Army Nurse Corps Frequently Asked Questions
- General Questions
- Education/Clinical Training Questions
- Military Training Questions
- Personal Life Questions
Lehigh Valley Army ROTC provides scholarship opportunities, leadership training, upper division placement, and a future career to college nursing students. Students may enroll as a freshman, sophomore, or as late as their junior year in college. Upon successful completion of the program, students are commissioned as officers in the Army Nurse Corps, and serve as nurses at military hospitals and medical facilities in the active Army, the National Guard, and the Army Reserves.
General Questions
What is Army ROTC?
Army ROTC is an elective curriculum you take along with your required college classes.
It prepares you with the tools, training and experiences that will help you succeed in
any competitive environment. Along with great leadership training, Army ROTC can pay for
your college tuition, too. You will have a normal college student experience like everyone else
on campus, but when you graduate, you will be an Officer in the Army who earns over $40,000
starting salary, free medical benefits and 30 days paid vacation annually.
What are the student's responsibilities
If you want to try the program out first, there is no obligation for taking the class during
your Freshman and Sophomore year. It’s like test driving a car. See if it’s for you. If not,
drop it like any other class.
- Attend ROTC classes (meets 1-2 times per week)
- Attend ROTC lab (once every other week)
- Attend physical training sessions (3 times per week depending on class standing)
- Attend field training exercises (twice a semester)
- Attend and successfully complete the Leadership Development and Assessment Course (5 weeks at Fort Lewis, WA) during the summer following the Junior year
- Maintain a GPA of 2.5
- Receive a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and pass the nursing state board examination (NCLEX)
How long do I serve as an Army Nurse Officer
You can serve full-time in the Army for three years (four years for scholarship winners). Selected
Cadets may choose to serve part-time in the U.S. Army Reserve or Army National Guard while pursuing
a civilian career.
Why join Army ROTC as a nursing student
If you're considering an undergraduate Nursing degree, joining Army ROTC can enhance your leadership
skills and critical-thinking abilities while providing financial support to help make your personal
and professional goals a reality. You will also find pride in knowing you are preparing to serve your
country as an Army Nurse Corps Officer.
Why join the Army Nurse Corps as a nurse
Being a Nurse in the Army provides you with opportunities not found in the civilian world. As an Army
Nurse and Officer, you will have the respect of your peers and coworkers, as well as opportunities to
train and serve in a variety of specialties. The autonomy to practice nursing as part of the Army Health
Care Team is unlike most civilian health care facilities. Your professional judgment will be the driving
force behind ensuring that all aspects of a patient's care are addressed, and you'll be responsible for
initiating coordination of a patient's multidisciplinary care.
Education/Clinical Training Questions
What kind of degree must I obtain
All Active Duty Army Nurse Corps officers are graduates of an accredited BSN program and hold, at a
minimum, the degree of BSN. The United States’ Army Reserves selects both ADN/RNs and BSN/RNs into
their service.
What type of scholarships are potentially available and how do I know if I qualify
The Army ROTC program offers two-, three- or four-year scholarships for undergraduate Nursing students.
Scholarships pay 100% tuition and mandatory fees, $1200 annual book costs, a monthly tax-free stipend
b/w $300-500, based on academic year, NCLEX fees, and NCLEX review course tuition. These scholarships are extremely limited and subject to funds availability. Therefore the are not guaranteed to be offered on a continuous basis. The following
criteria must be met to be eligible for consideration:
- Be a U.S. citizen
- Be between ages 17 and 27 (must be 30 or younger when you graduate)
- Have a College GPA of at least 2.5 (must be competitive to progress within the school of nursing program)
- Have a high school diploma or equivalent
- Score minimum 920 on the SAT or 19 on the ACT
- Meet physical standards (pass the Army Physical Fitness Test)
- Be medically qualified (pass an Army physical)
- Agree to accept a commission and serve in the Army on Active Duty or in a Reserve Component (U.S. Army Reserve or Army National Guard)
What is the Nurse Summer Training Program
Nursing students have the opportunity to attend the Nurse Summer Training Program (NSTP) between
their junior and senior years in the nursing program. After completing the Leadership Development
and Assessment Course, nursing students can request to work in an Army hospital for three weeks at
locations across the globe, to include Hawaii, Korea, Germany, and in the United States. Each
student will be assigned an Army Nurse Corps officer as their preceptor/instructor to guide them
through the nursing process. The student will learn valuable management and leadership skills and
have the opportunity to apply them in a health care environment, setting themselves ahead of their
peers when they return to campus. The student can request to work in the nursing specialty of their
choice. Students are paid for the three weeks, and all travel and room & board expenses are paid
for by the Army.
What if I want to get my Master’s degree
The Army has a wonderful opportunity for those that wish to continue their educational training.
Each year, Army nurses are selected to attend fully funded graduate training via the Long Term
Health Education & Training program. For 2005, 88 nurses were selected to attend either a Master’s
or Doctoral program. Each nurse will continue to receive their full salary/benefits even though
their job is to be a full-time student and they will have their tuition paid by the Army.
What if I want to work in a clinical specialty
The Army Nurse Corps has six clinical specialty training courses, in addition to the Master’s training
programs offered through the Long Term Health Education & Training program. These specialty courses are
offered as 12-16 week, fully funded courses in the following areas: Intensive Care, Emergency, Labor &
Delivery, Psychiatric, Community Health and Peri-operative Care.
When will I become a charge nurse or head nurse
All new Army nurses will receive some type of organized hospital orientation once they arrive at their
first duty station. This orientation can range anywhere from 3-8 weeks, depending on your location and
skill level. As soon as you complete orientation, you will begin your training to learn the skills required
as a Charge Nurse. Most Army nurses will be able to function at that level by about 6 months of training.
The opportunity to become a Clinical Head Nurse varies greatly from hospital to hospital throughout the Army
and there is no set time for gaining this position. You can become a head nurse as early as 3 and as late as
12 years, but most hold the position at the 5-7 year mark and last anywhere from 1-3 years in each position.
Military Training Questions
Do I have to go to “boot camp”
No. The Army ROTC program is an Officer commissioning program. “Boot camp”, or Basic Training, is an
enlisted Soldier training program. All Army Nurse Corps Officers attend a specialized Officer Basic
Course. It is a 10-week school in San Antonio, Texas, where you learn the basics about how to be an
Army Officer. There is a limited (3-4 day) field training exercise where you get your first chance
to see what an Army field hospital looks like. This exercise is a hands-on experience of how medical
care is delivered in a field setting.
Will I have to deploy
Army nurses are an integral part of a medical team that is dedicated to protecting the lives of those
who safeguard America. As an Army Nurse, there are possibilities to deploy to areas around the world in
support of military operations. These opportunities are sporadic and vary in nature from providing
hurricane relief support in the Caribbean to supporting combat operations in Iraq. Even though the
media focus on the large number of military members deployed around the world, there are actually very
few Army nurses that are currently deployed and, in a typical year, less than a hundred or so are
deployed around the world at any given time. An overwhelming majority of your time as an Army nurse
will be spent as a clinical nurse working in a large, state-of-the-art medical facility. During those
rare times that you may be called upon to serve away from your hospital, it will be because it is
absolutely essential to have the best medical care in the world available to those in need. Some examples
of those needing our expertise are: children who live in a third world country that does not have the
facilities or resources to provide such simple life saving measures as administering immunizations or
performing cleft lip/palate repair; victims of natural disasters that have no medical assets as the
result of a hurricane, tornado or tsunami; and the brave Soldiers that risk their lives to defend and
support freedom throughout the world who, once wounded in combat, require immediate trauma resuscitation
and medical treatment to ensure a safe return home.
How much danger will I be in
Although military operations can be extremely hazardous for those folks that are on the front lines, it is
actually relatively safe for those supporting elements that are not directly involved in combat operations,
such as a hospital. The Army takes great measures to ensure the safety of the medical facilities and
personnel assigned to each unit. As of November 1, 2005, there have been no fatalities within the Army
Nurse Corps in any military operations conducted as part of the United States’ War on Terror. One Army
nurse was quoted as saying; "I’ve been an Army Nurse for 10 years. I have deployed oversees to combat areas
on two separate occasions and, in my travels, have never felt that the Army has placed me in any more danger
than when I drive my car, fly in an airplane or walk alone through downtown at night. There is, without a
doubt, a need for medical personnel to be there in order to save lives. This overwhelming need far outweighs
the unlikely chance of danger."
What is a "field hospital"
A "field" hospital is what the Army uses as a deployable medical facility. They are basically tents that are
moved via rail/ship/truck and set-up by the personnel assigned to each facility. They range in size from 296 to
500 beds and are fully equipped with lights, ac/heating units, running water, dining and laundry/bath facilities.
These hospitals are capable of performing life-saving surgeries, emergency care, peri-operative care, intensive
care, inpatient ward care, x-rays/CT scans, laboratory/blood bank services, dental repair, physical therapy and
pharmaceutical services. When these services are no longer necessary, the hospital is taken down, packed up and
returned to a storage facility.
How often do I have to do physical training
The Physical Training, or PT, schedule is dependent on your ROTC department. PT is usually 3 times per week and
the schedule will be arranged around your clinical class schedule. Once on active duty, Army nurses work in a
hospital and have rotating day/night shifts that last 8 or 12 hours. Due to 24-hour operations, Army hospitals
do not conduct organized PT on a regular basis. Organized PT sessions do occur in May and October each year so
all staff can participate in the required Army Physical Fitness Test, or APFT. Therefore, your physical training
and preparations for the APFT are done on an individual basis that best fits your work/sleep schedule.
Personal Life Questions
What if I want to get married
What happens to my spouse? Many Army Nurse Corps Officers (about 67%) are married and have children. As an Officer
in the Army, your family will be allowed to move with you to your duty assignment. Of our married Officers, many are
married to other service members. If that is the case, there are Army programs available to ensure you and your spouse
are located together at an Army post.
Do I have to live in open barracks and use community showers?
No. As an Army Officer you will be able to afford comfortable housing either on or near the Army installation to
which you are assigned.
How often do I have to move?
As an officer in the Army, you typically move from one duty location to another every 3-4 years. The Army will
take care of your moving expenses and provides additional funding for travel, lodging and meal costs during your
move. In addition, a contracted moving agency will come to your home, pack/ship your belongings, deliver them once
you’ve found your next home and unpack/remove all unwanted packing materials from your home.
Where will my first duty assignment be located?
There are 26 military hospitals throughout the U.S, Korea and Germany. Most are located within the continental
United States. During your senior year, you will request an assignment at the hospital that you would like to be
assigned. The Army Nurse Corps works extremely hard to ensure all the new graduates receive one of their top three
choices of location assignments.
What if I don’t want to move to where the Army wants to send me?
If you are assigned to an area that doesn’t suit your needs, each Army nurse has an Army Nurse Corps branch
manager who works with each individual to find a location that will make him/her happy while providing the
necessary opportunities for career advancement within the Army Nurse Corps and, also, meet the needs of the Army.
Once you have met your active duty obligation incurred during ROTC, you have the option of resigning from active
duty and either remaining where you are currently located or having the Army move you home.