Questions about ANC.

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Little background information: currently attending a 2 year BSN program. Completed my first year and on track to graduate in May 2011. No prior service.

When should I start the application process? I heard they took on a lot of new graduates this past year so they may not have many spots available for my graduating class. I'd like to get the ball rolling to ensure I have a better chance of being accepted into a summer class. I called the nurse recruiter last August and was told they normally start the process 6 months from graduation, which seemed odd considering the amount of information that must be processed.

What all is involved in the application process? Do I go to meps for a complete physical and/or do I have to complete the AFPT before I start OBLC?

Are there any classes or courses that I need to take over this summer to prepare myself for military nursing? I may have read this incorrectly, but ROTC students attend summer program in a military hospital. Is there something like this for the route I chose?

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In theory you could apply 1 year out from graduation / nclex date. Annually their are X slots for new nurses, new slots available in new fiscal year - oct. You could in theory have packet ready at that time... physical will be good for a year from physical to the time of being eligible to sign in, so could be taken this summer.

Personally I'd ask for the paperwork for the following: security clearance paperwork so you can start filling this out, example format for letter of recommendations (you can start collecting and need x3), and then you could ask if you can get a MEPS date scheduled.. I'd say if you pass the physical (which is where many get disqualified in the grand scheme of things from the recruiters perspective) then you'd pretty much have the long term things completed and they might have a better idea that you are more of a 'sure thing'.. You have to realize they probably have more applicants vs slots at this time and are trying to manage that vs hand walking all sorts of potential applicants through when they also have other job responsibilities.. but if you could just get those pieces of paperwork and a passed physical done this summer.. well you'd essentially be ready for pack submission this coming fall/winter.

.... if they won't budge on that say fine I'd like to start a packet for Army Nurse Candidate program... eligible for juniors/seniors.. essentially same basic paperwork - physical at MEPS, security clearance.. and then after you get those change done... prior to submission tell recruiter you want ANC not the nurse candidate program (as it will work out better for the benefits given you'll be a senior) and then you'll have done that paperwork.

No you don't have any ROTC type obligations.. army wants nurse grads - they will take you from there.

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Thank you for the information. The recruiters should be back in the office this week and hopefully I can get some of these things started this summer (fingers crossed).

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Specializes in Med/Surg, APU/PACU, Peds, Flight.

- I contacted a recruiter May-ish of my Junior year.

- I met with him in June to start all of the paper work.

- Had my interview and MEPS late July/early August.

- Signed a lot of paperwork between then and October.

- Found out in December I got accepted.

- Found out in January my base assignment.

- Signed more paperwork.

- Graduated May 15th.

- Boards are coming up this month.

- COT in August.

Hope that helps, even just a little bit.

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Oh, yeah - a year is average for any of the services. Your time to acceptance was pretty quick - that was good timing on your part!

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That would be nice if mine goes just like that.

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Just wanted to run this by yall to see if it sounds right. He told me that I can't apply until after I graduate and pass the NCLEX. So that would put me into May/June 2011 that my application packet would be submitted. He also mentioned that since I'll be applying so late, there is a chance there will not be any spots available for the 2011 fiscal year, so I'd have to wait for the 2012 fiscal year (sometime after October 2011)...this sounded kind of strange and defeats the purpose of trying to get a head start on my application. I was really trying to get a spot as close to graduation as possible or late summer/early fall.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, APU/PACU, Peds, Flight.

Hmm....to me, that doesn't sound right. Like I said before, I started the process the summer before my Senior year of college and got accepted December of that year. I would assume you'd be able to do the same thing, but you know what they say about assuming....

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Yea that's what I was thinking too. After reading a few others threads, they seemed to have at least started a few months before graduation. Id assume they would be able to accept with a clause of passing the NCLEX before leaving for the ARMY

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The nclex passage is part of the contract. My best guess is since they have so few slots its not beneficial to create all of these packets early as the slots might already be taken + it takes a lot of time/energy to make the packets for those that are planning to graduate.. vs someone who already has rn license and is more of a sure thing.. that is just my guess.

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Specializes in EMT, ER, Homehealth, OR.

You just answered why this recruiter wants her/him to wait. Does not want to do the paperwork then something happen. Their numbers are tight and do not want to lose any since there would be no slots available for them to make it up. Recruiting is a numbers game, if you do not get the people in you look bad even if there is no slots.

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Agree with previous two posts. Understand that there have been few if any new RN slots open since around November of 2009. That puts an entire year worth of applicants "competing" for however many slots open up in October this year. Chances are your recruiter already has more packets ready to go up for Oct. boards than there will be slots for... my guess is that your recruiter either does not want to do the paperwork until you are a sure thing, like previous posters stated, or wants to push you back to fill future quotas...getting ahead of his recruiting work load.

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