just_cause

Congrats - and glad to have ya! My 2cents - In addition to PT I'd train the body when to do PT... waking up early and doing PT prior to having a meal as that is how it will happen for you in the future. Let your body adjust to this timing so your energy reserves, mindset, sleep cycle also are in alignment.

ANCP does not pay for your schooling, it offers a 'future' job and a monthly stipend along with a bonus split between signing up and graduation. I haven't heard if its staying or going.. but I would think that incentives will diminish with high number of applicants, lower number of slots + decreasing overall budget....

There is not a degree / branch correlation to most branches. Nursing and a few others have atypical accession options like direct accession. However, the path to being an officer is not direct accession for most branches. ROTC and USMAs account for majority of accessions.. then a smaller yield from things like OCS. So yes lots of officers have degrees outside their branch focus... almost all officers do, I'd say you need to take a few minutes to look into it as I don't think you know enough now to want to be in the military or not at this point. I've worked with a lot of professional officers who had came from top schools, with solid degrees, who choose to serve as their primary goal... what I'm trying to say is the military, and especially being a commissioned officer, is not to be taken lightly.. people invest years of hard work and follow a path to trying to be one. I think you will find that hindsight and quick accession won't be an option and that is the way it should be IMHO.

I'd first make your priorities RN 1st priority or military 1st priority. If RN then BSN is top priority, your progress and time will then enable you to enter the military in the future. The pre-reqs for nursing are difficult. Depending on where you live and how the schools you plan on applying to objectify their applicants you need a good grade... my region you need 3.8-4.0'ish in all those hard science pre-reqs to be competitive. A&P is tough for everyone - make sure you are competitive and can be compeitive to schools you plan on applying to .. otherwise change your plan because your attempt will be futile Lots of sub forums within allnurses discuss the individual courses and what not while this one focuses on mil aspect of it. best of luck, study hard.. be realistic, arrange your life to enable you to work hard and succeed.

make a timeline.... map out the pr-reqs as they often cannot be conducted without having some being pre-reqs for one another... then look at time of completion and timeline of admissions to see when you could feasibly start based on BSN programs in your zone (interest, or area or price..) then look at graduation date.. then do an honest eval of the competitiveness of the school and your predicted placement to see likelyhood of getting in on first look.. then you could add 2 years of time to gain an idea of timeline you might be in the air force as a nurse at this point. IMHO you need to take a step back and do some evaluation of yourself, your goals, your timeline and constraints before you see a recruiter. I would also avoid tying the military as an enabler to becoming a RN (if that is your primary goal) as it probably reduces the likelyhood or at least makes it a less direct path. I'd look at is military my interest or nursing.. or just re-evaluating and want something that is military and medical related. If I were leaning towards military but interested in medical I'd look at ancillary fields like radiology, nuke med, etc... as these have an easier time of direct translation to civilian and you could get the AS degree and cert while in service.. as opposed to getting out to do BSN then commissioning, etc. my 2 cents

wtbcrna is spot on... I'd second that advice.

Actually - I believe there is a mixup on the above.. The ANCP is for civilians entering or in junior / senior year of BSN program with no military affiliation. The AECP and FNEP you have to be affiliated and applying from within to meet eligibility.

Have you looked to see what units / slots are needed in your area/state? ... age? ... fat as in not meeting tape or weight?

fiscal year and packet due date is around the corner. I know army has been doing one board a year now... packets due oct'ish board in nov.. you'd have to be poppin right now to meet that due date.. because the process takes time - regardless of how fast you might be

Have you been working as an RN since you graduated in March? (verifying experience prior to admission...). Agree with previous poster in trying to avoid CO route and try to work it out with recruiter with a different approach.

deftonez, I'd agree that moving could be a downside... many feel it is an upside. Your opinion is its been a downside for you, I know many where it has been a huge positive and have more military friends with multiple houses then civilian friends.. I believe it is dependent on every person's situation / preferences. The beauty is we all can make the decision and ultimately choose a route towards based on our own personal choice of what is important to ourselves.

Despite if it goes away it directly affecting me and my family.. I think its a good idea "Potentially" - or at least the concept of it. I believe everyone should have to contribute and feel that involvement in planning their own retirement and put skin in the game.... That being said I feel ALL federal pension / retirements should be looked at and also 'adjusted' to a contribution plan if it makes 'sense' for those in the military who often sacrifice the most.

for what its worth Jeckrn is probably a better resource then me :) Good luck on your path forward scottlin.

My 2 cents. It is not an incentive that is available. Recruiters don't have the pull to offer or create incentives - plus its not within the benefit of the Army + their is surplus of applicants. My recommendation is first is being an OR nurse or an Army nurse the priority. If Army simply don't mention it at this time as their is any traction you can make.. get selected, go to OBC, after 1st year at duty station begin to work with command to show them your interest in OR, become more familiar with the course dates and your chain of command's support and try to be flexible yet shape your career path at that point in your future, but not now.

I had a previous degree related to something completely different.... had a completely different previous career.. shifted my focus to becoming an RN. I went back to school to complete all pre-reqs and was planning on attending a masters entry level or accelerated bsn program - as it seemed a natural progression... however, I then changed my mind and attended a standard bsn program... which I am SO glad it was the route I took. It was much more cost effective, enabled me to gain experience while working as a nurse technician during school, and in hindsight the shortened time scale would have not be a benefit to be actually learning.. despite finishing a bit earlier. Your results will vary. Yup as JeckRN stated all schools have different methods of looking at applicants. I would spend time to look at the options.. perhaps look around at BSN schools in your state and see HOW the evaluate and rank applicants and see if you stand a good chance.. if not.. look at other options. accel BSN and masters entry level programs are out there.. however I'm VERY 100% glad I took the route I did at this point.

jeckrn, where u located/what specialty?

thanks irish,

Can anyone provide any info on requirements / expectations for backpacks ... solid pattern? specific color requirement / restrictions? Much appreciated. JC

I would look long term. I would not join ROTC (me personally) I would then spend all energy on getting BSN and first job. From that point you can look forward to working on packet and applying for board so you have at least 1 year experience by the time you board. This will give you the experience... prevent some unexpected frustration and set you up for success given the current 'market' in military nursing. BTW going reserve is not an easy option to going active duty at a later date. It would probably be a shorter route to do the experience to active duty option IMHO. best of luck, oh yeah.. lastly. no need to talk to a recruiter at this point :) There is enough knowledge and info HERE and via some GOOGLE that you can gain enough knowledge to contact a recruiter at a later date to assist you with the process.. but info and planning can be done here..

Its not just # of open slots its also demand/supply of applicants. A surplus of bsn qualified applicants could change the past ADN option whether it based on a change of accession rules or goals or simply through competition..

No. You can check your local national guard units to look at their requirements.

Angelrain, I think you will see your comment on no RN accessions w/o prior experience come true for fy12. I think the avenues would be rotc (limited), unsure on future of nurse candidate program, and RN's w/o experience will fade away and lean towards min of 1-2 years of exp. This is a good thing as the market (supply/demand) is leaning this direction. As an upcoming new grad I would focus on school, nclex & obtaining first job. Then you can began your packet and keep army as a goal but cont' to work as an RN. Even fy11 we saw almost no RN direct accessions for those w/o experience.. so the change in requirement might mean little when compared to the reality of applicants selected. Yup.. all my humble opinion.

Damrcngrl95, Thanks for the reply.

I'd appreciate comments, opinions, thoughts in comparing BLISS vs HOOD for an Army nurse in terms of overall work place and family life. If you had to choose between the two - what are some of the factors you would use between the two? Thanks!

in addition to what Jeckrn said.. as of now accession boards are annual (Nov) meaning you need to start now (or even in Apr/May) to be ready for that board.. and then expecting to leave anywhere from several to 6 months after that board convenes. I'd also look into Psyc NP programs available active / reserve and national guard that could allow you to 'join' and with the acceptance of grad school.. you more or less have the job of going to school, you get paid, given certain tuition reimbursement, and then serve as a psych NP upon graduation... that is another option.