Navy Nurse path

che527

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Jul 31, 2016
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Hi everyone. I am a rising senior in high school and have dreams to become a Navy Nurse. On the other hand, I would also like to go to college - community college that is. I have been doing some research on different college programs, and as much as I'd like to do ROTC, a big university isn't the right fit for me. Continuing the thought of college programs that help sailors earn their degree while serving, how does that work? Would I still go to the physical college classes and split time serving?
I will soon ask more questions from my local Navy Recruiter, but it'd be helpful to get a heads up. Thank you.
 
Best of luck to you!
 
Have you thought about applying to the smaller NROTC schools? I saw Molloy listed for Nurse Only option, they are a midsize liberal arts school.
Here's the deal from a nurse...you want your BSN. Yes an ADN is cheaper and quicker but I'm about 90% sure that the Navy (and military in general) wants bachelor prepared nurses. Some hospitals that have Magnet status have to have 75% BSN prepared, so many facilities pass over ADN or require you to go back to school and "level up" within a certain time frame. Also, from experience of watching my peers it's easy to say that you'll go back for the BSN but actually doing that is harder because you get out "student" mode.
 
I would direct you to check out both Air Force and Army as well for nursing. Military nursing is pretty similar regardless of branch with the exception of each branches' "specialities." Also a fair amount of hospitals are joint i.e. BAMC and Walter Reed. Best of luck!
 
I definitely echo all the great advice above. Before enlisting do yourself a favor and talk to someone from a Navy ROTC unit at a school and an Army ROTC unit at a school ( not a recruiter). If you do not want to be an officer that is one thing, however as far as civilian life after serving having your BSN is extremely important. More and more hospitals are going to BSN only, not hiring any RN's from community colleges. Plus it can get tricky switching jobs in the military so going in as a nurse will help you. My daughter has a national nursing scholarship through the Army and is attending a small Liberal Arts university with small class size. She will graduate with a BSN, no school debt and commission as a 2LT in the US Army. This is a potential path for you. The good news is you can apply for Navy and Army as a senior and enlisting will still be available if you don't get a scholarship or decide it isn't for you, I really recommend keeping all your options open as it is still really early for you. Please feel free to private message me if you have any questions.
 
The good news is you can apply for Navy and Army as a senior and enlisting will still be available if you don't get a scholarship or decide it isn't for you, I really recommend keeping all your options open as it is still really early for you

^^^^^ Totally agree with this!
 
I would only be careful regarding the application date for nursing. Daughter applied on regular application date and found out Nursing was 12/1 deadline not spring. Check with the school as they may have different dates as Nursing can fill up fast.
 
Nurse applicants have to be very proactive on their college applications. With the increasing need for nurses and the limited spaces available at school that offer the major, the slots will fill quickly and the best candidates will get them. Some colleges even suggest nurse applicants apply by the early action deadline - often this is October 15 or November 1!
 
I definitely echo all the great advice above. Before enlisting do yourself a favor and talk to someone from a Navy ROTC unit at a school and an Army ROTC unit at a school ( not a recruiter). If you do not want to be an officer that is one thing, however as far as civilian life after serving having your BSN is extremely important. More and more hospitals are going to BSN only, not hiring any RN's from community colleges. Plus it can get tricky switching jobs in the military so going in as a nurse will help you. My daughter has a national nursing scholarship through the Army and is attending a small Liberal Arts university with small class size. She will graduate with a BSN, no school debt and commission as a 2LT in the US Army. This is a potential path for you. The good news is you can apply for Navy and Army as a senior and enlisting will still be available if you don't get a scholarship or decide it isn't for you, I really recommend keeping all your options open as it is still really early for you. Please feel free to private message me if you have any questions.

My DD is on the same path - there are tons of small colleges that offer nursing and ROTC. My own DD's small university is short on meeting its nurse quota right now, so there might be some hard working ROTC freshman that pick up a scholarship freshman year. You could be one of those even if you don't win a national scholarship. But why not try for one?
 
I definitely echo all the great advice above. Before enlisting do yourself a favor and talk to someone from a Navy ROTC unit at a school and an Army ROTC unit at a school ( not a recruiter). If you do not want to be an officer that is one thing, however as far as civilian life after serving having your BSN is extremely important. More and more hospitals are going to BSN only, not hiring any RN's from community colleges. Plus it can get tricky switching jobs in the military so going in as a nurse will help you. My daughter has a national nursing scholarship through the Army and is attending a small Liberal Arts university with small class size. She will graduate with a BSN, no school debt and commission as a 2LT in the US Army. This is a potential path for you. The good news is you can apply for Navy and Army as a senior and enlisting will still be available if you don't get a scholarship or decide it isn't for you, I really recommend keeping all your options open as it is still really early for you. Please feel free to private message me if you have any questions.

Hi,
My DD is very interested in a nursing ROTC track. I'd love to hear about your DD and her experience in college thus far. Thanks for your thoughtful post/
 
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