Need advice regarding Mavy Nurse Candidate Program

Editorial Team / Moderator · Jul 4, 2016

Hi! I'm going into my Junior year of nursing school. I've been thinking about my future and am curious about the nurse candidate program. I know it's super competitive and my GPA is only a 3.0 which is the minimum requirement. Am I screwed or should I still trying to apply? What else do they look at? I've been an EMT for 3 years and I know that's not the most exciting experience in regards to nursing will it help at all? Any advice is welcomed! Thanks!

3.0 is the minimum, but not necessarily competitive with the rest of the applicants, which is what I think you're alluding to there. But if you don't ask, the answer will always be no, right? :) And don't be so quick to dismiss your EMT experience, it shows dedication and service. Your best bet is to contact a healthcare recruiter ASAP.

Chris6991 · Jul 5, 2016

There's different recruiters!? That's great news! I went to the local recruiter and they have no answers for me and just keep suggesting I enlist now, take a year off of college, and join the reserves. How do I find a healthcare recruiter? What can I do to enhance my application?

Editorial Team / Moderator · Jul 5, 2016

Oh geez, don't listen to those enlisted recruiters! Lol. There is information here: https://allnurses.com/government-military-nursing/military-nursing-885815.html

And here: Locate a US Navy Recruiter & Recruiting Office : Navy.com

Those enlisted recruiters will say anything to get you to sign up.

Chris6991 · Jul 5, 2016

I've come to notice this! Every time I asked about nursing, they would ellude that I can't be an officer until I graduate. So enlist now. What's the trick to getting them to stop calling? I appreciate the links a lot!

Editorial Team / Moderator · Jul 5, 2016

Lol. Tell them you are speaking with a healthcare recruiter, or stop taking their calls. :) And if they told you it's easy to go from enlisted to officer, that's not true.

Chris6991 · Jul 5, 2016

That's exactly what they said! They said it's hard to become an officer right out of school and that my best bet is to enlist now, prove myself, and then it will be a lot easier to become an officer.

jfratian, DNP, RN, CRNA · Jul 8, 2016

It is definitely not easy. I will say that a significant number of military nurses were enlisted at one time. I don't know exact numbers, but it seems to be at least 1/3 in my estimation. Some of them were in totally unrelated fields or had a break in service (they were infantry for 4 years a decade ago). All 3 branches have some kind of enlisted to nurse program, but it is highly competitive and only available to those with a minimum amount of time served (usually at least 2-3 years) and at least 2 years of time spent on one's base (called time on station). Almost anyone I've ever seen do the enlisted to commission route was at least an E-5 with 6 years of service.

Main point is this: enlisting is not an easy way to commission. If anything it is a more drawn-out, complicated way to commission.

deftonez188 · Jul 8, 2016

That's exactly what they said! They said it's hard to become an officer right out of school and that my best bet is to enlist now, prove myself, and then it will be a lot easier to become an officer.

Having been both enlisted, and currently a Navy officer - do not enlist if you are going to soon be a practicing RN. That's bananas.

If you want to join the NCP, as I did, you'd best straighten out your grades. I know school is tough, but so is your competition who average much higher GPA's. Best of luck.

chely21 · Jul 9, 2016

Hi, Chris6991

I'm sorry but 3.0 GPA is going to be almost impossible to get accepted it to the Navy Nurse Candidate Program. I'm currently applying to the program with greater than 3.8 GPA. I know a few people who are applying and they also have a 3.7 and above GPA. I heard that 3.6 is the average GPA of people who get accepted it.