Medics in National Gaurd (long)

Specialties Government

Published

Please forgive me for this long post, but I feel like I need to tell a brief synopsis of my life story to get the best advice.

I am a student who has repeatedly been denied admission to nursing school, despite being consistently on the dean's list, volunteering, working as a CNA, and obtaining another degree in Speech Therapy. The sole purpose of me getting a degree in another area was to help with admission, but it really hasn't helped me as much as I had hoped. Now schools want to know why I am "changing my career."

I worked as a speech therapist for children on the Navajo reservation. I hoped that this position would lead me to a new career that I would like just as much as nursing. No such luck. Essential care like nursing is what I was born to do. I am now a CNA and proud of it. Now all my science classes have expired, and I am busy retaking them and preparing to reapply to several other schools in Nebraska which is a less competitive state than my home state.

I am considering the National Guard, but do not want it to get in the way of school and want to stay in Nebraska where I know I have a better chance of gettting in to a SON. I am considering this in part for financial reasons, but also b/c it really sparks my interest. Will they allow me to start a SON program in the middle of my service if I wasn't a student the semester that I joined the guard? What if I am deployed right after I am finally admitted to an SON? I have a training center 15 miles from my house, would I be placed there? I think I would like to be a medic, but what other opportunities are available that are similar to nursing? Also, a medic does not require a degree, but I have one. What pay grade would I be at then? Would I even be elligible to have a position like a medic if I have a degree, or would I be deemed over-qualified? Would another branch of reserve service be a better option? Any other thoughts/advice? Thanks for putting up with this post!!

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Specializes in L&D, mother/baby, antepartum.

I can't really help with the National Guard info, but I can relate to your difficulty getting into nursing school. Do you mind me asking, do is your Speech Therapy degree an AS or BS? I only ask because there are now many accelerated BSN or MSN programs out there that are easier to get into than the undergrad BSN programs. Before getting my MSN I considered getting my ADN but the waiting list to get into school was 2 years! I was accepted to and started my MSN program in 6 months. These programs aren't offered everywhere but I thought I'd put it out there for you.

I hope you get some answers about the National Guard.

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I can't really help with the National Guard info, but I can relate to your difficulty getting into nursing school. Do you mind me asking, do is your Speech Therapy degree an AS or BS? I only ask because there are now many accelerated BSN or MSN programs out there that are easier to get into than the undergrad BSN programs. Before getting my MSN I considered getting my ADN but the waiting list to get into school was 2 years! I was accepted to and started my MSN program in 6 months. These programs aren't offered everywhere but I thought I'd put it out there for you.

I hope you get some answers about the National Guard.

Thanks, accelerated programs are what I am aiming out now. My prior degree is a BS.

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You sound like the kind of person we need in nursing and healthcare generally... someone with a drive to serve others.

Don't be rejected by being turned down by schools of nursing; there is a bottleneck right now in the process of turning out new nurses; the system needs them, people want into the field, but there too few schools of nursing, and too few faculty members in them. So have faith and make sure your credentials are in order before applying.

Best of luck, and FYI - military service is looked upon extremely well by the profession as a source of experience, knowledge and training. Medics and corpsmen are very well-prepared and make good nurses, as well as PAs, NPs, and physicians. So exploit that advantage to your benefit.

Best of luck...

GaBoy61

I can't really help with the National Guard info, but I can relate to your difficulty getting into nursing school. Do you mind me asking, do is your Speech Therapy degree an AS or BS? I only ask because there are now many accelerated BSN or MSN programs out there that are easier to get into than the undergrad BSN programs. Before getting my MSN I considered getting my ADN but the waiting list to get into school was 2 years! I was accepted to and started my MSN program in 6 months. These programs aren't offered everywhere but I thought I'd put it out there for you.

I hope you get some answers about the National Guard.

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In the national guard, with a b.s. you would come in as an E-4; you're degree would not hinder your enlisting. You would also be eligible for a bonus, I hear they give those out like candy these days.

If you want to be a medic, then thell your career counselor that and don't budge. It may take you leaving a couple times, but eventually you'll get the job (and as mentioned before, bonus, education benefits, etc., just stick to your guns)

If you get mobilized there is no telling where you will go; chances are unlikely it would be your nearest reserve center. It could be within your own state, it could be germany, or it could be iraq.

If you were mobilized while in college, to my knowledge, all states have laws where you're place is held in whatever school your in. So when you come back, you just pick up where you left off.

As far as positions like medics in the army, the military has all the needs of any hospital: xray techs, dental assistants, surgical techs, lpn's, etc.and the military will even pay for your training. What will end up happening is you, as a reserviest, will be limited by what kinds of units are near you. This is why you should check out both army reserve/national guard, air force reserve/national guard, navy reserves, and heck, even the coastguard reserve might have a unit in your area.

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Howdy,

I just finished an accelerated BSN program in Omaha. I recommend you look at Creighton, UNMC, and Methodist. Don't go to Clarkson, since their accelerated program is 2 years (not really accelerated). The community colleges are ok, try Iowa Western in Council Bluffs. Metro CC (in Omaha) doesn't really have a great reputation. If you have any other questions, just ask. As I said earlier, I just finished an accelerated program here in Omaha.

Secondly, the military is fine, but do it after you are done. Or, go in as a medic, get the bonus and joing the ROTC program at Creighton. This way you can still get all the benefits, but you will be on "student status", which means you can't be deployed! The accelerated programs are really tough, but well worth the effort!

Good luck with whatever you decide.

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