Is a BSN Mandatory For Military Nursing?

Published

..or is an ADN acceptable for Guard/Reserve duty? I am a second-career into nursing guy, have an M.A. in another field, am a retired 0-4 from the Air National Guard. I will be finishing my ADN program within the year and would love to get back into uniform in the Reserves or Guard (Army or Air Force). I realize that this kind of a unique circumstance, but any help would be much appreciated!

Specializes in Telemetry, OR, ICU.

Hello! This is an excellent topic. We have some nurses in our unit (Army National Guard) who are trying to apply for STRAP and I want to give them as much information as I can. Does anyone know if a nurse can get STRAP if they're taking online courses to complete their BSN? In other words, they have their AN and now they want to go through University of Phoenix online for their BSN. Still eligible for STRAP?

That is an interesting question, for which I don't have the facts. My guess is U of P program is an accredited RN-BSN program, therefore should be eligible for STRAP. I would contact the local Army Health Care Recruiter, since they are the one's that help fill out the application packets. ;)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER, HH, CTICU, corrections, cardiology, hospice.

Here is a twist. Diploma RN, has BA in criminal justice. I have 14 hours in an FNP MSN program. Could still be promoted beyond CPT. without a BSN. Further with three years practice what rank might I go in as? :D

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Here is a twist. Diploma RN, has BA in criminal justice. I have 14 hours in an FNP MSN program. Could still be promoted beyond CPT. without a BSN. Further with three years practice what rank might I go in as? :D

i think it was mentioned that they only look at your actual nursing degrees and years of nursing experience, and:

  1. Not likely an RN ever enters USAR higher than CPT.
  2. BSN is required to be eligible for MAJ, however completing RN-BSN alone will not be an automatic promotion to MAJ.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Here is a twist. Diploma RN, has BA in criminal justice. I have 14 hours in an FNP MSN program. Could still be promoted beyond CPT. without a BSN. Further with three years practice what rank might I go in as? :D

Olivedrab is right. Without a bachelor's degree in Nursing, the highest rank you will achieve is Captain. You are not eligible for promotion to Major until you have an advanced nursing degree (BSN). You could have a Ph.D. in criminal justice and it would not affect your nursing career path.

As Olivedrab stated, all a BSN does is make you eligible for promotion when your time comes. You still may not be promoted to MAJ, but without the degree, you are not even eligible.

As for rank, you will probably still go in as a 2LT. What happens is that you receive "constructive credit" for your time outside the military. For every year of personal experience you have, it equates to 1/2 year of commissioned time. What this means is that if you were a nurse for three years, the military would see that as you having spend 1 and 1/2 years as a 2LT (O-1). That means that should you be commissioned right off the street, you would only have to wait 6 months to be eligible for 1LT (O-2). How much constructive credit you receive rests in the hands of National Guard Bureau.

In order for someone to come in as a nurse as a CPT, you would have to have been a practicing nurse for 14 years (with the theory that you get 1/2 credit for real life experience, and an officer needs 7 years to be eligible for CPT).

The reason why doctors come in at a higher rank is that for each year of medical school and for each year of residency, they get year for year credit toward their commission. If you consider 4 years of medical school and 3 years of residency, you'll see why those 7 years make them instantly eligible for Major.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER, HH, CTICU, corrections, cardiology, hospice.

WOW!? You mean I could have a masters in nursing, but without a BSN I could only be a Cpt? Man, that b*&ws chuncks. Oh well, I guess the military is not for me. I knew that 20 odd years ago though. Thanks for the info SGT.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
WOW!? You mean I could have a masters in nursing, but without a BSN I could only be a Cpt? Man, that b*&ws chuncks. Oh well, I guess the military is not for me. I knew that 20 odd years ago though. Thanks for the info SGT.

Oh no! I think you misunderstand. You must at least have a bachelor's degree in nursing. If you have a masters or if you're a nurse practitioner...so much the better! In fact, that could only help your career.

My point is that your career revolves around your nursing degree. As I said, if you had a Ph.D. in criminal justice, but only an associates or diploma in nursing, you would still need to get at least a BSN (or higher) to make MAJ.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion