U.S. Public Health -- Commissioned Corps

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in Orthopedics.

I am a Sr. Nursing student (BSN) :nurse: and I was talking with someone about the US Public Health Commissioned Corps, It sounds like a excellent opportunity :yeah:But I know that everything that glitters isn't gold. If anyone has been through this program or has investigated this please let me know, what you think. I would like honesty, good and bad please keep it real with me, im all ears.

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Specializes in L&D, QI, Public Health.

I heard from an online friend that it's an excellent opportunity. It's only 2 years and all the benefits of a government job.

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Specializes in LPN, Peds, Public Health.

I have not been through it but have worked with people who have and they love it. You have so many opportunities with the Corp and the benefits are amazing. A lady I know just retired from the Corp and she is still soooo young! Not even 50... can you imagine? Definately worth looking into. They have a web site that tells you all their requirements and such...

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Specializes in Anesthesia.

Check out the military/government nursing forum. There is a long thread on there about getting into USPHS. Basically, the benefits/pay are exactly the same as the military.

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The USPHS Commissioned Corps is a wonderful career. I joined right out of nursing school and worked at a small hospital on an Apache Indian reservation. It was a great way to start my nursing career -- had patients from birth to elderly with all sorts of diagnoses. Then I moved to more administrative and research types jobs. Check out the website www.usphs.gov and start the application process before you graduate. It can take a while. What you can even do is go ahead and get a job with Indian Health Service, then do a "straight conversion" over to Corps once you get there. That way you can go ahead and start working as a nurse while your Corps application packet is going through. They will credit you back your federal time (up to five years, I think) toward your retirement. The benefits are amazing -- free healthcare, 30 days annual leave a year, interesting deployments (most of which are voluntary) for things like hurricanes or events like State of the Union addresses. Anyway, I could go on and on. I love it. Best wishes!

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That is a good opportunity, somewhat better than the military because the commitment is not less and there is not much of a chance of going to dangerous areas. I'd rather stay stateside.

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I think you still incur a commitment when they commission you. Be sure to check.

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Specializes in Orthopedics.

Thank you all for the post. I really am thinking about this, its sounds like a good opportunity also a lot of students that graduated this year are having trouble finding jobs so this way i will have a job as well.

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Specializes in Orthopedics.

were you single when you did this or did you have a family? how did it effect them if you did have a famiyl

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Specializes in NICU, adult med-tele.

I talked briefly with a recruiter about this today and he told me you could resign your commission at any time, even during the initial 2 years.

(I assume like nay job if there was a bonus shelled out you'd have to return it)

What do ya'll say about his statement? True or false? Or I'm guessing, half truth?

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Hi RNnthemaking - Did you join? How was the application and selection process? Please send an update as I am a new nurse and I'm thinking about joining.

Best!

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