The Army Nursing Corps
Why pursue a degree when you can pursue a career?
The Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) provides an opportunity
for college nursing students to receive practical, hands-on leadership
experience directly applicable to nursing practice. As a Registered
Nurse, you are looked at as a leader in providing nursing care. But
how can a person become a leader if they have never been given the
skills to walk in that role? The Army ROTC Nurse Program is one avenue
to acquire these skills. The Army ROTC Nurse Program provides nursing
students the opportunity to develop management, communication and
decision-making skills through hands-on training. There are many advantages
to becoming an Army Nurse.
Financial Benefits
As a Nursing Cadet, you have the opportunity to earn up to $12,500
in bonus money through your Junior and Senior years. The program is
in 2 phases. Phase I is entering your junior year and is based upon
your GPA. You can earn up to $5,000 during your junior year. Phase
II is after graduation, commissioning, passing the NCLEX within 60
days of graduation, and your GPA. You can earn up to $7,500 upon successful
completion of your Nursing Degree. This money is in addition to the
month stipend you will receive as an Advance Course Cadet, scholarship
monies, and/or University Incentives you receive.
Scholarship Students: 2,3 and 4 year scholarships are available to eligible
nursing students at Tuskegee University. All scholarships provide:
Tuition/fees: up to $20,000 per year
Books: $900/yr
Graduated Monthly Stipend: Freshman- $300, Sophomores- $350, Juniors-
$400, and Seniors- $500
University Incentives: Free room and board for all scholarship recipients.
Criteria for Scholarships:
United States Citizenship
Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5
Physically fit and medically qualified
Under 31 years of age on 31 December of the year you graduate from college
Good moral character
Non-Scholarship Students: Students can participate in ROTC without a scholarship and will receive stipend benefits during their Junior and Senior year while pursuing their degree.
Nurse Summer Training Program (NSTP)
NSTP is an optional clinical elective, conducted the summer between
your Junior and Senior years. Over 10 hospitals in the United States,
Germany, and Hawaii are NSTP sites. During NSTP you will be introduced
to the roles, responsibilities, and expectations of a new officer in
the Army Nurse Corps. NSTP provides progressive clinical experiences
and leadership opportunities, while working side by side with an Army
Nurse.
Post Graduate Educational Opportunities
Your education does not stop once you become an Army Nurse Corps Lieutenant.
Since nursing is a dynamic profession, your skills and professional
knowledge must be constantly updated. The Army Nurse Corps is committed
to providing opportunities that will enhance your abilities, interests
and knowledge. As an Army Nurse, you may apply for specialty courses
such as:
Critical Care Nursing. This 16-week course prepares nurses to take care
of critically ill patients in a variety of critical care settings. Course
content includes the necessary knowledge and clinical skills, teaching
techniques, and the principles of management of the critical care setting.
Emergency Nursing Course. This 16-week course prepares nurses to function
as entry-level emergency nurses. The course will focus on responsibilities,
nursing care, teaching role, principles and techniques of staff supervision
and management of patients across the life span in an emergency setting.
Portions of this course are jointly instructed with the Critical Care
Nursing Course.
Perioperative Nursing. This 16-week course will prepare you to function
as first-level staff nurses in the operating room (OR). It also focuses
on the OR nurse's responsibilities in the preparation and sterilization
of supplies/equipment; special fields of surgery; and the principles
and techniques of management of the operating room.
Obstetrical and Gynecological Nursing. This 16-week course is designed
to provide the necessary knowledge and clinical skills to deliver inpatient
and ambulatory nursing care to pregnant women, newborn infants and patients
with gynecological problems.
Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing. This 22-week course will prepare
you with the necessary knowledge and clinical skills to deliver care
and treatment to psychiatric patients.
Community Health Nursing. The 9-week Principles of Military Preventive
Medicine course is designed to provide the entry-level skills and knowledge
in preventive medicine specialty areas. Content includes community health
practices, communicable and infectious diseases, epidemiology, statistics,
medical entomology, industrial hygiene, health physics, sanitary engineering,
and environmental science as well as various specialty modules.
Graduate School
Upon completion of your degree requirements, you will spend 2-4 years
gaining a foundation in safe nursing practice. After this time, you
may apply for fully funded graduate school. The Army will pay your tuition,
give you up to 24 months to complete your program (as a full time student),
and pay your salary during this time. Graduate level study is open to
Nurse Anesthesia, Nurse Midwifery, Family Nurse Practitioner, Healthcare
Administration, Informatics, and a host of Clinical Nurse Specialist
fields.
To Learn More:
For more information or questions regarding nursing in the United States
Army, contact the ROTC Nursing Counselor at 8th Brigade Redstone Arsenal
P: (256) 955-0859/7578, FAX: (256) 955-7579 or e-mail prentice.r.price@redstone.army.mil.