Some questions about the Army Reserve Nursing Corps

[84Nozzle]

Sorry if this is a repeat of any questions previously asked, but this is my first post.

I am a 28 yr old NYC firefighter currently in a ADN program. I'm interested in joining the Army Reserve Nurse Corps after I graduate and pass the NCLEX but I have a few questions. I have spoken to recruiters and I have all of the basic information, but I wanted to ask some of the more experienced members of the forum a few more specfic questions.

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?

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

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?

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

Hopefully some of you can help lead me in the right direction.

Thanks.

[motheringis4me]

What is the age cap to join the reserves if you are an RN already?

[CLC172]

What is the age cap to join the reserves if you are an RN already?

For the most part, 42 is the age requirement. However, sometimes waivers may be available.

[Staczse7]

Actually, the Army was doing (and I think still is) a two-year committment option for RN's ages 46-60 years of age.

Waivers are needed after 46-1/2 years of age. They seem like they are not difficult to get.

[jeckrn, BSN, RN]

as some post have said you need to look at everything before you sign. Will the Army Reserves deploy you while you are in school, yes & no. It depends on if the Army is paying for it and with what program. If you go the RN-BSN STRAP program I believe you have to be in school at least 1/2 time and you are non-deployable during this time frame. As far as going to school full time & working that depends on your work schedule. Depending on what house you are assigned at with FDNY would also make a difference on how much homework you can get done while at work and how flexible they are for scheduling your shift around your school. It would appear that they already are good to you for scheduling since you have gotten your ADN. I have been called up with FF & PD of NYC and know of how NYC treats their employees better then most when it comes to military duty. As a follow FF, stay safe out there brother, K

[Skeletor]

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!

much respect :clphnds::yeahthat:

[brooklyn4]

wow this has just totally scared me out of it :) not really but I do realize that having 3 kids (2 that are 6 and 7) who are my life and a grand daughter on the way in July makes me very nervous but I also have to plan for retirement and feel this is a good way to have some extra income. My husband is a retired Marine.... thanks for all the info ! this is great info

[mmm333, LVN]

=CRINGE= I wish people wouldn't say "I want to join the military [but I don't want to deploy or be involved in a war]"... It's like saying "I want to be an RN but I don't want to touch bodily fluids or look at people naked". People need to understand that military RNs are not "just nurses"- they are officers and leaders over experienced medics who have been "in the sh!t" over there. Many military folks find it insulting that people want to be OFFICERS over them, commanding salutes and respect from soldiers who are getting burned mangled and blown apart over there. Once you are ready for anything, then you are ready to consider the military. Posters who said that you are worldwide deployable at any time, anywhere, are right. We could be at war with another country like North Korea or Iran at any time, opening an entire new front. And your unit could get deployed on 3 weeks notice or less. In addition to being ready to deploy, you need to ask yourself seriously the following question: "Am I ready to possibly die for this?" because nurses live in bases that get mortared, they ride in convoys, they fly on aircraft- all targets of the enemy. Nurses have died in all conflicts they've served in.

[just_cause, BSN, RN]

...that being said i think it would be very misleading to leave it at this..

yes there is risk involved. yes you might face the fear of living in an environment surrounded by danger or passing through it... but based on recent historical facts - nurses are 'relatively very safe' for being in a combat zone...

Within all branches for a period of about a decade.. I believe one nurses has died in the middle east. That being said a rough ratio of those wounded to KIA might be 10:1, but those are extremely good 'odds' and I want others to understand that of jobs in the military.. nursing is safe based on recent historical facts. The same goes for WW2 and Vietnam if you google for those numbers.

Is there risk, yes.. do you face fear, yes.. but I think its important to frame it with numbers and to actually realize you are there to help those who are truly in harms way, not due to indirect fire and hazards, but the combat troops seeking conflict. IMHO your mindset should be based on sending yourself forward to help those who are in harms way ... get those warriors back to mission ready status or to stabilize them so the ground pounders can continue their roles rather then dwelling on your own risk... of working in relatively safe condition compared to those at the tip of the spear.

Yes this is my opinion - I realize others will have theirs.. I'm sharing this as a new perspective to the thread.

If you want an interesting read here is a link to the Journal of Nursing Scholarship with an interesting look at

Experiences of U.S. Military Nurses in the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars, 2003-2009

Experiences of U.S. Military Nurses in the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars, 2003Desch - 2010 - Journal of Nursing Scholarship - Wiley Online Library

[athena55, BSN, RN]

True that one nurse has died as a result of indirect/direct fire (R.I.P. CPT Maria Ortiz, 2007) but other Medics, MDs, PAs have also died (and other RN's have died from other: disease, accident, MI etc - R.I.P. CPT Gussie May Jones, 2005)

athena

[FrogKissingNurse]

thank you all for your insight! i have learned a lot reading this thread.

here are my questions:

can i be in the reserves nursing corps with an adn or do i need a bsn? i have read conflicting information...

assuming i can with an adn, how does it work being responsible for other people who probably have more medical experience that i do, being a soon to be new grad?

is it possible to get a full time job at a military hospital even while being in the reserves?

[just_cause, BSN, RN]

By the regulation and recent recruiting you can be a nurse in the reserves.. but that could change for 1 of 2 reasons... 1 they decide to phase out ADN accessions or 2 just the competition of BSN nurses or experienced nurses could out compete you for accessions... either way all you can really do is apply. Yes you can work at a military hospital or VA or anywhere else while a reservist.

Have you thought about applying to the ANCP and upon ADN graduation immediately doing the BSN bridge program and going active duty? Thats another option... then after active duty obligation is competed you could either continue or go to reserve status, you'd have experience, you'd have GI bill benefits and then could work in military hospital.

[FrogKissingNurse]

i am going to get my bsn after i graduate. i have not heard of ancp, can you fill me in?