Nursing Students in Military

Samantha79 · Jul 26, 2010

My husband is active duty Navy and is currently working as a recruiter (until March when he goes back to the fleet). It is totally possible to finish NS and then join the military. I know the Navy is always looking for nurses. You might even be able to join before you are finished with NS. Talk to a recuiter, they have programs where they pay you and pay for school while you are active duty, and that's your job, going to school. If you wait until you are graduated I'm not sure there are many options as far as getting money to pay off your loans after the fact. I could be wrong, but I think most programs are to help you pay for school while you are doing it, not after you've completed it. Talk to a recruiter, they'll give you the all info you are looking for. Good luck! :yeah:

*4!#6 · Jul 26, 2010

Thank you very much, I am considering joining the Navy so your advice is helpful

Samantha79 · Jul 26, 2010

PM me and let me know your city and state... we know a lot of recruiters all over the country and could help you find one of the good ones . Also I'll talk to my husband tonight about your situation and see what other programs are out there for you.

Silverdragon102, BSN · Jul 26, 2010

Check out the Government and Military forum

allnurses Guide · Jul 26, 2010

Unless you are specifically going into the Navy Nurse Candidate program do not go into the military until you are done with nursing school! You would have stop school in order to goto basic training/job training etc, and you would have to go in as enlisted member than later apply to switch over to a commissioned officer. You should only be talking to healthcare recruiters not regular recruiters, if anyone mentions enlisting then you are talking to the wrong kind of recruiter.

All military branches and USPHS offer loan repayment/bonuses for new nurses.

Bob_N_VA · Jul 27, 2010

My understanding is that you will need to graduate with a BSN in order to be considered for a commission in one of the services as a Nurse. An associates degree or diploma won't cut it. Nurses are officers and the general requirement is a bachelors degree as a minimum for acceptance.

If you graduate with less than a BSN, you may enlist, but in the Navy for instance, you would probably be looking at going in as a Corpsman (HN rate) and you will not be working at an RN level. Corpsman in the Navy serve all sorts of functions and there is a lot of specialization as you move up in rank. They can work as surgical techs, lab techs, radiological techs as well as performing many of the functions of CNA's and LPN's. They serve as medics with the Marines out in the field. And they can serve as "Doc" on the smaller ships that dont have an MD aboard when they get more time in grade. Think something along the lines of a PA or CNP. Most of the time its going from a Corpsman or "HN" to a registered nurse, not the other way around.

In my class, we do have two active duty people going at night, but neither is in a medical job during the day. A long time ago in a galaxy far far away, I was a Navy officer myself, and I don't think things have changed much since then.

Bob_N_VA · Jul 27, 2010

Here are the required quals from the Navy's own site:

Qualifications

To qualify for Active Duty employment consideration in the Navy Nurse Corps, you must:

Be a U.S. citizen or a foreign citizen currently licensed to practice in the U.S. (see a Medical Officer Recruiter for details)
Be a student or graduate in good standing of a U.S. education program granting a bachelor of science degree and accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
Be licensed to practice in a U.S. state, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico or a U.S. territory (new graduates must obtain a license within one year of beginning Active Duty service)
Be willing to serve a minimum of three years of Active Duty
Be between the ages of 18 and 41
Be in good physical condition and pass a full medical examination

Samantha79 · Jul 27, 2010

The Navy does have a program now called STA-21 (it stands for Seaman to Admiral). So... if you are getting an ADN and want to be an officer and work as an RN this would be the program for you. Here is the link on the program and how it works. My husband is actually submitting for this program (not nursing).

https://www.sta-21.navy.mil/

*4!#6 · Jul 27, 2010

I am in a BSN program and meet all the qualifications so there is no worries there. Also my dad works as a civilian in the recruiting station so we know most of the recruiters. Thanks for the info, I have emailed my local health corps recruiter. I have a previous background in chemistry/biochemistry so I am hoping that the military will help me advance and pay for further education as I am thinking about becoming a CRNA

luvthegsp · Jul 27, 2010

Also my dad works as a civilian in the recruiting station so we know most of the recruiters

Won't matter at all who you know, its up to a selection board..

So... if you are getting an ADN and want to be an officer and work as an RN this would be the program for you

You have to be accepted to a BSN school that has the appropriate NROTC program in order to utilize STA-21. Not just an ADN.

*4!#6 · Jul 28, 2010

I know it's a pretty competitive selection process and won't be based on who I know, but someone was offering to refer me to a recruiter, which is not necessary due to where my dad works :)