Med-Surg certification exam

nursespouse · Dec 18, 2012

Curious: does the Army pay for certification and, if so, what is the process? Is one certification preferred over the other (I think it's AMNC or ANCC)?
Thanks!

My wife received the the CMSRN, but I may be wrong but dont all nurses that arent already going straight to crit care ie 8A, have to go through a med surg process?

Pikake · Dec 20, 2012

The Army will pay for the certification but you have to go through the dept that you are assigned. It's much harder to get reimbursed after the fact.

The 8A course is full and if your a new graduate, there is No way they are going to send anyone from OBC directly to that course. The course requires basic med-surg skills and a new grad has to earn or pay their dues to go.

Pikake · Dec 20, 2012

One more thing. Just to be safe, ANCC is accepted by the Army, not sure about the other.

just_cause, BSN, RN · Dec 20, 2012

I'm on a med surg floor. Our section sponsors staff to go through the med surg prep course (funded by local unit) and then I will follow through to take the cert test. (at this time I'm not sure how funding works but happy to pay on my own).

I've known several nurses to got o critical care course w/o med surg cert..however the timeline of those and the natural highly motivated folks applying to these courses normally have this cert in hand.

nursespouse · Dec 21, 2012

My wife has the crit care course directly after BOLC, it is a four month course. So you definitely can get it directly after BOLC, but that wasn't your question. I think your question has now been answered above though, good luck with your career.

Pikake · Dec 21, 2012

the ANC promises the course but the time frame is usually 24-36 months. I know new LTs that have course guarantee but that time line goes for everyone. I don't know how she is already slotted for the course bc if she hasnt sworn in or is recognized at active duty, how is she slotted for a date? I work with someone in DOHET who initiates the AOC producing course process, I'm not saying it is not possible just sounds unusual.

just_cause, BSN, RN · Dec 21, 2012

from my understanding critical care shows 18mo med surg exp required prior to course start.

Pikake · Dec 21, 2012

Yes I understand that requires 18 months but the slots are limited, usually like 15 slots available per course. Everyone can get a course guarantee, I commissioned without a course guarantee but I can apply and go to any course I want

Pikake · Dec 21, 2012

Yes I understand that requires 18 months but the slots are limited, usually like 15 slots available per course. Everyone can get a course guarantee, I commissioned without a course guarantee but I can apply and go to any course I want, however it doesn't mean you go at 18 months, courses have a OML. I'm in the Army Nurse Corp, I see how it's ran and I'm also ANCC BC. If a course date is listed on your contract then congrats but if it is a general guarantee then you will probably have to wait.

Pikake · Dec 21, 2012

There has to be a date, no date then the ANC slots you, new nurses around here don't get to go to a course until they make it to 1st LT which is 18 months, 24-36 is said bc that's usually when your unit will let you go and or pcs. It's based on OML. I'm ancc certified and been in the ANC for almost 4 years, I see how they do it. I see new LTs say they are promised a course and then if you read the fine print it will say within 36 months. Plus funding is another issue, OBC is paid out of ANC central funds, to go to the course after OBC will require the new unit to fund it. There are only about 3 courses a year and with current ANC nurses on the wait list to go, I have a hard time believing that they will send a new OBC grad with no army experience to a course, not saying it can't happen, but going to the course is a privilege and the ANC has enough nurses that they don't have to guarantee anything.

Pikake · Dec 21, 2012

Sorry to be redundant but posted twice.