OCS for Nursing

J

JMS

5-Year Member
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Jul 2, 2011
Messages
444
Hi all,
I have been posting in other area of this forum with regards to my DS who is currently in AROTC and doing well.
Now I learn that DD#2 (older sister #2) is becoming interested in military nursing. she has a BS in public health and is currently working on a 2nd degree, a BSN (she will be done in about a year) and is considering using her nursing in a military service. (I think the US Public Health Service is on the list, too.)
I had said that neither the CG or Marines had medical people, that they relied on other services for that. She has contacted officer recruiters in the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines. Today I learned that she has an appointment to meet the Marine recruiter tomorrow. She said she was clear about wanting to be a nurse. What gives? do the Marines have nurses or is the recruiter simply recruiting for the Navy?
And while I'm asking questions, I gather the OCS programs are specialized for Medical people, but I'm not sure how all that works. Any insight would be welcome.
 
JMS said:
Hi all,
I have been posting in other area of this forum with regards to my DS who is currently in AROTC and doing well.
Now I learn that DD#2 (older sister #2) is becoming interested in military nursing. she has a BS in public health and is currently working on a 2nd degree, a BSN (she will be done in about a year) and is considering using her nursing in a military service. (I think the US Public Health Service is on the list, too.)
I had said that neither the CG or Marines had medical people, that they relied on other services for that. She has contacted officer recruiters in the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines. Today I learned that she has an appointment to meet the Marine recruiter tomorrow. She said she was clear about wanting to be a nurse. What gives? do the Marines have nurses or is the recruiter simply recruiting for the Navy?
And while I'm asking questions, I gather the OCS programs are specialized for Medical people, but I'm not sure how all that works. Any insight would be welcome.
Click to expand...

Correct, Marines and CG don't have medical personnel. Maybe it's a terminology issue, but medical providers don't go through OCS. We are produced through ROTC, Academies, and DC. If your DD completes her BSN and RN, she can apply for DC. If she specializes in a particular area, she will have a higher probability of being selected. Military nurses are over strength on generalists right now.
 
thanks for your quick reply. i will pass the info on to DD.
I assume DC means Direct Commission. What specialties are desirable?
If one is selected for Direct Commission, what does the initial training consist of?
Do you see any meaningful differences for a nurse in one service vs another?
Sorry for all the questions... playing 'catch up' here.
 
JMS said:
thanks for your quick reply. i will pass the info on to DD.
I assume DC means Direct Commission. What specialties are desirable?
If one is selected for Direct Commission, what does the initial training consist of?
Do you see any meaningful differences for a nurse in one service vs another?
Sorry for all the questions... playing 'catch up' here.
Click to expand...

Aglahad and Tigger would be a better source the majority of your questions. From my side of military medicine, psych nurses and psych nurse practitioners are in high demand. In the primary care side I know family nurse practitioners and nurse anesthetists are also in high demand. I've heard midwives are on the rise as well.

DC, Academy commissions, and ROTC all have their initial training together (medical). There's no difference...

If your DD is going to be practicing at the BSN level, psych nursing specialization could be nice feather in her cap. Admittedly I'm bias.

As for the differences in nurses from one service to another, I honestly don't see a difference, but Aglahad could better answer that question.
 
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