Quick Tip for ANYONE considering nursing in the military

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Folks, a quick tip:

To pursue commissioning opportunities as a nurse in any - and I do mean ANY - branch of the US Armed Forces, please be sure you are talking to a Health Professions Accessions recruiter or whatever that branch's equivalent is. The folks you commonly meet in the the recruitment offices in shopping malls, plazas, and at high schools are ENLISTED accessions recruiters and generally know nothing about officer recruitment, much less health professions recruitment. You'll find a few officer recruiters that way, but most of them are strictly for enlisteds.

I'm only pointing this out because I've seen several posts that are leading me to believe folks are talking to enlisted recruiters only.

Another commissioning source may be ROTC; you can look up ROTC detachments through local universities and colleges. Any ROTC Det cadre member at any school in the country would be able to explain available cadet opportunities for nurse candidates for their particular service, if any exist.

For the Guard and Reserve, be sure the recruiter realizes you are ultimately interested in a commission as an RN by the most direct route possible - their funding and processes are a bit different from the active duty side of the house.

Just a quick tip. I don't want to see anyone get blindsided into enlisting when that's not really what they want to do. Once you're enlisted, becoming an officer is highly competitive and sometimes downright impossible. You want to go for the commission and the RN from the start if at all possible.

There's absolutely nothing wrong with being enlisted - I'M prior enlisted, my father was career Navy, my oldest brother is retired Navy, and my other brother is retired Army - that's not what I'm saying. What I'm saying is if you want to be an RN from the first moment you raise your right hand, you have to go for a commission and not for an enlistment.

Just my :twocents:

No, they put out in late summer that there was not going to be a mission for ADN/ASN RNs in the Reserve component.

We will have to wait til next year to find out if they are going to allow us to put them in again.

ADN/ASN RNs in the Reserves were limited to reaching CPT but not MAJ if they didnt have their BSN. About 2 years ago (1-2) it was put out that newly appointed RNs would not reach CPT if they didnt have their BSN, others were grandfathered in.

I was just as bummed as my applicants as I had a handful that wanted to do the BSN STRAP.

SFC Jiminez,

What's STRAP?

STRAP is a student stipend that is paid to a variety (Medical/Dental/Nursing/Opt./Vet./Clin.Psych etc....) of students going either Active Duty or Reserves.

If you are a RN and you are looking to get your MSN then the Army Reserves will pay you $2060 per month while you are attending an accredited Nursing school. Max time is 24 months. It pays for MSNs in Public Health, Psych and Anesthetist. Other MSNs are not covered : (

I exited the Army with an honorable discharge after 13 years in order to change my career. I plan to graduate as a RN-BSN in 3 years. If I join the reserves as an RN, will I receive a bonus? I'm not sure if I want to return to active duty so soon because I want to experience the civilian medical system. What can I expect in the reserves? Same one weekend a month in a hospital? 2 weeks AT in a field hospital? Thanks.

:) Hi everyone.21 y/o from Kentucky. Have a lot of questions regarding the direct commissioning as an Officer in the Army. I passed my NCLEX-RN exam January of this year and now I am planning to join the Army Nurse Corps this October. I just wanna know if I am qualified for OBLC? Do I need to speak with a recruiter in order to complete my board packet? And what rank will i land after finishing OBLC? I have 2 years of ED experience, but this was way back in the Philippines. I heard that RN's with BSN will land CPT rank after BOLC is this of reality?

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

Yes, you need to work with an AMEDD recruiter (not just a regular recruiter) to complete your packet and to make sure you qualify. You mentioned the Philippines -- thought I should mention that you must be a U.S. citizen and your BSN must be NLNAC or CCNE accredited for you to be considered for active duty. If you are selected, you would commission as a 2LT, not a CPT. Your two years of ED experience, if you are given constructive credit for it, would only count as one year of constructive credit for the Army, which will determine your initial rank.

To find your closest AMEDD recruiter, go here: http://www.goarmy.com/locate-a-recruiter.html

The process is lengthy and very competitive. Good luck!

Thank you for that information LUnah. Yes I am a US Citizen and my BSN has been accredited that's why I was able to take my NCLEX examination. My husband is on Active Duty in the Army and currently stationed in Fort Campbell. Did you take the OBLC?

Really looking forward to join the Army Nurse Corps. :)

Babe RN,

What nursing school did you graduate from? When you worked in the ED, was that as a RN?

SFC JIMENEZ,

I graduated from University of the Assumption here in the Philippines. It is accredited. 2 of my batchmates are now currently on their BOLC; that's why they can't hook me up for they're too busy. And about the ED thing, yes. I am licensed and hired as an RN during the 2 year period.

BABE RN,

When you refer to "batchmates" I take it that you are referring to your BSN school mates? Am I correct? If indeed it is that then your previous school mates would have had to received an equivalent BSN or a MSN from an accredited school here in the US. In order for a school to be accredited for the Army they have to be accredited through CCNE or NLN. There are no Philippine Nursing schools that are CCNE/NLN accredited. If you have any questions you can always ask them here or you can call me at 877 725 1399.

Specializes in thoracic ICU, ortho/neuro, med/surg.

How do I find a Healthcare Recruiter?

I contacted my local officer recruitment office and asked for the healthcare recruiter. You may also find some information the website for whatever branch you are interested in.

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