Joining AD after college as a 66T/ER nurse???

Editorial Team / Moderator · May 28, 2019

When I commissioned in 2010, they required at least two years of ER experience. A recruiter (and make sure it's a healthcare recruiter) can tell you what they are looking for currently. You won't go to OCS, you'll attend a course for AMEDD (medical department) officers.

I wrote a bunch of articles about my experience: https://allnurses.com/profile/85291-pixiern/blog/

PMHNP Man, MSN, APRN, NP · May 29, 2019

You can enroll in ROTC as a graduate student (or post bacc) and not even finish the grad degree if ROTC and officership is the greater concern for you. You may or may not come out as a nurse in the end but at least you're reasonably likely to commission!

alprice2 · May 29, 2019

Thank you both for the helpful answers! And Pixie.RN, I went through and read a couple of your articles and they are awesome! Thank you!

Fly-T-Nurse · May 31, 2019

I'm judging by your 66T/ER nurse title that you aren't trying to join the Air Force but I thought I'd offer up our experience with the AF in case it helps. Hubby is commissioning and heading for officer school in July. AF only requires 1 yr ER experience and only required CEN if you are looking for the retention bonus (although it helps with the application process to make you look better if you do have it). He had right at 2yrs nursing experience and was about 6mo out from graduating his BSN when he applied. AF only gives 1/2 credit for your civilian years of nursing so until you have had 2 full active duty years (or 4 civilian years), you will be an O1. I am asking questions now on how you rank up from there but once you are active duty your nursing time starts counting year for year. The hiring process can be extensive and took him about 10mo before he was fully able to submit his packet and find out he was hired. That was March of this year and he doesn't even leave until July. I think you really should hit up a recruiter (for AF, you have to get a special nurse recruiter) and just start asking questions, as well as, figuring out your goal. The time you continue to work while you are going through the application process will also count toward your time as a nurse so take that into consideration. Good luck!

alprice2 · May 31, 2019

Thank you so much for this! Even if it is relative to Air Force, I think it’s helpful nonetheless!!

tshigeru, CNA · Jun 3, 2019

Was there no college rotc at your school?

You can join as a DC (direct commission) and go AD or USAR. But for a 66T you would need to have couple years of ER experience. If anything you’ll start off like the rest of us a 66H (med surg nurse).

btmbonze · Jun 3, 2019

1 year of experince is required (full time) + Bsn

they will half your full time experince for rank so going in anything less than 4 years civilian you will be O1 (2nd Lt or Engsin for navy) but you will get credit toward next rank. So one year civilian xp gets you six months towards O2.

takes total of 2 years to go O1 to O2 then two more from O2 to O3. These are automatic promotions only thing you have to do is fullfil time requirments and not get DUI

O3 to O4 about 5ish years and require check list to complete + board review / approval ( rates r about 90%ish )

O4 tends to act as your nurse manager type role.

So ask yourself this before you join. What do you hope to get out of the military career? Higher education? Staff nurse experince? I would map out your career before you start instead of playing by ear.

nurses can sign 3 year AD contracts and obtain loan repayments (Up to 40K)

Also as a side note the level of acuitity you will see in military is vastly lower then civilian side ( if you currently work at lvl 1/2 trauma center you are prob seeing sicker patients then you would in military).

Editorial Team / Moderator · Jun 3, 2019

4 minutes ago, btmbonze said:
Also as a side note the level of acuitity you will see in military is vastly lower then civilian side ( if you currently work at lvl 1/2 trauma center you are prob seeing sicker patients then you would in military).

This is very true! Unless you're deployed, haha — then the acuity goes through the roof. When I was active duty I also worked PRN at a local Level 1, with permission from and oversight by my military chain of command to ensure that my Army ED came first and that I wasn't exceeding an hours cap.

btmbonze · Jun 3, 2019

6 minutes ago, Pixie.RN said:
This is very true! Unless you're deployed, haha — then the acuity goes through the roof. When I was active duty I also worked PRN at a local Level 1, with permission from and oversight by my military chain of command to ensure that my Army ED came first and that I wasn't exceeding an hours cap.

from what i hear Most nursing deployments across the board arent seeing much these days.

Editorial Team / Moderator · Jun 3, 2019

6 minutes ago, btmbonze said:
from what i hear Most nursing deployments across the board arent seeing much these days.

It depends on who you go with and where you go, from what I have heard from people deployed now. I was in Afghanistan in 2013-2014, plenty of trauma then.

alprice2 · Jun 4, 2019

9 hours ago, btmbonze said:
1 year of experince is required (full time) + Bsn
they will half your full time experince for rank so going in anything less than 4 years civilian you will be O1 (2nd Lt or Engsin for navy) but you will get credit toward next rank. So one year civilian xp gets you six months towards O2.
takes total of 2 years to go O1 to O2 then two more from O2 to O3. These are automatic promotions only thing you have to do is fullfil time requirments and not get DUI
O3 to O4 about 5ish years and require check list to complete + board review / approval ( rates r about 90%ish )
O4 tends to act as your nurse manager type role.
So ask yourself this before you join. What do you hope to get out of the military career? Higher education? Staff nurse experince? I would map out your career before you start instead of playing by ear.
nurses can sign 3 year AD contracts and obtain loan repayments (Up to 40K)
Also as a side note the level of acuitity you will see in military is vastly lower then civilian side ( if you currently work at lvl 1/2 trauma center you are prob seeing sicker patients then you would in military).

So far, I am interested in both the general military experience and as higher staff positions down the road. I’m also interested in higher education/loan repayment, but that is not my main focus. Thank you for your answer!!