No BSN, want to join

dolphins421 · Mar 16, 2014

No, once you get accepted into a BSN program you can start the process for the NCP, which would be your best bet. But i'm pretty sure it has to be a traditional program and not online

inspiredbynavy · Mar 16, 2014

Hey. I am also someone interested in the military and have been doing my research and thought I'd share a little bit of what I've found. I don't know about the Navy but the Army Reserve has the STRAP program which gives tuition assistance to ADN nurses that are currently enrolled in BSN programs.

Undergraduate Health Care Education | goarmy.com

check out the "reserve nurse corps program" part

jfratian, DNP, RN, CRNA · Mar 16, 2014

You won't we able to commission in the navy without a BSN. However, you could enlist now as a corpsmen...an E3 probably. Due to the current fiscal climate, the training programs for moving enlisted medics to commissioned nurses/PAs/NPs are drying up across all branches. Officers are going through involuntary separation right now; they don't need many direct comission nurses to begin with. You're really going to have an uphill battle without even a BSN.

I've heard the Army National Guard has a program to commission ADNs, but I never had any reason to look into it.

I would strongly recommend patience if your goal is to be a navy nurse any time soon. Once you enlist, you probably won't be able to commission as a nurse until after you separate.

Editorial Team / Moderator · Mar 16, 2014

You should contact a healthcare recruiter - not a regular enlisted recruiter, because they don't know about medical specialties. Programs that pay for your BSN are scarce and extremely competitive. The gov/mil is flat broke, and there are plenty of experienced BSN-prepared nurses who want to join, so they aren't motivated or able to spend the money; it doesn't make sense fiscally for them to do so. Even back in 2010 when I had my selection board, there were 400+ applicants with 50-something selected for direct commission, and the numbers of selected RNs has dwindled ever since. Your best bet is to at least start an RN-BSN program and contact a healthcare recruiter. If you enlist, you will NOT be working as a nurse, or possibly as anything even healthcare-related. I encourage you to wait until you have your BSN if you truly want to be a military nurse.

I'm not sure how it works in the Navy, but for Army, they want to see ED RNs with CENs if you want credit for your ED/trauma experience. It's the gold standard. They also didn't care about my years as a paramedic or ER tech, only as an RN; they don't count anything before that. Some branches (maybe Navy?) also don't count anything you did as an ADN, only from BSN onwards. The Army isn't like that, though.

Ciale · Mar 16, 2014

Thank you guys SO much for all the info. That really helps me. I guess patience is my best bet right now. Looks like I'm headed back to school!

jeckrn, BSN, RN · Mar 16, 2014

Even thou the Army Reserve he the strap program for ADN' s to get their BSN they no longer commission ADN' s. Not sure if the enlisted can use it.

Senny.ANP.FNP · Mar 16, 2014

Get your BSN then commission in. Possibly they will still have loan repayment programs. If you are not too old you can also consider coming in through ROTC. Good advice to talk to a Navy Healthcare recruiter first, anything promised HAS to be in writing. I would Not recommend coming in enlisted first, if you really want to be an officer in the military get your BSN, it will be worth it. Be sure to look at all branches as far as programs for advanced degrees/doctorate degrees/NP/CRNA. Even if you have to pay for your BSN the benefits as an officer in the military as well as the ability to get advanced degrees paid for later on will so be worth it. Also look into assignments and promotion rates of the the different branches before fully being sold on one particular branch. You may also want to look into the US Public Health Services Corps as well. I'm an active duty Army Nurse Corps officer, let me know if you have any Army questions. :)