What are my options?

[chloe247]

Hello,

I am in a somewhat difficult situation. It's about time that I start pursuing a career in nursing but I don't seem to have many, if any, options. I am active duty in the military, I work 9-5 Mon - Fri, and I live in Alamogordo, NM (the middle of nowhere with one school). With my job in the military, I will be stuck here for years so i've been racking my brain trying to come up with a way I can still become a nurse.

Let me know if this is a crazy idea: I would start off by getting my EMT basic certification online and then i'd find another online program to become a certified paramedic. I have found programs where the tuition includes flying out to the location for hands on training.

Next, I would apply to Excelsior and hopefully be accepted. It is the only online paramedic - adn program I could find.

From there, I would find an online adn - bsn program. I have completed my B.S. degree and all prerequisites but I might have to retake some classes that were taken in 2010.

Finally, I would apply for a direct commission as a nurse in the military.

This seems pretty crazy, time consuming, and costly so I am nervous and excited about the whole thing. Any advice? Thank you in advance for your time!

[Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN]

Oh wait, I mixed up Excelsior with Everest. My other advice stands, though. Wishing you the best!

[Lunah, MSN, RN]

They've already got a bachelor's, so I think they'd just be directed to OCS/OTS. Now that I think about it, they might not be eligible for the GI bill either, if they accepted student loan repayment.

No, anyone with more than 90 days of service can qualify for the Post-911 GI Bill. But one needs 36 months of service to qualify for 100%, and the time that one is obligated by the student loan repayment doesn't count toward the 36 months. Clear as mud, right? :) It's here on the VA website: https://gibill.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/955/~/student-loan-repayment-%26-the-post-9%2F11-gi-bill

Edited to add: I am currently using my Montgomery GI Bill, and while it can be a pain to get it started, once it starts paying, it's very easy to use.

[NurseGirl525, ASN, RN]

From what I have seen, there are very few states that accept Excelisor credits. It's because of the absence of the clinical component. I know there are several people on here who are nurses that made it through that program, and congrats on that. But I will stand by my opinion that it is an extremely expensive, difficult route to take and the state the OP lives in may not recognize her degree which makes it a waste of money.

She wants to get her EMT certification without any hands on experience and translate those clinical hours into the RN program hours. That does not equal in any, shape, or form. I'm sure that's why many states do not accept those hours.

For those that have graduated and are safe, practicing nurses, that is awesome, but it's not at all a practical way to go. I just feel much more investigation and planning needs to take place.

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

From what I have seen, there are very few states that accept Excelisor credits. It's because of the absence of the clinical component. I know there are several people on here who are nurses that made it through that program, and congrats on that. But I will stand by my opinion that it is an extremely expensive, difficult route to take and the state the OP lives in may not recognize her degree which makes it a waste of money.

She wants to get her EMT certification without any hands on experience and translate those clinical hours into the RN program hours. That does not equal in any, shape, or form. I'm sure that's why many states do not accept those hours.

For those that have graduated and are safe, practicing nurses, that is awesome, but it's not at all a practical way to go. I just feel much more investigation and planning needs to take place.

There is only one state that will my accept Excelsior grads under any circumstance: California

[golson]

No, anyone with more than 90 days of service can qualify for the Post-911 GI Bill. But one needs 36 months of service to qualify for 100%, and the time that one is obligated by the student loan repayment doesn't count toward the 36 months. Clear as mud, right? :) It's here on the VA website: https://gibill.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/955/~/student-loan-repayment-%26-the-post-9%2F11-gi-bill

Edited to add: I am currently using my Montgomery GI Bill, and while it can be a pain to get it started, once it starts paying, it's very easy to use.

I'm using my post 9-11 GI bill and it is a piece of cake to use. They even have an advisor set aside specifically for vets at the cc I go to.

[SopranoKris, MSN, RN, NP]

Do not rely on Excelsior. There are states that will not grant you an RN license if they are your nursing program, even if you passed NCLEX and got licensed in a state that accepts them. And they cost a lot.

I know you want to feel as if you are making progress towards your goal of being an RN, but this is not an effective way to think about it. EMS is not on the same career ladder; nursing is its own thing.

Try this: save as much money as you can against the time when you can move out of Alamagordo and enroll in a nursing program with little to no debt. You'll reach your endpoint at about the same time without wasting money on certification you can't apply to nursing, and have far less debt when you start practice. And if you save enough, you won't have to work while you're in the nursing program, a huge plus that allows you to study and sleep now and then. :)

Remember my friend who applied to med school at 32. People said, "You'll be 40 by the time you finish." She said, "I'll be 40 anyway." Don't be afraid to wait and prepare if it puts you in a better place.

Good luck.

I cannot second this advice enough. GrnTea knows what she's talking about and it would be wise to heed her words.

Something interesting in your choice of phrase "it's time I start pursuing a career in nursing". Is there some time frame that exists? No, there is not. Being realistic does not mean you have to stifle your dreams. It just means that you have to work within the confines of your current situation.

The best option out of those given so far seems to be to wait to finish your enlistment and then use the GI Bill to go to nursing school. If you have a prior degree and all your pre-reqs done, an accelerated program usually takes 18 months. You'll not only have your RN, you could have your BSN to boot. And from an accredited university where no one is going to question your credentials.

This will actually save you time & money in the long run. Think about it.

[saradarlin]

I was in the army as a 92G we had a couple of members who were allowed a leave of absence to attend school full time I think you should try talking with your chain of command again as well a recruiter in the service because they might have more of an idea how to get you to nursing because I believe they have a program similar to the green to gold program for nurses

[Lunah, MSN, RN]

I'm using my post 9-11 GI bill and it is a piece of cake to use. They even have an advisor set aside specifically for vets at the cc I go to.

My only delay was waiting 2 months for the Army to confirm to the VA that I didn't decline the Montgomery GI Bill when I commissioned. Once that was done, it was easy!

My school also has a military advising section, they are great. Another benefit!

[Lunah, MSN, RN]

I don't qualify for AECP because I already have a B.S. degree

Who told you that? The AECP FAQ says otherwise: United States Army Recruiting Command (USAREC) - click on the FAQ.

You probably won't make the application deadline this year (1 July), but you could work on it for next year.

[RNStacey]

You will be able to attend nursing school in Alamogordo. Classes will be via teleconference with main campus. Clinicals will be done locally. This is a BSN program.