RN-BSN Online For Air Force or Navy?

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Does anyone here know if a BSN awarded from an online RN-BSN program like Chamberlain or is acceptable to the Air Force or Navy? I can't find the answer anywhere so far after looking for weeks. I called and e-mailed the local AF health care recruiters and still do not have any more information. The reason I am concerned is that I read this in a thread from 2010 and I haven't been able to find anything else about it anywhere:

"In preparing myself for entry into Army nursing, I found out that they do not accept ANY online RN-BSN programs (neither do Air Force or Navy)- only programs that have onsite clinicals with clinical instructors affiliated (paid by) the school."

I was planning to do an online RN-BSN program asap while working full-time so that I could apply to the AF and/or Navy. Now I am concerned that it might prevent me from qualifying and that is the whole point of my trying to attain my BSN sooner rather than later.

Thank you so, so much for any assistance in this matter!

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Specializes in ER, ICU.

I got my nursing degree from Excelsior and I was commissioned into the Air Force last year. So I would say it is not true.

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Thank you so much for responding! That is exactly what I was hoping to find out. I'd contacted the healthcare recruiter going on 10 days ago about this and have e-mailed and left voice mail both, but haven't heard anything still as of this moment. I didn't want to pester them, but I was hoping to start asap at the same time so I really appreciate it. Thanks again!

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I go through University of Phoenix and actually have a few Active Duty AF Nurses in my classes getting their MSN. So I would say as long as its an accredited program, it doesn't really matter.

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Specializes in EMT, ER, Homehealth, OR.

If the program has the accredition all the services will accept it. Check the services websites to see which accredition they accept.

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Specializes in EMT, ER, Homehealth, OR.

If the program has the accredition all the services will accept it. Check the services websites to see which accredition they accept.

I did a RN-BSN which did not have any clinicals and I am an Army Nurse so not sure where you got your information from.

One thing that you are getting the confusing info about is how you are assessed. If you already have experience once you obtain your BSN you will end up being direct commissioned vs. one of the other programs for nurse who are new grads.

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I am pursuing my RN-BSN through Chamberlain in hopes to be commissioned into AF NC. My hub is military and I have worked with military nurses at the facility here as an LPN. Also spoke to a recruiter and any school that is accredited through CCNE and/or NLNAC is accepted by all branches, period. I know of active duty nurses that went through U of Phoenix, Chamberlain, Excelsior, etc.

Jeckrn is correct about going in as a new grad BSN or having experience under your belt. If you work as an ADN while obtaining your BSN...that experience DOES count and you will not have to go in as a new grad and do NTP. This is what I'm aiming for. Good luck to you!

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I just wanted to say thank you! I was very happy to be able to talk to an AF health recruiter today and it sounds like a school that is accredited with a brick-and-mortar location might be preferable to somewhere that is only online like UP if everything else is equal, but that they would all be okay like you guys said as long as the accreditation is good. My phone disconnected when the Navy called (ARGH) and I couldn't get them back, but I will keep trying.

I think I've narrowed my choices down to University of Texas Arlington, University of Wyoming, or Ohio University. Thank you all again- this forum is the best!

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Sorry, me again. I just wanted to ask if there is a go-around to someone else if the local health profession recruiter isn't working out? Air Force has been great.. unfortunately I haven't had the same experience with the Navy so far. Three or four different people screened me over a few days before telling me I was a qualified candidate. All of that was no problem- totally understand that they probably get a lot of inquiries from people that are not qualified. I would be glad to tell everyone in the Navy my education, GPA, height/weight, health, etc. if it would help me get answers to my questions.

That said, the issue is that when I finally made contact with the health professions recruiter, it was all but said that the quota was met for this go-round and there seemed to be a distinct lack of interest on the other end of the phone. There isn't much I can do about that, but I still wanted to ask a few questions since I finally had someone on the phone that should have the answers. However, I was told just to e-mail the questions instead. I sent them immediately of course. Its been days now (and going on two weeks since the whole thing started) and no call or e-mail back with any answers. I did get an e-mail with a generic questionnaire of things I've already shared on the phone all of those times. I filled it out immediately and sent it back though and then followed up again afterwards, but no luck. I did get a really gorgeous nurse recruitment brochure in the mail, but I am pretty sure that was because I went through the Navy website initially.

So, what (if anything) is there to do when the recruiter seems to have no interest/time/whatever to communicate? Or is that just a sign that I should plan to rabidly pursue Air Force?

Thanks so much- this forum is the best!

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I talked at a NAVY recruiter as well (noticed I said at, not with). They are so full with nurses that they are wanting 90 days of experience after your BSN before they even want to start paperwork. I got such flat responses I didn't bother and went after the AF. And I got my commission.

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Thanks so much and congrats on your commission!!!!! Also, you hit the nail on the head with your communication description.. at, not with. I did talk to someone yesterday with the Navy again yesterday afternoon and it was a little bit better, but not by much. They told me the soonest I could probably get in was 2014 regardless of program (NCP or direct). I did attempt to ask questions about the general timeline and such for the process, but the response was: "I don't know.. I'm not an officer, I just recruit them." :)

The current plan is to focus on AF from here on out. My family has historically chosen AF to serve and my enlisted and reserve friends are very encouraging as well- they love AF whole-heartedly. Thanks again!

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You actually might have better luck with asking your questions here - if they are ones that could be answered based on others experiences. I am in the NCP and found that my recruiter was great - when he felt that he had something to tell me. If I wanted to know something, well, it was hit or miss. But I doubt people are going to be that interested if they can't do anything with you, of course that doesn't mean that you don't still have questions and you will want to be ready to act on whatever you choose as soon as things become available again. Good luck!

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