I thought of a couple more things........Oh yeah, Great post Woknblues :)

Make sure your school is "acceptable" to the military. Not all programs have the accreditation the military requires. Go to goarmy.com heathcare.

Also, Search the Allnurses.com website for asn, bsn in anc..... you can also look under the "archive section" at the bottom of the page. There are some great threads on your subject here....it will answer alot of your questions.

good luck

cindy

just_cause, BSN, RN · Oct 13, 2008

Aj,

I am in similar circumstances -

Prior BS - completing(ed) prerequisites for nursing - goal of being nurse in the military.

The information above seems to partially cover - but let me add my perspective.

If you get an ADN you can join the army reserves and be a commissioned officer...however if you do a BSN you can be active duty in any branch. The army and navy have similar programs where you are 2 years out from your BSN and you sign a contract to obligate yourself to an obligation period as a commissioned officer - but you gain a 10k bonus for signup and then 1k per month - ultimately you could end up with 10K + 20K through this program.

You are eligible to start coordinating this with you recruiter as soon as you get an acceptance letter..then your security packet, physical, letters of recommendation all go to a board...they deem you worthy or unworthy, you get the decision and sign the contract and then go to school - no drills...no summer 2 weeks of fun, no anything except you pass your nclex and then serve your obligation.

If you have any questions feel free to message me.

I was initially looking at the ADN route due to cost..BUT the benefit of getting the BSN (option to join military) and the expidited routes (11-16 month programs for 2nd degree BSN students...) have made this route upfront seem more expensive but far less expensive overall by having options to join service and being in the work force faster.

v/r