RayRN87

Thank you guys very much for the input, both of you have been great mentors since I started going on this website so I really do appreciate the information. I wish I would have made military a full-time career sooner. I've been a civilian ICU nurse for 9 years and when you go through a corporate takeover it seems like all the time I spent at my current hospital was taken for granted. I've been working on a packet with my recruiter since March to go from Reserve to Active duty and after 9 months things are finally going into motion, just waiting on assignment orders. When I get settled in I will probably pursue an MSN in Admin and consider an LTHET packet for USAGPAN, but like what Pixie said I will see where life takes me as well. I just wanted a back up plan just in case CRNA doesn't workout

possibly, but the 50% (constructive credit) starts at the time you get your BSN - so you might come in as an O-1 but you will qualify for special pay with your CCRN so keep that up and goodluck!

I will be doing active duty for the army soon, currently on my 2nd year as a reservist but my ultimate goal is crna. It is a great plan that you are pursuing a master's in another field just in case crna doesn't workout but how are things going for you ? Just wanted to follow up cause I had the same plan in mind - best of luck

how did you prepare for the GRE? any test materials you recommend over the other? also awesome story and congrats

JLB, I am currently in the same position, I've been in USAR for almost 2 years but I started an active duty packet sometime in March, 2018. The G1 signed my dd368 and my recruiter told me my "unofficial" scroll was approved June 30th. I will be going in as a 66S as well, It's been a month and I haven't heard anything back ( total 5 months ) yet. I was wondering what happened with your situation and how long your whole process took - thank you for sharing and best of luck. And also congrats !

It's great you are thinking about this at a young age. If you have the opportunity to pursue BSN right after high school, I would take that and run with it. You can use enlistment as a back-up plan. If your finances/parents can help you with school and getting your BSN then that is the best option, IMO. Plus you will come in to the military with a higher rank and better opportunities for your nursing career. Best of luck

I was in your situation not so long ago, so I will try my best to answer these questions but ditto to Jfratian's responses 1. If you work every other weekend at your regular job, and you drill one weekend a month, does that mean you only have one weekend free per month? My employer/manager counts my drill weekend as a work weekend so I have 2 free weekends a month, but as an ICU nurse I don't mind working weekends especially on day shift (less traffic) 2. Do you plan to stick with it for 20+ years? Yes, I love the military environment, but I am working on an active duty packet so if it is not too late for you and you don't have children this would be a perfect opportunity to consider Active Duty (you can retire earlier with Active Duty Service) 3. Did you have difficulty transitioning back to your civilian job after returning from deployment? (I have never mobilized, it is for the most part voluntary in our unit because we are a backfill batallion. I have done training for 30 days and coming back to civilian job was not a problem) 4. Anyone have any regrets on joining? Anyone here love the reserves and would stay in it for as long as they can? Only regret is not going Active Duty from the start of my military career, but I have made many friends and mentors and enjoyed my 2 years as a Reservist 5. During drill weekends, are you working as a nurse or attending classes moreso? This is unit-dependent but no nurse work. We follow a training schedule and they give us allotted times for section training. So basically there is an ICU platoon, Auxillary Platoon, Med-surg platoon, etc. 6. I've never lived far away from my family. Being in the reserves would keep me close to them, but during deployment I am a little bit afraid of the homesickness aspect. Anyone want to share on their experience with that? My biggest struggle was leaving the family behind occasionally facetiming them helped, plus you will probably be too consumed with the duties and new environment that time will just fly 7. Is passing the GI bill along to your kids/future kids an option? Yes if you get deployed/mob for more than 90 days 8. Does drill weekend pay cause any financial hardship for you? I live in a state with a very high cost of living, and minusing one weekend a month of my civilian pay would make things slightly more difficult for me. No it does not but drill weekend is less pay. But for me it is like a mental break from civilian life because I am doing non-nursing related things and more soldier oriented-tasks. My reserve unit pays for mileage and gives us a hotel to stay for drill weekend, but this is all dependent on budget and what unit you are in. 9. For the single people, who handles your finances/bills when you're on deployment? Do you rent out your home during that time? Or you just find a family member/friend to handle it for you? I don't want to burden anyone with those kinds of things. I guess I could find a property manager temporarily if I need to? I would stick with a family member to handle it, IMO 10. For the ladies, did you take birth control during deployment to prevent your period? Or did you just deal with it? N/A Feel free to PM me if you have any more questions and best of luck

I know this is an old post but is a leadership and management master's program the same as a MSN in Administration? Also did you ever complete your program at WGU or any new thoughts or feedback on it? Thank you

Is an MSN degree in Leadership and Management the same as an MSN in Administration? I've seen it offered in different universities but not both, so I am assuming it is an interchangeable term. I am looking into the program at WGU and it is appealing for my situation, but they only have MSN in Leadership and Management (not administration). I eventually want to become a director or have an advanced leadership role for nursing once I am done with bedside. Also debating on a dual MSN/MBA program but the price and length may not be worth it. I would greatly appreciate any thoughts or advice - thanks.

Congrats Sam, you seem like a highly competitive candidate. 3.8 GPA and certified in your MOS is legit. Will you be coming in as a 1LT (O-2) with time in grade? The only thing I can recommend is excellent letters of recommendation from your manager, director and charge nurse. The downside and sometimes a good thing with the military is you pretty much have to just hurry up and wait. Just get your packet squared away and then wait for your recruiter to give you the green light. Once you are selected you have to wait to for scroll approval and from there you commission and your military journey starts!

Roger that, thank you ma'am

Thank you Neats. I'm actually looking into dual MSN/MBA programs if anyone has any recommendations or if it is worth doing that instead of just an MS in Administration. I wanted to use TA as well if it is concurrent or is it added after my initial active duty contract is completed? Anyways thanks again everyone for all the feedback/advice

Lol great answer and thank you

Thank you Ma'am. What school and how long did it take? Also does military like informatics or admin more ? Or it doesn't matter? Thank you again

Wow congrats and thank you for the input Jfration. Honestly I'd be more interested in admin although it does seem saturated, bottom line it's a masters and if you bring that to civilian sector it's easily a six figure salary on top of your military experience. What school did you choose if you don't mind me asking and also how long did it take for you. Were you able to do some work during deployments or they allowed you to take a break? Thanks again

Any military nurses or prior service out there able to give me some advice or recommendations on what is the most versatile MSN that can be obtained while on active duty? I was debating on a non-clinical route between a masters in nurse admin or informatics. What do you guys think ? Basically my plan is to be able to accomplish this and have it as a backup just in case CRNA doesn't workout for me. I want to be able to obtain this degree on my first duty station and apply to army Crna school once I meet all the requirements. Thank you very much ! Respectfully

I know this post is about a year old, but I am in a similar position. I'm curious to what school and route you decided to take RN2365? I've been in the Army Reserve for about a year and a half and the CG just approved my release to go active (4 years as a ICU nurse). I'm very excited, my ultimate goal is to become a CRNA. In the meantime, I wanted to get an MSN that can be obtained while on active duty. What online military-friendly schools do you guys recommend? Thank you again for all the information

I recently commissioned into the US Army Reserve as a 1LT - Critical Care nurse in Feb. 2017. I am loving the experience so far and it has motivated me to take my nursing career into another level. Does anyone know or have any experience with USAGPAN, the Army's CRNA program. Is it possible to switch to active duty (from reserve) if accepted into the program and how difficult is this process? It's a long shot for now now I am just starting to meet admission requirement for a 2018-2019 start - studying for CCRN certification and then GRE. Would greatly appreciate any input/feedback, thanks

just some input, my cousin went in as a enilsted - combat medic and he hated it. He was an RN (PACU nurse) and he didn't get the specialist rank because he didn't take an EMT course so if you do this route make sure you have EMT background for a step-up. Also from his experience I went ahead and did a direct commision as a 66S (ICU nurse), I came in as an 02 - First LT and so far have enjoyed going between civilian hospital and drilling with my unit. Either option is great, military will support you with your future endeavors in exchange for your time - it is a sacrifice but the presitige and honor of serving our country is priceless

Yes first time, no military experience and did a direct commision to the reserves feb '17. I have only started phase one of BOLC which is the Army Reserve's officer training course. It is possible to start training after graduation because from what I've heard you have at least a year to finish phase 1 (which is all online), once that is completed your command will schedule you for phase 2 and it is only 2weeks, but i have also heard some reserve officers saying it is a month. Goodluck

You're welcome JmhATL , yes allnurses has given me a bundle of information that I would have never been able to google thanks to all the experienced nurses on this forum. So basically an O-2 is a 1st Lieutenant. Since I have been a nurse for 8 years, the Army gave me like 2-3 years of (constructive credit/time in grade) therefor I was able to come in as an O-2. An FNP or MD are the only ones that I know that can commission as an O-3 (captain). At the time I applied, the army had the largest sign on bonus for ICU nurses and I always wanted to do army so I went that route (3-year contract). If I love the military life I will probably go active, but I wanted to test the waters. I would wait and take the job offer so you can get some experience. Then speak to a health professions recruiter, that way you will have a stronger resume/application, but it's up to you. You can always go for it anytime and goodluck!

hey guys just wanted to share my recruiter finally told me I have orders to commission taking my oath feb 4th!

KTRN Sorry!! It's awesome that your husband is an officer and I was just joking i'm actually glad you shared that information because my recruiter does not always give me full details that's why i love this website! anyway what is OML? and goodluck!

Sorry i dont have a husband that is an active duty officer.. My recruiter said 500 to start (never said it was accurate) but i appreciate your info and thx jfratian for the feedback as well! ERnurse2016b seems like we will have to budget around 1200-2000 to be on the safe side. Best of luck

I am just waiting for orders, according to my recruiter. He also said uniforms would be about 500, but I would get my sign on bonus a month after drilling. I don't know how accurate this is but I just have some extra money saved up justin case. Feel free to PM me anytime, I think more than likely we will run into each other at Ft. Sam Houston. What MOS is a 66T? I will be 66S, critical care, do you think we would possibly be in the same unit? that would be awesome.