Navy Nursing: Anyone have experience with the NCP?

PalmHarborMom · Sep 27, 2012

I am in the process of getting my package ready for NCP. My GPA is 3.9 and I'm prior military. The medical recruiter hasn't told me a minimum GPA but the program is competitive. So the higher the GPA the better. He did say that the lowest for NCP that he has seen go in was a 3.3 GPA. But that is what he has seen.

There was a young man that came into the office once while I was meeting with my recruiter. He was trying to get into a different medical program but had a 2.6 GPA. He was informed that he needed to get his GPA up. So I'm assuming that below a 3.0 would probably be a definite no-no.

HM2Doc · Oct 24, 2012

Palmharbormom: I also had a 3.9 GPA when I applied (applied with 3.99 after first two years of college plus first semester in BSN program). I got accepted this past July. If you meet all the other requirements you will most likely get picked up too. Good luck.

Oh yeah, I was prior military as well (Hospital Corpsman). I'm pretty sure that helps out a lot. Work your prior service into your motivational statement.

HM2Doc · Oct 24, 2012

For everyone who is asking about GPA:

The minimum requirement is a 3.0 GPA. If you have less than that, it will probably be a waste of time applying...if they even let you apply at all. I would guess that a competitive GPA for this program would be a 3.5 or higher. That's just a guess, though. As always, for the most accurate answers to NCP questions you should consult a recruiter. Good luck!

CSUnursegirl2b · Oct 24, 2012

What happens if you fall below a 3.0 GPA during the program? Do you get removed from the program entirely or are you required to go enlisted? I read the application someone on the Internet but was confused by what they meant about keeping the GPA.

PalmHarborMom · Oct 24, 2012

CSUnursegirl2b- It is my understanding that part of the contract that you would sign includes a requirement to maintain at least a 3.0 GPA after being accepted. So even after you are accepted you will be expected to do well in school. You could be kicked out of the program and possibly be required to pay back any money that you have received as part of being in the program. Going enlisted with a BSN would mean that you will NOT work as an RN but rather a Hospital Corpsman.

CSUnursegirl2b · Oct 26, 2012

Thanks! I was also wondering about the character references. I have met with my recruiter and she told me to start gathering references. However, she didn't give me much of a guideline or who to use & what they should write the reference about. Does anyone have any advice on who to use as references? I plan on getting two of my nursing professors (although I feel like they really don't know me that well yet). Should I get references from my past employers (over two years since I've worked with them)? Also, any tips on what they should focus their letters on would be appreciated!

Thanks for all the help. This forum is amazing for getting questions answered :)

kjm2430 · Dec 7, 2012

Hello,

I just spoke to a Navy Recruiter for the Indiana area, about the Nurse Candidate Program and he said the earliest that I could apply was August. I have been reading the threads about the NCP and I see people are applying in Dec. and Feb. Can anyone explain the difference in information that I have received.

PalmHarborMom · Dec 8, 2012

You do have to already be accepted into a BSN program. But as soon as you are, you may begin the application process. I'm assuming that due to the competitive nature of getting into a program that most recruiters will not start the process until a person is accepted. If that is not the problem, it is my understanding that the boards meet monthly until all available slots are filled for the fiscal year. So it changes year to year when the boards stop meeting.

Once the process starts, it takes awhile to get everything together. Aside from professional references, personal references and your life history, you also need to get a physical, finger prints, etc. It took me a few months to get everything together. Currently, I am waiting to hear something.

Good luck!

kjm2430 · Dec 9, 2012

Thank you! Your response was in line with what I was thinking. Good luck in your process as well!

onemoreday, BSN, RN · Jan 21, 2013

I am speaking to a recruiter now about the NCP. I am not in SON yet- I still have a lot of pre-reqs to take, and I am thinking I'll be set to apply for Spring semester 2014.

I know I am talking to him super early, but I didn't know much anything about what the Navy offered, I just saw his flyer for the NCP up on the university adviser's office.

He said that was actually good and he liked my initiative. His words: "It's better to be talking too early than too late. This is partly because we need to use your projected graduation date, but you might not get in the first time you apply to SON. If you're going to graduate soon and there's no slots left, you have to wait or do DA." (here at UNLV if you don't make it the first time you apply, you can try again- they admit three times a year).

The recruiter gave me the packet to start looking over, reading, and filling out. Since it IS such a process (and I've moved a lot in the last years, so filling out where I've lived and tracking down who I've worked for takes that much longer), he wants me to start putting it together now- just without putting dates on anything- and as soon as I get my UNLV SON acceptance letter, we'll submit my application.

I remember he also said the minimum GPA is 3.0 and competitive is 3.5 or more. I have a 3.18 from my previous bachelor's in biology and a slightly higher average GPA (about a 3.3) from a few classes I took after my first bachelor's but I'll be working very hard to bring this up.

HM2Doc · Jan 22, 2013

Definitely bring that GPA up....if not for the NCP, then for admission into nursing school. Nursing school was tough getting into, at least where I'm at (3.77 was the average gpa just to be selected for an interview).

When you apply to for a spot in the NCP you'll have to submit a package, and your GPA will be a part of that package. The board will VERY likely not be comfortable giving you a seat with a 3.1 GPA because they may view you as a risk. I say this because you have to keep your GPA above a 3.0 at all times while in the program or it creates all sorts of problems and you'll get put on probation. Plus, nursing school is a huge pain in the rear, so your GPA is going to likely fall lower than it was before you started. I started nursing school with a 4.0 and now my nursing GPA is a 3.5 (3.8 overall). EVERYONES GPA falls.

cardinal14 · Jan 22, 2013

I had a poor experience with Navy Nursing. I was an ACLS instructor and worked 6 years as a civilian RN in a level 1 trauma ICU and was usually charge nurse. Had done 4 years enlisted in the Navy many years before and went back in to get 16 more and retire. My goals on entry were to make 05, complete my APRN or CRNA. Recruiter said all easily do-able with my experience and grades. But, when I got to my duty station and reported in, I was told that A) Only Navy ICU prepared nurses work in ICU. B) Only Navy prepared ACLS instructors were recognized and allowed to teach and these people must be 0-4 and above. C) I had to get the chain's permission to enter into an advanced program and they would not agree to it until I was at least an 0-3. D) I would "start" my Navy nursing career on the general med/surg unit like a nurse with 0 experience. So for me it was a step backward career wise. Your life is not your own in the Navy Nurse Corps and I got the distinct impression that the NNC was always trying to impress everyone with the way they controlled their nurses more than attempting to foster an atmosphere of cooperation and collegiality. I head more than one 03-04 say "You got to squash a few ensigns to get up the ladder!" (Luckily, I came in as an 0-2 but even so had several major battles-mostly about standards of care and HIPPA- with mid-rank officers.) The NNC drop out rate is horrendous with over 40% leaving each year, mainly due to backstabbing and in-fighting. Of the 12 junior officers who arrived with me or within 3 months of me, none stayed in the NNC after 4 years. And, the pay is comparably low. I also found it to be very, very cliqish. The blacks took care of the blacks, the hispanics took care of the hispanics, the philippeanos took care of the philippeanos, the gays took care of the gays, and so it was sort of like jail. You had to join a group to survive and the bigotry went all the way up the chain. I also saw nurses who were blatently incompetant, injuring patient even, getting promoted and others who were bright shinning stars get knocked down until they left. I saw nurses grossly overweight get passed in PRT and others who scored high but were unpopular get low evaluation. Our own CO, an 0-6, was morbidly obease. Never saw him do a single push up. I can count on one hand the NNC officers that truly lived up to the values of Honor, Courage, Commitment and there were a few really good nurses. I debated for months before leaving the NNC. By then I had 8 years in. I got out, got my CRNA, (VA paid), and am a much happier person and better AP nurse with more freedom. What I would tell people about the NNC? If you are a backstabbing, vindictive, undercutting individual who has no qualms about devoting most of your waking hours to the NNC and squashing others to get ahead and don't mind starting your nursing career in that type of environment, then go for it.