Agree & Disagree
+1
With everyday and due to sequestration it is cheaper to contract civilians than pay for not only their education, but also if they stay for 20 years in the military paying 50% until the day they die...including their health care, which at the age of 60 it starts becoming a big cost medically...Lipitor, hip replacements, etc.
Cutting them out and contracting nurses as a GS saves big time...the first savings shows up immediately...scholarships.
I am not trying to be mean or harsh. I am trying to say that sequestration will exist for years to come and unfortunately military members healthcare will take the hit!
I agree that sequestration may lead down this path.
But I do not completely agree with the purported savings.
My wife is a Head Nurse of a Home Health unit of the local Hospital. I looked at GS rates for Nurses for past hour and they are well below Civilian rates. (Aprox. -14% lower than market)
So, those Nurses that would work as a GS will tend to be lower on quality scale. That does buttress Pima's assertion that Military healthcare will take a hit.
A New RN O1 would make the following (according to Military times Calculator)
Basic $34,862
BAS $2,995
BAH $14,688
Total $52,505
A GS7 step 4 would pay $57,199
An actuary could tell us which is more expensive - the defined benefit system of the Military of defined contribution of the GS. I suspect the later as so few make it to 20+ years anymore but every GS employee has a PV retirement contribution requirement.
The savings between an O1 RN and a GS-7(4) is $4,694. At that savings/per year it would take 10 years for the Service to recover a State School for a RN program (I used Mt State as local choice) total expected 4-year expense of $47,809.
The savings, however, would take longer as that 2nd LT RN will move up more quickly than a GS will most likely. An O3 RN makes (Co Springs) $85,056.
With the looming Nurse Shortage, due to aging baby Boomers, it is short sighted, indeed, to think the services can hire on the open market vs train up through ROTC.
But when was Military staffing/Manpower 'smart' ?
No, we let the pendulum swing too far in both directions.
The Military would be well served, IMO, to 'grow their own' Nurse Corps as they will have higher quality staff and thus better patient care. The competition for Nurse talent will only increase.
I'd wager in 5 years there will be HUGE sign up Bonus for Army/Navy Nurse Corps.
But, for now, they are cutting back just at the time they should be building up.
I think Pima has the right direction and is her norm she
'calls 'em like she sees 'em'
So, prospective Nurses my take away from all this is as follows:
Military manpower/staffing is very cyclical. We are in a trough and may still have downside.
As I have advised DD, in her pursuit of a Nurse Corps Scholarship, to develop several strata in her pursuit of pinning on 'Butter Bars' and RN pin.
Know that it may take longer than you'd like.
MY DD's broad strategy is:
I) Pursue these few ROTC Nurse Corps Scholarships. As stated - it is a tough time to be a Nurse applicant.
II) Keep the dialogue with your ROO and PMS of your top schools going. If you do not get a 4-year or 3-year AD … have that financial Plan B ready so you can get on campus and work hard to earn a Campus based ROTC scholarship.
III) If I & II are not working … keep your feet moving. I, sadly, am a big consumer of medical services.
I ask every RN I meet where & how she/he obtained their degree.
MANY started off as C.N.A's that worked their way through LPN programs, then earned their RN, and then did a RN/BSN degree completion.
Yes, it will take much longer to 'get there'. BUT if your goal is to serve your country as a Nurse … you'd do well to remember it is not where you start, but how you finish that matters!
* My calculation of Tuition, book & fees to earn your LPN to RN is $11,500 through community College. If spread over 3 years that is aprox $4,000 per year! That is an amazing value and not so bad a way to go!
Once you have your RN I believe the services will allow your to join with a special Rn/BSN degree completion stipulation.
Good luck all!
