FNP thinking about joining the military

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Hey guys! I'm currently getting my family nurse practitioner, I will be done next December. I'm currently an ER RN with 5 years experience plus a bachelor's degree in public health. I was curious about the pay as an FNP in the Army or Air Force. What it's like going in as an FNP and just whatever info I can gather would be great. Most of the information that I find is becoming a FNP while in the military, not entering in as a nurse practitioner. Which is what I would be doing. I'm not ready to speak with recruiters yet due to not graduating for another plus I don't want them to be calling and bugging me, while I'm trying to get school done. Any advance or info would be greatly appreciated!

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Im in the process of applying to the navy and I'm former air force enlisted. In the air force they require 1 year fnp experience and will start the process around 9 months. How much experience you have as an fnp will determine your entry rank and therefore pay scale. More than likely you'd be looking at entry as an o2 or o3. So a range of 3600 to 4200 a month for base pay. This scale does not include housing or food allowances which vary on where you are stationed and what your family situation is. Typically you can expect an additional grand or more depending. Army and Navy will both take new grads right out of school, but you will likely start as an o1 unless they are willing to give you credit for your nursing experience which is not a guarantee as your job is treated in a bubble unless you were an RN officer before. You may get a better bonus than an RN, but would likely be finding many RNs making more than you and technically outranking you.

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I served as an RN and it is something I am very proud of. I would suggest requesting to shadow an FNP as it is a different world in the military. I encourage everyone to serve... it is the ultimate honor, but know exactly what you are getting into...esp as an FNP...I have several friends who have gone that route

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Hi-

I'm an FNP in the Air Force now, let me know if you have any questions! If you google "military pay chart" (or something similar) you would be able to figure out pay. If you have a DNP (which is what they are looking for now) you would come in as an 0-3 (Capt). There is also Board Certification Pay, which is $500 extra a month. There are also contracts you can sign (certain # years for $$) but I don't know about those since I did HPSP. Seriously though, a recruiter can be an excellent source of information, although I understand your reluctance to do so.

Good luck!

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Once I'm closer to finishing school, I plan on talking to a recruiter. Thanks for the info!!

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If you're thinking about it, you better off talking to a recruiter. They have all the current information. I just got accepted in a family health nurse practitioner BSN to DNP program and I'm alreayd talking to a recuiter about applying for their HPSP sholarship.

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Look into the Health Profession Scholarhip Program (HPSP). https://www.goarmy.com/content/dam/goarmy/downloaded_assets/amedd_rpis/nurse_corps.pdf

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