Navy Nurse Candidate Program

[rockytopRN2b]

I was wondering if there was anyone on here who could give me some info on the Navy's nurse candidate program? I am 34, a nursing student, and married to a career Marine. I think it would be an awesome opportunity to serve our country and also maintain a career through all our PCS moves.

Specifically, I'm curious about what the requirements are to get into the program. I know I'm young enough, am healthy, and have nothing adverse in terms of obtaining a security clearance. Is there anything else that might be disqualifying? What steps are involved in obtaining a seat in the program? Am I also correct in understanding that after graduation, the nurse receives a direct commission and doesn't go to boot camp...just the officer indoctrination school?

I'm going to talk to a recruiter in a few weeks. I just want to make sure I meet at least the basic requirements for getting in before I waste anyone's time. Thanks so much for any info you can share! :)

[deftonez188]

Regarding the online schools, i'm in the process of doing the NNCP as a transition from my current military service and the school i'm going to is a reputable accredited university however the RN to BSN is online. It doesn't matter at least to the Navy is the program is online, in fact where I live it's a challenge to find an RN to BSN program that is in class.

CCNE or NLN accreditation is the way to go. I still have to attend my regular general education classes in person, but the online ones not so much.

[carolinapooh, BSN, RN]

Tricare for reservists is an option, now for several years, and has a small (relatively) cost to gain tri care benefits YEAR ROUND.

Out-of-Pocket Costs

TRICARE Reserve Select premium rates are established annually on an calendar year basis. You are required to pay the monthly premiums if you decide to enroll in TRICARE Reserve Select. The 2010 monthly premiums are:

• TRS Member-Only coverage: $49.62 per month.
  
• TRS Member-and-Family coverage: $197.65 per month.
  

If you are a reservist and need health care for a family - it's a good deal.

YOU AREN'T KIDDING!!! I used to pay $300 a month for CRAPPY health care coverage through my employer. That's a good deal and I'm glad to see they offer that now. Thanks for pointing that out!

[just_cause, BSN, RN]

Reserve Affairs - Tricare Reserve Component Points of Contact

Well.. sounds like you should really happy rather then upset This would be the first thing I've ever taught carolina... tricare select for the 'reservist' has been around since 05 with the graham-clinton amendment.

[just_cause, BSN, RN]

deftonez, in your case it may not matter - but that is only because your school might be on an approved list. Anyone reading or interested in a candidate program or accession should be interested as most branches have 'lists' of approved programs for online and should go through the motion of checking, and knowing their program is eligible / sufficient. Here is what army reg says:

b. The Army will consider online degrees for

both RA and AR officer accessions as long as they are accredited programs. NOTE: An applicant who is enrolled in an online degree program is ineligible to apply if enrolled in a health care degree program that is author- ized under the HPSP .

c. All online degrees must be reviewed by the appropriate PM and Health Services Direc- torate, Operations Division, for approval prior to submission of the applicant’s application. All online degree transcripts must be sent to Health Services Directorate, Operations Division, for review as soon as possible prior to initiation of the application for a thorough review and deter- mination of eligibility or noneligibility.

d. Online degrees will not be accepted for qualifying degrees.

e. For all AN applicants, the following agen- cies are recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) (Welcome to AACN) or National League for Nursing Accrediting Com- mission (NLNAC) (NLNAC - National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission).

[carolinapooh, BSN, RN]

Reserve Affairs - Tricare Reserve Component Points of Contact

Well.. sounds like you should really happy rather then upset This would be the first thing I've ever taught carolina... tricare select for the 'reservist' has been around since 05 with the graham-clinton amendment.

Hey - I've always got a lot to learn....I can't believe that even with all the folks I know who are in the Reserves, and with all the digging I've done, I've never found that nor heard about it.

IMHO, with the heavy ops tempo that the Reservists now have, and with the way the regular active duty component relies on them, even by 2005 that was long overdue.

My husband just commented (I'd forgotten) that I myself talked to a Navy Reserve recruiter (I never talked to an AFR recruiter for some reason), back before I'd considered active duty, and this was never mentioned this to me.