NROTC or NCP

[eta15]

Hi, i'm currently a college freshman trying to transfer to a BSN program hopefully by this spring or next fall. I'm applying to a few schools but I was wondering if anyone could fill me in on their experiences going through the NROTC nurse option or NCP. Once I pick my school I cant change my decision since you cant go into an NCP program if your school has NROTC. Which seems like a better option?

Thank you!

[oaktown2]

The programs are pretty different. NCP doesn't require anything of you while you are in school other than to maintain a 3.0. NROTC will require you be involved throughout the time you are in the program, so that means time away from your nursing studies. But you end up with a much better understanding of the Navy and you will be working on your PT. In NCP you would need to do PT on your own and everything else that you need you learn you do at ODS. The amount of money you receive would also be different, not sure about NROTC, but with NCP you currently get $10k and then $1k per month that you are in the program (after you take your oath). But you would need to check with a health care recruiter as those can change over time.

As a freshman, it may be hard to know how nursing school will be for you, but I would look at your study habits and how motivated you are at getting things done. My understanding is that it is a lot of work on top of nursing school, but people have done it. Talk to some people in NROTC and see what the experience is like for them. And I believe some people have commented a little in previous posts, so you might want to search here as well. Good luck!