Need advice for Army Nursing career path

Editorial Team / Moderator · Apr 29, 2013

Most of the people I know who are going to the Army's CRNA school came in as direct commissions after working in critical care as civilians. A couple of them were prior service; they got out, went to school, got the required critical care experience, and came back in via USAGPAN's program (https://www.sites.google.com/site/armynurseanesthesia/). I believe active duty nurses can apply via LTHET (https://www.hrc.army.mil/Officer/LTHET - Army Nurse Corps Long Term Health Education and Training -- you need your CAC to access that).

I am not sure about other routes ... I suppose you could go to a civilian CRNA school and pursue direct commission after that as well. Looks like your first step is to become an RN, and you're already working on that. I don't know much about green to gold, sorry! But if you can use that option to obtain your RN sooner than waiting out the remainder of your enlistment to really get going on the RN, then it seems like a good deal.

vcoronel127 · Apr 29, 2013

Most of the people I know who are going to the Army's CRNA school came in as direct commissions after working in critical care as civilians. A couple of them were prior service; they got out went to school, got the required critical care experience, and came back in via USAGPAN's program (https://www.sites.google.com/site/armynurseanesthesia/). I believe active duty nurses can apply via LTHET (https://www.hrc.army.mil/Officer/LTHET - Army Nurse Corps Long Term Health Education and Training -- you need your CAC to access that).
I am not sure about other routes ... I suppose you could go to a civilian CRNA school and pursue direct commission after that as well. Looks like your first step is to become an RN, and you're already working on that. I don't know much about green to gold, sorry! But if you can use that option to obtain your RN sooner than waiting out the remainder of your enlistment to really get going on the RN, then it seems like a good deal.

Thanks for the input.

zombie · May 4, 2013

Hi SGT,

I see you have 6 years left on your enlistment. You may want to look into the AECP (Army Enlisted Commissioning Program). There is some info on the Army HRC website under the Officer/Nursing branch website. I think you need to CAC in. Its a good program to get into, but it takes preparation, planning, and timing. Basically if you have basic 2 years of your 4 year BSN requirements out of the way, the Army will send you to a civilian school for the last 2 years of Nursing school. Your job would be to go to school and take a PT test every 6 months. You retain your rank/pay/time in service/grade/BAH everything pretty much. Once your done with your degree and pass your NCLEX you commission as a 01E. Congrats your a nurse at this point.

But it takes a bit of work to get the ICU experience in order to apply for USAGPAN. So your going to work as a Med surg nurse for about a year. Then apply for the ICU course (which is crazy to get into now 2 year wait list? but things change). After you get into the ICU course you work as an ICU nurse for a few years. Take your GRE and perhaps pick up Biochemistry/statistics online. Put in your packet and then if you get picked up go the next year after your application.

Its a very long road. But, if you do it this way you will stay in the army without a break. You may as well go this route to become a nurse because of your 6 years you got to pay back. Not like you can get out now and go to school.

I wish you all the luck. If this is what you want then you have to want it.... like air to breathe. Write your goals down, look at it often and execute. Its doable.

I was a civilian ICU nurse for a few years. Came in with the 8A (icu identifier) worked in icu for a few years in the military. applied to USAGPAN. Got picked up =). It felt like the moon and stars all had to be lined up for it to work out for me. But its doable.

If you have any more questions man let me know.

vcoronel127 · May 4, 2013

Hi SGT,
I see you have 6 years left on your enlistment. You may want to look into the AECP (Army Enlisted Commissioning Program). There is some info on the Army HRC website under the Officer/Nursing branch website. I think you need to CAC in. Its a good program to get into, but it takes preparation, planning, and timing. Basically if you have basic 2 years of your 4 year BSN requirements out of the way, the Army will send you to a civilian school for the last 2 years of Nursing school. Your job would be to go to school and take a PT test every 6 months. You retain your rank/pay/time in service/grade/BAH everything pretty much. Once your done with your degree and pass your NCLEX you commission as a 01E. Congrats your a nurse at this point.
But it takes a bit of work to get the ICU experience in order to apply for USAGPAN. So your going to work as a Med surg nurse for about a year. Then apply for the ICU course (which is crazy to get into now 2 year wait list? but things change). After you get into the ICU course you work as an ICU nurse for a few years. Take your GRE and perhaps pick up Biochemistry/statistics online. Put in your packet and then if you get picked up go the next year after your application.
Its a very long road. But, if you do it this way you will stay in the army without a break. You may as well go this route to become a nurse because of your 6 years you got to pay back. Not like you can get out now and go to school.
I wish you all the luck. If this is what you want then you have to want it.... like air to breathe. Write your goals down, look at it often and execute. Its doable.
I was a civilian ICU nurse for a few years. Came in with the 8A (icu identifier) worked in icu for a few years in the military. applied to USAGPAN. Got picked up =). It felt like the moon and stars all had to be lined up for it to work out for me. But its doable.
If you have any more questions man let me know.

Awesome!!! I think I will take that path. Thanks for your time and opinion. I will definitely check out enlisted commissioning program. Thanks