Navy Nursing School?

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Hello, I am intersted in becoming a nurse and am trying to figure what the best option for schooling is.

I have read a lot about the navy paying you back for your school after you graduate and have a BSN.

However, I am wondering if there is any way to have the navy or any other branch of the military train you to be an RN?

Or...if you join the navy...will they pay for you to go to school rather than paying you back after you graduate?

I am just trying to avoid the 2.5 year wait to get into nursing school and the cost of tuition.

Thanks

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There is not a 'sure' thing of enlisting and becoming an RN.

In the army enlisted soldiers can apply to an enlisted-to-commissioned RN college scholarship...but this requires you to fulfill your initial obligation, application cycle is annually, etc etc.

To be sure you want / need to commission into a branches nurse corp with your BSN.

My recommendation is move to somewhere in the country where you don't have a 2.5 year wait.

Example: I just finished pre-reqs... applied SEP and am accepted to a spring start program - so there are options available to expedite the process while still being sure you are able to enter the military and be a nurse.

What part of country are you limited or looking at? Have you finished pre-reqs?

best of luck!!

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just_cause,

Thank you so much for your help. I am in the phoenix arizona area and unfortunately I can't move anywhere due to my wife. I still have a year of pre reqs (part time) and then a year and a half wait to get into the local community college program.

I could go to a private college right away but the cost is about $35k more just for an associates and then I would be very limited to where I could get my bsn and msn which i will do.

So I'm kind of stuck in waiting and was looking for a way to get around that.

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The only comment I have - is look at the time/cost of getting your associates now via the more expensive route... and the amount of money you would start earning more as an RN compared to your current income, maybe it's beneficial. Also if you get your ADN you could take an online ADN to BSN program - or look at taking a program at a hospital as some hospitals have on 'campus' ADN-to-BSN programs so this might actually be beneficial. Side note is before doing that route -you'd have to verify that your online program would be accepted by the Navy.. they have some more strignent requirements with the online programs.

Now, if you are open to the Army, they are the only branch which allows a commission - in the reserves. If you commission into the reserves with an ADN... you can continue up through 1st Liutenant 02 without a BSN. BUT they offer an ADN to BSN (or MSN) program which has a nice monthly stipend. I'd take a look at the ADN and army reserves, which could support you through a BSN - if you are open to other services.

best of luck,

v/r

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