New nurse (BSN RN) interested in joining Army Reserve

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Hi, I am a BSN student graduating in May 2019 (so very soon I will be a BSN RN after taking the NCLEX this summer). I am interested in joining the Army Reserve but I have a few questions. I go to school at the University of Maryland School of Nursing, Baltimore and worked as a tech at UMMC for a few months. I have a contract to work at Shock Trauma for 2 years (post grad) in the Multi Trauma IMC unit.

1. How soon after graduating with a BSN can I apply to reserve? (basically, how much experience as an RN do I need before applying?)

2. I talked to a recruiter who said Army doesn't have Trauma selections, or anything IMC. I would be classified as Med/Surg. How does this translate into what I would be doing in the reserve?

3. How easy is it to voluntarily move and pick a reserve unit in a different state? My boyfriend is in med school (2nd year) and is a commissioned 2nd LT Army Officer (HPSP Scholarship). He will complete his residency through the army - so this most likely means moving out of Baltimore and to an Army hospital. If i join the reserves sometime in the next 2 years while we are still in Baltimore, but then we need to move for his residency - how easy is it to be stationed together? Or can someone in the reserve just voluntarily move?

4. What are the options for # of years to commit when joining?

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

The recruiter (and make sure it's a healthcare recruiter, not some dude in a strip mall) should be able to tell you what the current mission is for new grads - that is, if they are taking new grads at this time. You will have to find out if there is a unit in your area. You can move elsewhere as a reservist, so you won't be "stationed" somewhere like your boyfriend will be, but you will have to find a unit that needs a nurse wherever you are moving. The Army doesn't recognize a relationship unless you're married, by the way.

Your closest healthcare recruiter is in Elkridge. That was where I commissioned (active duty) when I lived in Virginia. ?

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Specializes in Critical Care.
On 4/10/2019 at 9:04 AM, Pixie.RN said:

The recruiter (and make sure it's a healthcare recruiter, not some dude in a strip mall) should be able to tell you what the current mission is for new grads - that is, if they are taking new grads at this time. You will have to find out if there is a unit in your area. You can move elsewhere as a reservist, so you won't be "stationed" somewhere like your boyfriend will be, but you will have to find a unit that needs a nurse wherever you are moving. The Army doesn't recognize a relationship unless you're married, by the way.

Your closest healthcare recruiter is in Elkridge. That was where I commissioned (active duty) when I lived in Virginia. ?

Hi Pixie and Laura, I had a question regarding the reserve side. Ultimately I'm interested in becoming a CRNA in the Army Reserve, in the meantime I was wondering if it was possible to join as a Reserve Critical Care Nurse, just worried during that obligation if I was accepted to start a CRNA program would that interfere with my current obligation as a Nurse and then further processing a CRNA contract with the Army.

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
12 minutes ago, catamounts30 said:

Hi Pixie and Laura, I had a question regarding the reserve side. Ultimately I'm interested in becoming a CRNA in the Army Reserve, in the meantime I was wondering if it was possible to join as a Reserve Critical Care Nurse, just worried during that obligation if I was accepted to start a CRNA program would that interfere with my current obligation as a Nurse and then further processing a CRNA contract with the Army.

If you have Army obligations, they aren't going to really care if you are in school. A civilian CRNA program would be a "full-time job," just as the Army CRNA program would be. If your goal is military + CRNA, then USAGPAN, the Army's CRNA program would be an excellent choice for you. There is information on the program here: https://www.baylor.edu/nursing/armydnp/index.php?id=956503

Reservists can attend, but you are on active duty while in school and I believe you also incur an active duty service obligation once complete (might be three years, not exactly sure). But you finish as a CRNA with a DNP and zero debt.

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