military stipend program

Gennaver, MSN · Dec 29, 2006

Hello,
I am a 32 and will be starting a 1 year accelerated BSN program this may. I am very interested in the navy and air force. I am mostly interested in the stipend programs both the navy and air force offer while in school. does anyone know about the acceptance rates of these programs. is there a shortage of nurses in either the navy or air force. Basically any info would be helpful. Just wondering how it works and how many are accepted. also would an accel bsn program be accepted.
Thanks
Steven

Hi Steven,

It may be simpler to state a "one year post bacc BSN" than "accelerated". I only mention this because my program is also a post Bacc RN program, (MS entry).

What I found out when I tried to apply for a student nurse candidate program is that the legislature/senate didn't recognize my MS entry as a student status because it only recognized BSN.

Maybe this bodes well for you.

However, it can take a couple of months to work on your application for the Army and the restrictions for the student candidate bonus and stipend are that you have at a max 2 years towards completion of your BSN but, no less than 6 months! So, if you start now you may be approved in time before you reach your 6 months towards graduation.

My application took only about 8 weeks or so to complete but, had to go before three review boards, (one a month). The first time rejected due to student MS status, and eventually picked up.

My recruiter suggested for me to apply as a senior student but, not for the candidate program with the stipend. Even though I needed the stipend NOW.

So, by going this route, my bonus ended up to be the 10K bonus and the 30K Health Professions Loan Repayment Program, (HPLRP). However, the HPLRP added another 3 years towards my committment. If I went as a student with the stipend the cost for Uncle Sam would've been about 8K in total, go figure.

Good luck!

Gen

MCHnurse · Dec 30, 2006

Hi Steven,

Gen makes a very good point about the monetary aspects of going in as a student versus commissioning after graduation. I never looked into going in as a student, but if Gen's figure is correct, you'd be *much* better off applying to commission after graduation. I am in the process of applying to the Navy and am currently awaiting word on my application. We submitted my application with bonuses very similar to Gen's: $15K sign-on and $30K loan repayment. My commitment is for 5 years.

Since your program is accelerated it is unlikely that you will incur $45K worth of debt related to school. You would probably make out best money-wise if you take the sign-on bonuses versus enrolling in the in-school nurse corps.

I would suggest that you speak to a recruiter now and start working on the application as soon as you begin school in May. As Gen mentioned, the process can take awhile and if you want a guaranteed job upon graduation you need to start early. I began the process in September, finished my packet in November, and it went before the board in December. I'm still waiting to hear back (probably because the holidays slowed things down).

Best of luck in school!

navynurse06 · Dec 30, 2006

In reference to the OP question about shortage, every branch has a shortage of nurses right now! Some are worse than others, but I don't know the excate stats.

I did the Navy's NCP program while I was a SR in nursing school. I had a $10K sign on and $1000/month. I didn't have student loans, so there wasn't a loan pay off option. But there is a loan repayment, but I'm not sure the details of it. And my contract is for 4 active and 4 reserve. But I plan on being a lifer...so I wasn't worried about the commitment.

If you have any other question regarding navy nursing you can PM me.