Joining the army to obtain my RN or BSN??

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Can you do this? Can you join the army and have them send you to school to get your rn or bsn? I can get into the nursing program here at my local college but wouldnt it benefit me to do it through the army?

Advice please. How does all this work. I want to end up being a CRNA down the road eventually.

I think you hit the nail on the head. I did it the hard way, enlisted optometry tech 91Y, LPN 91C/68W, ASN-RN 66H, then BSN. I had to do that way because of cost and having a family. But if you are single and RN in the army is your goal, then get your BSN first, then get your direct commission. It saves you time and money in the long run and you won't be an old man (41) like me going back on active duty for the first time in 12 years as a 1LT.

Perfect advice... if you want to be an RN you need your BSN and enlisting is very non-linear approach to that~

I would not recommend ROTC for a nurse either - direct commission is a great route. I would recommend getting in a BSN program and doing well at it. Be aware of current incentives so when you hit the 2 year mark you could look at making the commitment - or wait for a bonus or loan repayment which you can sign in on 1 year prior to your NCLEX....

Get into the BSN program and keep the army in your back pocket for when that option arises.... otherwise... who knows ;)

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Specializes in Med Surg, Geriatrics.

It appears to me that if you are looking for benefits for schooling that the Army has all other branches beat hands down. There is a Health Professions Loan Repayment Program which offers a total of $114,900.( $38,300 per year for 3 years) Plus a $10K acession bonus if you participate in the loan repayment program.

I have my LPN and about $30K in loans. I plan on attending a community college for my ASN which will cost me around another $4k and then transfering to a 4 year college for BSN, which I have most of my credits for my pre-requisites.

I contacted a recruiter in Indianapolis, IN and have yet to hear back from him regaurding the above mentioned program. Can anyone tell me what I can do to set down and talk with a medical officer recruiter for nursing? I am a Navy veteran and have looked at all branches of service. It has been 14 years since my discharge and now I have family to count in the equation. I want to make an informed decision. What to do????

TNX,

Dave

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CPT C,

I would look at these major ideas.

1. If you join army reserves upon getting your ADN they have an accession bonus (30k) and loan repayment (to 50k) but also have a program for ADN reserve nurses to get a monthly stipend while attending college for their BSN (called the STRAP program).

2. If you know the basic service requirements (which it sounds like you do) as long as you focus on getting your BSN you will be able to check back to see what current incentives will be available at the time of your enrollment in the BSN program. The incentives now have the option to start your army obligation during your last 2 years of BSN (10K + 1k per month in school) or obligation upong BSN/NCLEX passying (30k or loan repayment). Aside from that it's the normal pre-reqs... pass the physical exam, have info for security paperwork, have 3x LORs at the time of application etc. But being this far out the reserves seems about the only thing that you could do now - other then be aware of new/changing things (this board is a great place for that) and focusing on getting the BSN.

v/r

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Specializes in ICU,CCU, trauma, oc med.
It appears to me that if you are looking for benefits for schooling that the Army has all other branches beat hands down. There is a Health Professions Loan Repayment Program which offers a total of $114,900.( $38,300 per year for 3 years) Plus a $10K acession bonus if you participate in the loan repayment program.

I have my LPN and about $30K in loans. I plan on attending a community college for my ASN which will cost me around another $4k and then transfering to a 4 year college for BSN, which I have most of my credits for my pre-requisites.

I contacted a recruiter in Indianapolis, IN and have yet to hear back from him regaurding the above mentioned program. Can anyone tell me what I can do to set down and talk with a medical officer recruiter for nursing? I am a Navy veteran and have looked at all branches of service. It has been 14 years since my discharge and now I have family to count in the equation. I want to make an informed decision. What to do????

TNX,

Dave

As far as I know the medical recruiters are for people who are medical professionals already or for people enrolling in Med School, etc. I don't know if for LPN's wanting to go to RN school nowadays. I do not know of any current army programs for LPN to RN except for the Enlisted commissioning program which is for current active (and reserve now I think) duty soldiers. IF you can finish your BSN in 2 yrs or less, you can have your school paid for in full and get full active duty pay for your rank and owe the army 4 yrs active duty time afterwards. The AMEDD recruiters can bring you into the reserves if you are an LPN as that is what happened with me, but that was in 1999. I paid for ASN-RN school myself, got commissioned, then used STRAP for RN to BSN. You are not the only one having trouble getting recruiters to contact you on the AMEDD side

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If you are able to 'suck up' the cost of getting to the BSN the payoff as an officer and gaining RN experience will be worth it.

What part of the country are you in that you are trying to get an AMEDD recruiter? Maybe I could help.

v/r

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Specializes in Med Surg, Geriatrics.

Thank you for your reply. I was on the army website looking for information about the (30K) acession bonus and (50K) loan repayment? Can you tell me what specific site to look at for this information? I see the STRAP program is a stipened $1,600 per month while going for my BSN. Thanks again!

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No prob,

http://www.goarmy.com/amedd/nurse/corps_benefits.jsp

RESERVE NURSE CORPS BENEFITS

When you become a nurse and Officer on the U.S. Army Reserve Health Care Team, you can work in your community and serve when needed. In addition to generous financial incentives and retirement plan options, you'll have the opportunity to enhance your career and provide our Soldiers and their Families with the best nursing care.

SPECIAL PAY

As a nurse anesthetist, you can receive special pay in the amount of $45,000, paid in three yearly increments of $15,000. A $15,000 sign-on bonus is available for nurses with an associate or diploma, those with a BSN and specialized training in critical care, medical/surgical, psychiatric or perioperative nursing may be eligible for up to $30,000.

HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM (HPLR)

As a nursing professional serving on the U.S. Army Reserve Health Care Team, you may be eligible for up to $50,000 to repay your nursing school loans. This program provides up to $20,000 for two consecutive years, plus $10,000 for a third year. You may be eligible to participate in one other Army Reserve incentive program

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Specializes in Med Surg, Geriatrics.

Financing it myself is deffinetly do-able. I may have to spend 34K more to get it done with loans. Makes me nervous taking out that much loan money though. The pay off would have to be pretty big! I am in Indiana, near Indianapolis.

TNX

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Capt C,

I'd run the numbers for an E4 (guessing enlistment rank with an ADN) vs an O1 for the years 1-3, then E5 vs CPT years 4-6... include BAH and I think 34k will seem like an investment ;)

If you have no physical or security type impairments ie you think the app packet would be squared away in a few years...i'd look at this option... (I'm doing it with a bit more $ required... and I'm 'apprehensive' but I know it's the right route...) v/r

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Specializes in Med Surg, Geriatrics.

I agree with you. It is well worth the investment. I think the ADN makes you a 1st Lt in the army. I am not quite sure rather that is an O-1 or what? Well, I am still trying to wrap my brain around the idea of going reserve. I have to say you have deffinetly shinned some light on the subject with regards to benefits, etc... I know that I have worked long and hard to get where I am at. It would be nice to get some of that BAH for housing, etc... Think of the savings over the years! Well, thanks again I am still trying to wrap my brain around the different options and map a plan. I have some med surge experience as a LPN. I am not sure if I would qualify for the 30K unless it's exp. as an RN??? Still reading...It's exciting and confusing at the same time if you know what I mean?

TNX

Dave

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Yup ADN would make you an O1 (2Lt) in reserves.

I would contact your local reserves, ask for health care recruiter w/ nurse focus. Talk to them about what local units are available and see if they have active duty reserve slots. If you were able to be an active duty ADN you could get the BAH, the pay, and work part time online or at school to get your BSN (w/o you can't progress past O3, CPT) and at that time you could switch to active duty if it works out for you.

v/r

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Specializes in Med Surg, Geriatrics.

Your right the pay incentives are great for an O-1 with atleast 2yrs in. My main goal is to finish BSN asap and then maybe go active.

$51,860.54 in anual pay more than takes care of the loans!;0)

So what are your plans? You are still in school then?

Your Results

MonthlyAnnualBasic Pay$2,659.80$31,917.60BAS$202.76$2,433.12BAH$1,245.00$14,940.00Cash Total$4,107.56$49,290.72Tax Advantage214.152,569.82Regular Military Compensation4,321.7151,860.54

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