Path for a 34 yo nursing student?

Published

Any one have info on what my options would be of becoming a military nurse with only an associates in MAY 2012? I talked to a USNR recruiter and he was blowing some LDO crap my way, I'm prior enlisted ten years ago.

are you planning to get our BSN? - if so what is the timeline for that?

If not... your option is to get your BSN~

any chance you have prior health care experience? just out of curiosity.. if so the IPAP program is a possible option.

I am planning to get me BSN, I was hoping to find a way for the military to pay for it, my GI bill expired Oct 2010. I have no prior health care experience. I just really miss the military way of life and would love to get it back somehow.

So ADNs were listed as OK for a limited # of slots in the Army Reserves.. this has kind of gone to the wayside as its a 'sellers' market out there. Direct Accessions into all branches at this time are extremely competitive and some recruiters are just telling applicants w/o experience they don't have a chance, or come back after a year or two of experience... just based on the high number of applicants that do have experience. Other options are to join a program like the Navy or Army Nurse Candidate Program which give you a small lump sum initial and graduation bonus along with monthly stipend and you have a guaranteed slot at graduation.. being prior enlisted I think you will find that you are NOT eligible for that. So that leaves you with direct accession or ROTC programs. Personally I think ROTC would be busy with a normal nursing program... maybe if you have an ROTC unit at a school that gives a ADN to BSN bridge you could work that out.. but probably more pain then its worth. Other options are to apply to Army IPAP program to be a PA.. not sure how prior service does or does not affect that. I'd personally plan on obtaining BSN, try to live low cost and take out enough loans to be successful and not starve, and assume you'd have a bonus of loan repayment or lump sum similar to what is available now... of course tax is like 33% chunk of that... and just get BSN and then get a job at graduation.. and then submit your packet. OR get BSN and then apply to reserves and try to transition.. but if you miss military probably better to just to active duty accession.

any how. welcome to the boards. congrats on ADN.

Thanks for that information, I may consider the reserves and ultimately becom an LDO or "mustang" officer, with the reserves I would have my home life and my military fix as well. My exp with the navy is that they don't really give much time for education.

+ Add a Comment