Some questions about the Army Reserve Nursing Corps

ameritow · Feb 28, 2008

1. Is it feasible in this political climate (Iraq/Afghanistan/War on Terror) to serve in the Reserves and complete a BSN program in the allotted time. I understand that deployment is definetly going to happen, but would it be more worthwhile for me to complete my BSN or at least a portion of it before seeking my commission?

If you commission as an ADN, and then begin your BSN, you can be put on "student status". Then you cannot be deployed while you are in school.

2. What kind of tuition assistance is available for an ADN who is working on a BSN?

The Army Reserves offers a $50,000 loan repayment for your BSN.

3. In the Reserves, what are the duties I will most likely be performing. I would like very much to get out in the field and actively be a part of "battlefield medicine" but I am unable to commit to active duty (my job is very generous with military leave for reservists). I guess my question is, what kind of clinical experience will I be receiving?

Much of the clinical experience is more of a shadowing type situation in Trauma/Burn and ICU type atmospheres. You don't get a lot of hands on there. A lot of what we (in my unit) do is training the enlisted personnel. Whatever your specialty is, you teach. Also CPR, and other basics. Whatever information they will need to get the patient to you safely. Some time is spent in "Army type" training, weapons, driving a tank, etc. Your best training is during the two weeks Annual Training. Then, you go out to a field, set up a working hospital made of tents and isolets (big boxes that hold an OR suite or other goodies inside), running it (including a mass casualty situation at some point), protecting it, then tearing it down and hauling it home. A lot of good training there. Both medical, and military.

4. I do have a primary career already that I am locked into for 13 more years because of pension purposes. I would be unable to work full time as a nurse in the civilian field. Would Army Reserve nursing + part time civilian nursing work be good enough for me to develop as a competent professional?

You get out of it what you put into it. You can develop as a competent professional wherever you are if you always seek learning opportunities.

5. Are all of the training and schooling opportunities that the Army provides for active duty nurses available for Reserve Nurses?

You would have to talk to a recruiter on this one, but I believe there are some things you must be on active duty to take advantage of. For example, I know you must be on active duty to attend the Army's CRNA course.

I can only speak from my own experience as to how things are done in my unit. I hope that if anyone else has different experiences, they can correct me. Good luck!

Itshamrtym · Feb 29, 2008

:cheers::grad:Good luck to you and congrats as you will soon be starting another chapter in your career.... please anyone correct me if I'm wrong.... but I do believe that you can get the STRAP program. You have to be enrolled in a accredited BSN program to benefit from this.. They pay you a stipend for up to 2 years ($1,300.00 per month) to help you complete your degree. The bonus is different depending on if you sign up for 3 or 4 years. Not sure how the loan re-payment works, as far as how much you get in addtion to your bonus. Do a search.. There was something in the news recently about incentives for ARMY Nurses..... Take care... I hope that you get all of your questions answered.. G O D B L E S S OUR T R O O P S!!!!!!!!!!!

JenLUNS · Mar 19, 2008

It was explained to me that deployment to Iraq was highly unlikely, but it was a possibility. I really want to do the reserves, but do not want to go to Iraq. Is there any Army Nurse Reserves who can help me out with personal experiences? How long have you been an Army nurse reserve? Is there any hidden things that you find out after you get in?

joannekuhl · May 30, 2008

Hello Everyone, I have been working with a recruiter for some months now and have since graduated with an ADN degree and passed my boards plus passed the physical. I am not sure which reserve center I will be assigned but am not sure on what to expect. Once the paper work is complete and the army physical is passed what all can I expect to happen ?, Any and All advice will be grateful. littlesiss004

CLC172 · May 30, 2008

It was explained to me that deployment to Iraq was highly unlikely, but it was a possibility. I really want to do the reserves, but do not want to go to Iraq. Is there any Army Nurse Reserves who can help me out with personal experiences? How long have you been an Army nurse reserve? Is there any hidden things that you find out after you get in?

:twocents:I'm a civilian nursing student. However, I have 10 years experience of working with the military, administrative, not medical, and I was a military spouse before my hubby (enlisted) got out of the Navy. One thing I want to warn you about is NOTHING is guaranteed with the military, unless you explicitly get it in writing. I work with more enlisted personnel than with officers, but I'm pretty sure it's the same either way. If you are told that it would be unlikely for you to go to Iraq, that may or may not be totally true, depending on who told you that. But be prepared to be "worldwide deployable," no matter what branch of the military you get into, Reserves or Active Duty. I've seen many people's lives turned upside-down by deployments to Iraq when they never expected it, both enlisted and officer.

A lot of my current job ends up with me being the person who tells new military personnel what their contract "actually" means, as opposed to what their recruiter told them it would mean, oftentimes two different things! So I'm a little jaded! :wink2:

The military's not all bad. I've considered it myself, once I get my nursing degree. However, I have a daughter and I just couldn't bear to leave her for deployment, so it's not going to happen! Still considering VA, maybe. Not sure yet! :nurse:

athena55, BSN, RN · May 30, 2008

:yeahthat:

Listen to what CLC172 is telling y'all. You need to get whatever was/is guaranteed to you in writing. Sometimes Health Care Recruiters mean well but sometimes they are wrong in the information that they "put forth".

Examples: Depending when your TPU was last deployed or mobilized will give you a certain measure of when you can expect to be MOB'ed or Deployed.

Depending on your TPU if you have a critical skill and rank that is needed elsewhere and no one steps up to volunteer, well your chances of being involuntarily MOB'ed out have increased greatly

If you are thinking of going AC (from RC) and you are up for promotion MAKE SURE you delay your going over to the active side of the house until you get your promotion orders because oftentimes your promotion WILL NOT FOLLOW YOU and boy what a headache to "fix things"

If you are going Active Component and sign the US Army Reserve Nurse Officer with Concurrent Call to Active Duty Incentives Declaration Statement - Form 1205) for one of those Generic Course Selection Program or GCSP nursing courses that the Army offers (critical care nursing, emergency nursing etc) understand that you will incur a one year active duty service obligation upon completion of said course i.e. you signed on for two years and you accepted entry into the critical care nursing course your total commitment to the ANC would be total 1095 days.

If you are asked to list your three top duty stations I think it is the luck of the draw and the Needs of the Army. Many posters to this forum got their #1 #2 or #3 choice, others had no choice :cry:

Listen I am not attempting to discourage ANYONE from thinking about the Reserves or Active Duty. I and the other posters are just imploring you to really think things through.

We are fighting a war on two fronts plus we are supporting the GWOT here, in Africa, in Bosnia, in Germany, in Korea....Know what you are signing up for. Know that the possibility of being deployed or mobilized involuntarily are great and if you are mobilized or PCS'ing sometimes your spouse or family can not follow you

Remember: the Needs of the Army come first.

athena

PROUD 66H/ANC

crazylilkelly · May 31, 2008

it was explained to me that deployment to iraq was highly unlikely, but it was a possibility. i really want to do the reserves, but do not want to go to iraq. is there any army nurse reserves who can help me out with personal experiences? how long have you been an army nurse reserve? is there any hidden things that you find out after you get in?

if you don't ever want to deploy to iraq, don't join.

i know that sounds harsh but the risk is always there regardless of what the recruiter told you. for example, i enlisted in the navy when i was 17, in november of 2000 ( still in high school). i remember asking my recruiter about going to war. he said not to worry about it b/c everything was calm. and honestly, worrying about war was the last thing on my mind when i enlisted. then, on the day i was supposed to leave for boot camp i said good-bye to my dad & brother. i was spending my waking hours with my mom & sister & about to start getting ready for the recruiter to take me to boot camp a few hrs later.........it was 9/11. needless, to say the calm ended & 1 1/2 yrs later i was in kuwait during the beginning of the war.

it's an amazing experience & feeling to know that you have served your country. if this is something you really want but find yourself fearing deployment to a war-zone maybe you should contact some nurses who have gone & hear their perspective (which is what you have requested). i'm trying to get back in now as a navy nurse & am willing to volunteer to go to iraq b/c i feel it would be an honor to help nurse & serve our troops.

good luck!

olderthandirt2 · May 31, 2008

This is to CLC172, Athena55, and Crazylilkelly,

Thanks for your unique experiences. I too, agree that serving your country is a previlege and a honor. By commissioning into the ANC, you are stating that you are willing to sacrifice your time with family, friends and possibly your life to serve. If this is not what someone is willing to do, then joining the military is perhaps not a good idea.....

For me, struggling and waiting to join,.....the possiblity of deployment is something I am reallly hoping for. I have volunteered with the military in medical missions in SE Asia, and it is wonderful--- :)

cb.

ameritow · May 31, 2008

Littlesiss, if all of your paperwork has been completed and submitted all you can do now is wait. I believe it took 2 or 3 weeks for me to hear back from my recruiter that I had been accepted. After you get your confirmation that you have been accepted, you will complete your commissioning ceremony. Then you will receive orders to your reserve unit, and you or your recruiter will need to contact them to find out when they want you to start drilling. When you get there, find someone to be your mentor. Someone who is on the path you want to be on. You only get out of the military what you put in. Don't hesitate to ask your recruiter where you stand, or what comes next. Their job is not completed when you send in your application. Stay on them. Ask questions, drive them nuts if you have to. Make sure you understand what is going on. This is too big a step to go in blind.

joannekuhl · Jun 1, 2008

Thank You for the information and also Thank You for your thoughts. I to feel that it would be an honor. Nursing is something I feel takes a special person and as for myself I have always wanted to be a nurse and to be the one to help others so the thought of deployment to me would be an honor. I am so glad that there are some that are enlisted and are willing to share their many experiences and thoughts. I truely wish more would post and help guide those who are in the beginning stages. I love positive talk and encouragement it does wonders and helps ease others fears of the unknown. I do so hope the paper work takes only a few weeks and I do know that I have to do 4wks in TX. The hospital I have accepted a full time nursing position supports the armed forces.

I do have another question. The unit I have accepted a position on is Cardiac Progressive Care all of our patients come to us right from the open heart recovery unit and 2 days post open heart surgery they are all monitored patients what will that be considered in the military ?, I was unsure since its a telemetry unit and not a general med surg unit. The other experience I have had is three years working as a nurse extern in the neonatal intensive care unit. I am excited and thrilled with the prospects of all the many experiences that lay ahead of me within the army reserves and do plan on trying to take advantage of any and all opportunities that come myway. Thank You to all who posts !!! Littlesiss

Itshamrtym · Jun 1, 2008

Littlesis.. I sent you a email......... CONGRATS TO YOU !!!!!!!!!!!:beercuphe:balloons::balloons::balloons::balloons: