Is NROTC a Possibility?

[aliveandawake13]

Hello everyone,
I just have a couple questions I'm hoping someone here might be able to shed some light on.

A few weeks ago I finally made the decision that I wanted to pursue a life that involved joining the navy, but I also already had intentions of completing the nursing program at my community college. I'm a freshman in college at the moment currently working on my nursing pre-reqs. I have talked to the recruiters, I've read brochures, I've gone over the Naval website over and over again, and I've also had a few friends (though they're joining different branches of the military) offer me advice that I should finish school before I join the navy.

If there are any website links, or advice anyone can post for me to look over, it'd be appreciated. I've read over a few threads here on this forum that had to do with NROTC, but the thread went in a lot of different directions and was somewhat scrambled in its information.

I suppose what I'm trying to ask, and if anyone is able to answer it; is NROTC a good way of being able to acquire my BSN for the navy?
Is there another program I should be looking into?
Who should I be talking to or where should I be researching in order to find more answers for the programs offered or if I might be qualified for them?

Any and all help/information is greatly appreciated.

-- aliveandawake13

 

[kinnem]

It can be. DS's unit had several Nursing Option midshipmen. It all depends on how many nursing option folks they are taking any given year. There are separate boards for the nursing option so in essence you are only competing against other nursing option applicants. I have no idea on how to research it further other than google is your friend. If there is a school with an NROTC unit that offers nursing nearby you might try to hook up with them to ask questions.

 

[Capt MJ]

I hope you found the Navy Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP), Navy Nurse Candidate Program (NCP) and Navy Financial Assistance Program (FAP). Those programs are designed to help underwrite talented officer commissioning candidates in the health sciences, and is the path of most of the Navy's health professionals, through what's called direct accession.
The recruiters for this are not in your neighborhood strip mall office, but usually a regional office in a larger city. They often make presentations at schools, but finding links above will also deliver the route to get contacted.

 

[Sampia]

Are you thinking about wanting to switch over from your community college to a university that has NROTC? Or are you wanting to go the RN to BSN route? I am not sure that would be possible. From my understanding of things, you have to join as a freshman or a sophomore if your plan is to try for a scholarship. I would suggest you start with the process of applying for a scholarship now, before you actually start the nursing program at your community college. I do not know if your college has a waiting list to get in, but it would be good to know if you could get a scholarship before you start the actual nursing program. And it is also possible to get awarded a scholarship after you have joined the NROTC program, as a "college program" MIDN. You can Google that for more information. It might be a good idea to talk to someone at the University you would attend. Scholarships are quite competitive so nothing is guaranteed but you won't know if you don't try.