PMHNPs in military - what was your experience like?

jfratian, DNP, RN, CRNA · Sep 4, 2015

You need to be looking at DNP programs only if the military interests you. They are moving away from MSN NPs. I doubt you'll be eligible to apply with only an MSN by the time you graduate. I know that you've heard that line before in the civilian sector, but it is actually true in the military.

Birthday_Girl · Sep 5, 2015

Hi everyone, I've been searching through/lurking in these forums for a while now but I finally signed up and this is my first post. There seem to be a lot of really helpful and wise people so it's a great pleasure to be here.
Anyway, my question is for all of you PMHNPs who have worked in the military. I am not yet a PMHNP but I have been applying to direct entry MSN programs (my bachelor's was in psychology) and am seriously considering the HPSP scholarship. I have a great desire to serve and would be honored to be able to take care of our military, especially in the mental health field. Even if I don't get the scholarship I will probably try to work in the military anyway.
So, I would like to know what your experience working in the military was like. Were most of your patients soldiers? Their families? Did you get to do any sort of counseling/therapy for conditions like PTSD? What kinds of things did you do on a daily basis?

We are on the same path! I am also applying to direct entry MSN and am considering the HPSP scholarship. What school, if you don't mind my asking? The information below doesn't address the questions you asked (sorry) but it may be helpful!

I've talked to Army Nursing recruiters, and they are only considering those who have a BSN for the HPSP. The expectation is that the person applying has some nursing experience prior to entering the graduate program.

The Navy does not have a HPSP for nursing.

The Air Force seems to permit direct entry MSN programs (haven't talked to a recruiter; just based on internet research).

As for programs, I am applying to the Seattle University APNI. Beginning in 2017, their program will be switching to a DNP. I'm applying for the class of 2016, so I would be grandfathered and can choose to go an extra year to become a DNP. With SU, I know they are hoping for more applicants in PMHNPs and Adult-Gerontology so they may be a good program to consider. The only downside is that their PMHNP program is 3 years versus other programs which seem to be 2.5.

Hope that helps!

B_rac777 · Sep 6, 2015

You need to be looking at DNP programs only if the military interests you. They are moving away from MSN NPs. I doubt you'll be eligible to apply with only an MSN by the time you graduate. I know that you've heard that line before in the civilian sector, but it is actually true in the military.

I have to say I disagree with this statement. While a DNP would make you more competitive and likely to be selected. DNP is not a requirement, MSN isn't even a requirement. Straight from the Air Force website:

"Minimum Education Requirement:

bachelor's or master's degree

in nursing from a school accredited by the NLN or CCNE"

The most important thing is that you have the ANCC license. So choose a good school that has a high board pass rate. Once you are licensed and practicing you can always go back for your DNP.

jfratian, DNP, RN, CRNA · Sep 8, 2015

Those are the requirements for getting into the nurse corps. That doesn't mean you'll be an NP. Also, that website is woefully outdated. It hasn't changed since I first started looking at military nursing in 2010.

I never said you couldn't apply today; I said it was likely that the requirements would be more stringent in the future. My intent was to emphasize that the military is getting extremely competitive; far more so that your typical civilian hospital. Degrees are easy screening tools. Why put yourself at a disadvantage?

I get AFIT call for candidate emails. The Air Force won't pay for NP and CRNA programs that don't result in a DNP. That means a large portion of new practitioners in the AF have DNPs (excluding the small number of new grads still being direct-comissed). Good luck ever promoting when competing against them.

Take it from a current active duty AF nurse: get a DNP if you want to practice in the Air Force any role that involves prescriptive authority.

jlld789 · Sep 8, 2015

We are on the same path! I am also applying to direct entry MSN and am considering the HPSP scholarship. What school, if you don't mind my asking? The information below doesn't address the questions you asked (sorry) but it may be helpful!
I've talked to Army Nursing recruiters, and they are only considering those who have a BSN for the HPSP. The expectation is that the person applying has some nursing experience prior to entering the graduate program.
The Navy does not have a HPSP for nursing.
The Air Force seems to permit direct entry MSN programs (haven't talked to a recruiter; just based on internet research).
As for programs, I am applying to the Seattle University APNI. Beginning in 2017, their program will be switching to a DNP. I'm applying for the class of 2016, so I would be grandfathered and can choose to go an extra year to become a DNP. With SU, I know they are hoping for more applicants in PMHNPs and Adult-Gerontology so they may be a good program to consider. The only downside is that their PMHNP program is 3 years versus other programs which seem to be 2.5.
Hope that helps!

Thanks for all the replies so far.

Birthday_Girl, I've actually applied to Seattle University's APNI too! :) But I'm not sure HPSP would cover it. I've been talking to recruiters and the Navy has HPSP for Nurse Practitioners just like the Air Force does, but as far as I know they will only cover programs that are up to 24 months long. As you said, the direct entry PMHNP program at Seattle University is around 36 months. So if I do get accepted, I think I will just apply for HPSP after the first year, and maybe that would work out.

I'm not really sure about the Air Force, but I think their HPSP scholarship for direct entry NPs is only for up to 24 months too. I don't know of any 24 month direct entry MSN programs for PMHNP, but if anyone does, let me know.

Birthday_Girl · Sep 9, 2015

Thanks for all the replies so far.
Birthday_Girl, I've actually applied to Seattle University's APNI too! :) But I'm not sure HPSP would cover it. I've been talking to recruiters and the Navy has HPSP for Nurse Practitioners just like the Air Force does, but as far as I know they will only cover programs that are up to 24 months long. As you said, the direct entry PMHNP program at Seattle University is around 36 months. So if I do get accepted, I think I will just apply for HPSP after the first year, and maybe that would work out.
I'm not really sure about the Air Force, but I think their HPSP scholarship for direct entry NPs is only for up to 24 months too. I don't know of any 24 month direct entry MSN programs for PMHNP, but if anyone does, let me know.

I've seen some programs at 2.5 years (Penn) but I think it's the amount of clinical hours that push it to 3 years. Thus, I think most programs will be between 2.5 to 3 years.

Just to confirm, the Navy has the HPSP scholarship? I am really happy if that is the case. I have always wanted to join the Navy, but when I looked over their website, they didn't list the HPSP for nursing. Only medical or dental.

Here's the website where I found the info. It may be outdated but what you described sounds like the HSCP (the two year limit)?

Postgraduate Opportunities Available in the Navy : Navy.com

jlld789 · Sep 15, 2015

I've seen some programs at 2.5 years (Penn) but I think it's the amount of clinical hours that push it to 3 years. Thus, I think most programs will be between 2.5 to 3 years.
Just to confirm, the Navy has the HPSP scholarship? I am really happy if that is the case. I have always wanted to join the Navy, but when I looked over their website, they didn't list the HPSP for nursing. Only medical or dental.
Here's the website where I found the info. It may be outdated but what you described sounds like the HSCP (the two year limit)?
Postgraduate Opportunities Available in the Navy : Navy.com

Yes, the Navy does have an HPSP scholarship for nursing students, as far as I know. It is quite possible I am mistaken but that is what the recruiter I talked to said.

I've talked to a recruiter from every branch and this is a summary of what I have learned overall about the HPSP for all three of them:

*Army: The Army wants you to have a BSN already, and at least one year of experience working as an RN.

*Navy: Students in MSN programs are eligible, but the program would need to be completed in 24 months.

*Air Force: As others on this thread have said, the Air Force HPSP is only for students who have been accepted to DNP programs. So MSN students are not eligible, unfortunately.

So for those of us who are non-nursing majors, it looks like we will have to wait until after our first year is complete and we have received an RN license to become eligible for HPSP.

Anyway, best of luck to you!

It is really encouraging to see that there are other people with the same interest who want to go down the same path. We'll get there eventually.

Birthday_Girl · Sep 17, 2015

I learned that the Yale Graduate Entry program may be switching to a two year program. Something to look into.