Need info on RN-BSN with nursing ROTC

Editorial Team / Moderator · Nov 15, 2013

Whether or not your school has an ROTC program will determine if it'll be available to you. At least for the Army, according to this link: http://www.goarmy.com/rotc/ways-to-attend.html: "If you have two years remaining in junior college or graduate school, you are still eligible to enroll in Army ROTC. Talk to the Army ROTC Enrollment Officer on your campus." Have you looked at schools yet?

I don't know much about ROTC, but I also found a link to the AF ROTC page with a quick Google search: http://www.afrotc.com/how-to-join/college-students/requirements-standards/

Another thought might be National Guard. You can commission with an ADN if you're actively pursuing a BSN: http://www.nationalguard.com/careers/amedd/healthcare-officers

You might find more helpful information in this article: https://allnurses.com/government-military-nursing/military-nursing-885815.html

I was selected for direct commission into the Army Nurse Corps after I completed my RN-BSN in 2010. It is extremely competitive right now for all branches of service, and boards are usually only held once a year -- right about now, at the beginning of the new fiscal year.

Good luck in the remainder of your program!

jsbartl · Nov 15, 2013

Thank you for the quick reply! How do you like the Army Nurse corps? What does that entail for you? As in where do you work and how long is your commitment to the military?

Editorial Team / Moderator · Nov 15, 2013

Thank you for the quick reply! How do you like the Army Nurse corps? What does that entail for you? As in where do you work and how long is your commitment to the military?

I usually work in an Army ER, but right now (and since June) I've been in Afghanistan. I signed up for four years of Active Duty. There are both positives and negatives to being the Army, but overall: not one regret. :)

jsbartl · Nov 15, 2013

Awesome! I am looking at your blog and it has alot of information on it! So i am assuming the easiest way to actually get in would be to join a ROTC program which should one pay for school and get me into the military without having to pass any boards. Does that sound about right?

jsbartl · Nov 18, 2013

I did a little research the past few days and have been in contact with some ROTC programs. It sounds like once i graduate in a month i should start looking for an RN-BSN school that also has an ROTC program associated with it. Since i am in Maryland i have access to a few schools that offer both programs such as John's Hopkins and University of Maryland. So right now I am thinking about applying to both places and whichever one I get into I can then decide whether I want to go the ROTC route or not. This information has come from an Army ROTC officer. Do you think Army would be the way to go or Air Force?

cmusngiER · Dec 24, 2013

I'm in the exact same boat as you lol I'm also 23 graduating come May with an AD in nursing and have been working as an ER tech for a year now. Prior to that I was working as an aide in their float pool so I've had experience in ICUS, tele, med-surg, and ortho. I am planning on going into an RN to BSN program right after and I too have been looking into Army ROTC. The problem is that most RN to BSN programs want you to have your license when you apply and usually takes only 1 and a 1/2 years to complete if full time. In order to apply for army rotc, you must have at least 2 yrs left and be a full time student. You also have to participate in LTC the summer prior to your start in the fall and by that time you should have been accepted to your RN to BSN program to ensure that you get accepted as a nursing cadet. I guess it all depends on when you take the NCLEX and pass and when exactly LTC is held so that you can apply to an RN to BSN program, get accepted and then apply to rotc all in time to participate in LTC over the SUMMER? I was just planning on maybe minoring in psychology so that I have that last semester to finish the ROTC program. I haven't spoken to a recruiter yet but, as you can tell, I've been thinking about this a lot and trying to get all the facts before I speak to someone.

As for Air Force ROTC, you can only apply as an incoming freshman. They don't have a program like LTC so that you can join in the middle of your college career.

Anyways if you get any more information about applying to an RN TO BSN program with the Army ROTC program can you post it on here?? We can help each other out LOL

cmusngiER · Dec 24, 2013

I'm in the exact same boat as you lol I'm also 23 graduating come May with an AD in nursing and have been working as an ER tech for a year now. Prior to that I was working as an aide in their float pool so I've had experience in ICU, tele, med-surg, and ortho. I am planning on going into an RN to BSN program right after and I too have been looking into Army ROTC. The problem is that most RN to BSN programs want you to have your license when you apply and usually takes only 1 and a 1/2 years to complete if full time. In order to apply for army rotc, you must have at least 2 yrs left and be a full time student. You also have to participate in LTC the summer prior to your start in the fall and by that time you should have been accepted to your RN to BSN program to ensure that you get accepted as a nursing cadet. I guess it all depends on when you take the NCLEX and pass and when exactly LTC is held so that you can apply to an RN to BSN program, get accepted and then apply to rotc all in time to participate in LTC over the SUMMER? I was just planning on maybe minoring in psychology so that I have that last semester to finish the ROTC program. I haven't spoken to a recruiter yet but, as you can tell, I've been thinking about this a lot and trying to get all the facts before I speak to someone.

As for Air Force ROTC, you can only apply as an incoming freshman. They don't have a program like LTC so that you can join in the middle of your college career.

Anyways if you get any more information about applying to an RN TO BSN program with the Army ROTC program can you post it on here?? We can help each other out LOL

Dranger · Dec 24, 2013

I graduated via Army ROTC, what specific questions do you have? Put them in bullet point format, it's easier to read. :up:

jsbartl · Dec 24, 2013

-Can you do Army ROTC through an RN to BSN program? I have been talking to an Army ROTC officer at a school I will be applying to. I have only emailed him a few times so I haven't received much information. However, he stated that he currently has a RN to BSN student in his ROTC program. So i may have answered my own question with that. But would I have to go full time or can i got part time? If I went full time I would be finished in about a year. If I prolonged it I could go two years which sounds like the minimum to be in ROTC. If I decided to go part time and prolong my education for 2 years will they allow me to be in ROTC?

-I am also looking at a program (University of Maryland School of Nursing) that offers RN-BSN online. Do you think they would allow RN-BSN online as well as going through ROTC?

-I just graduated nursing school two weeks ago (thank god!) I do take my NCLEX on Friday. After I take my NCLEX i am scheduled to take a TEAS V test to be able to transfer to another school. After my NCLEX i plan on calling the ROTC officer who wanted to speak to me because he said my situation was "unique" because I want to do RN-BSN online and ROTC for 2 years. Ill post any updates but right now I am looking to pass boards and start applying to schools. Just two in fact.

jsbartl · Dec 24, 2013

-Can you do Army ROTC through an RN to BSN program? I have been talking to an Army ROTC officer at a school I will be applying to. I have only emailed him a few times so I haven't received much information. However, he stated that he currently has a RN to BSN student in his ROTC program. So i may have answered my own question with that. But would I have to go full time or can i got part time? If I went full time I would be finished in about a year. If I prolonged it I could go two years which sounds like the minimum to be in ROTC. If I decided to go part time and prolong my education for 2 years will they allow me to be in ROTC?

-I am also looking at a program (University of Maryland School of Nursing) that offers RN-BSN online. Do you think they would allow RN-BSN online as well as going through ROTC?

-I just graduated nursing school two weeks ago (thank god!) I do take my NCLEX on Friday. After I take my NCLEX i am scheduled to take a TEAS V test to be able to transfer to another school. After my NCLEX i plan on calling the ROTC officer who wanted to speak to me because he said my situation was "unique" because I want to do RN-BSN online and ROTC for 2 years. Ill post any updates but right now I am looking to pass boards and start applying to schools. Just two in fact.

jsbartl · Dec 25, 2013

I was researching the LTC and here is the website

Leader's Training Course | goarmy.com

The way it sounds is that you can take this course as an option to propel you directly into the Advanced upperclassman classes. I may be wrong so someone can clarify that for me.

For me I want to start in Fall 2014 but I see a problem because if i was to be accepted (say around March or so) than that does not give me much time between being accepted and starting the program before even stepping foot on a campus and a ROTC unit.