Navy Nurse Q's!

[misscurls]

Hi everyone. I am keeping my options open and was wondering if I could get some more information on the process of being a Navy Nurse. I will be a Junior this fall and have everything ready to transfer into a BSN program. So a few questions...

1) Would I join the Navy, they put me through nursing school and then I work for them for a minimum of 3 years, etc once I attain my BSN?

2) Would I have to go through any intense training-like their 7 week program in Illinois?

Any other advice is greatly appreciated. I at a loss for how this entire process goes.

[jfratian, DNP, RN, CRNA]

So, since you already have 2 years done, I would recommend waiting until close to graduation to apply. It sounds like you haven't started applying (a process that takes at least 6 months). Programs like ROTC, and others that you start before graduation, only pay for school that is completed after you're accepted. Loans that you have already incurred are your problem.

I know the AF has retroactive loan repayment that would cover all loans incurred over all 4 years (up to 40K). You wouldn't be able to use it if you took an ROTC scholarship, etc.

Bottom line: contact a healthcare recruiter for the branch(es) you want to join right now to gauge your options.

[dingus]

Can you join ROTC as a ADN to BSN transfer student and forgo the scholarship in favor of loan repayments after serving the initial four or required number of years (not sure if same for all 3 branches with medical divisions)?

[jfratian, DNP, RN, CRNA]

I'm not familiar with the Navy. In general, there are plenty of non-scholarship ROTC students. I currently work with one. You have the benefit of a guaranteed commission (very likely active duty in the AF nurse corps). I don't know if it will still be available when you join, but she did take the retroactive loan repayment after completing 4 years of non-scholarship ROTC.