For those who wanted information about joining the Army Nurse Corp, this is for you.

Hello,
I am an RN, (direct entry MENP but not the NP, just the MS nurse generalist).

The Army has a Health Professions Loan Repayment, (HPLRP) which will pay off a large portion of your school loans. Since my undergraduate degree was a pre-req for my MS entry degree they do count towards my current position and were eligible for repayment.

The Army does hire NPs but, when I was considering waiting until I completed the NP portion, following my MS, I looked more into it. From what I saw, there are far more Nurses than NPs in the Army. It seemed to me that the Army does not really utilize NPs at all but does have a strong Physician Assistant base. This may change.

My direct entry didn't not grant a post-bacc BSN but, was an MS entry, so, if yours does grant a BSN then I'd imagine your previous Bachelor's wouldn't qualify for the HPLRP unless it was a pre-req for the degree, (which since it is an undergraduate degree I do not see how it really could be.)

However, I'd really seek information from the Army Nurse Corps. I think I might be one of the first few MS entry Nurses because my application was passed over at the board twice before being accepted. I was actually told "no" about pursueing my NP prior to entry because I was told that the Army nurse corps was not interested in a new graduate NP who hadn't worked clinically for that hands on experience. Is it different than civilian hospitals that did willingly want an NP? Yes, however I am willing because I do want that hands on clinical experience. However, all that said....I recommend that you look into it.

Gen

Gen,
Thanks for the feedback re: NP with no experience. I want to make sure I'm not wasting money and time in this program. I will talk with a recruiter and then decide if it makes sense to go in upon my BSN in nursing or wait.

Thanks again.

Paul

Does anyone know what the medical requirments are? I was told that if I had ANY previous medical conditions, they would not accept me. However, I do not have anything right now (healthy as a horse, hee hee). I am really interested in pursing this avenue once my finished the BSN program.

I found this link about questions they supposedly ask: http://www.military.com/Recruiting/C...s_med,,00.html I do know that you can get waivers for many things, so if the military is something you are interested in, start talking with a health care recruiter now. A recruiter told me they tend to give more waivers for health care personnel but of course it depends on the condition or past problem. I know I have to give my medical records from my past surgeries to show that it will not impact my performance.

How long until you finish your BSN? Good luck to you!

Tiffany

Here is another link: http://usmilitary.about.com/od/joini...dstandards.htm

Hope it helps! If I find any more information, I'll post it too.

Tiffany

I found this link about questions they supposedly ask. How long until you finish your BSN?
-------
Thanks for the website. That really helps out!!

I will graduate in Dec '09. Still two years away, but I know it will go fast. Thanks again for the site.

http://usmilitary.about.comGreat website. It has just was I needed. Based on it, I will qualify medicaly.

Hi Mike.
I will be leaving for OBC in October and then taking my 66H course in March. I am so very honored to be doing something that I have felt a calling for. It is because of individuals like you that make the rest of us aspire to greatness!

Thanks!
Lori

Hi,
I am entering with my MSN, Ed and quickly made it through the process and was accepted, with the usual hurry up and wait in the beginning. My advice to you would be to talk to a healthcare recruiter. I am pursuing a PhD in Public Health and only my nursing loans will be paid off. I have to wait until my next two residencies are finished so that I can finish my program without worry about attending them if I get deployed. Your recruiter will be able to answer many questions for you, I know that right now there are many different options available, with four different sign on bonuses. I do know that since you have your BSN, you will have to wait a predetermined amount of time for entry into the NP program. It will all depend upon your rank. Also, as far as rank goes, it really depends upon your education and work experience. You mention that you do not have any nursing experience, so chances are you will enter as a 2LT after OBC. I recommend either compiling a resume or CV. Someone had mentioned earlier that a CV is like a resume, I guess in a way it is. However, it does include conferences that you have attended, any CEUs earned, professional organizations that you belong to, etc. It is a longer more detailed list of your accomplishments/achievements throughout your career.

Lori

Well, I just talked to a nurse recruiter yesterday and found out that I would not qualify as the school I am attending for my ADN is not NLN acredited. It is JHACA acredited, but evidently the Nurse Corp holds the NLN in high esteem and only wants recruites that have been to those schools. So now, that means I have to get my BA first. Oh well. I'll be sticking around watching this thread as I continue on my schooling to see what new news pops up. Thanks.

Debbie