Nursing Opportunities
Nurse Corps Overview
As a member of the Army Nurse Corps, you will be given opportunities of a lifetime! Your role as an Army Officer will afford you the chance to care for your patients in a variety of settings. Army Nurses have autonomy to practice nursing in a way that is unmatched by civilian health care facilities. Your professional judgment will be the driving force behind leading your nursing team to provide full spectrum patient care.
The Army Nurse Corps believes in a holistic nursing philosophy. You will identify and organize multi-disciplinary resources for patients and their families to help them with inpatient, outpatient, and home care. You will be able to understand the special concerns and needs of your Soldier patients because you are also a Soldier, which allows you to better serve them. Identifying with your fellow Soldiers is essential to providing effective health care. Explore your options in the Army Nurse Corps below.
Recent Belmont graduate Jessica Sanders '13 at the Nurse Training Program (NSP)
Why Should I Enroll in ROTC as a Nursing Student?
With real world experience you may not find in nursing school alone, nursing students who are also Army ROTC Cadets benefit from extensive one-on-one mentoring and training. You'll find out exactly what it takes to become a leader in your medical field.
If you're considering an undergraduate nursing degree, enrolling in Army ROTC can enhance your leadership skills and critical-thinking abilities while providing financial support to help make your professional goals a reality. 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.
Education Opportunities
Expert Training Helps You Make the Most of Your Education
Depending on your unique situation, you may be eligible for a scholarship, a stipend program or educational loan repayment. In addition, you will train alongside dedicated health care professionals and gain unique experience. You will also receive paid continuing education courses and have the opportunity to earn advanced degrees.
Leadership
Become a Leader in One of the Best Health Care Networks in the World
When you join the Army Health Care Team, you enter as an Officer and leader in the Army. You will manage highly qualified teams much sooner than you would in the civilian world. You will be granted more leeway in your professional recommendations, and you will be able to enjoy autonomy within your practice while being rewarded for your experience within your chosen field.
Teamwork
Join a Team of Talented Peers and Mentor Future Professionals
Because you will join the Army as an Officer, you will actually begin your career with a certain level of authority. You will be working alongside professionals who are every bit as committed and focused as you.
Within this team environment, you will be working with peers, not competitors, as you rely on each other to get the job done. You have enough autonomy and independence to run your own practice, but you will also have the advantage of working with other Health Care Professionals from different disciplines, not to mention having one of the largest global research networks behind you.
As an Officer, you will also be a team leader. You will be responsible for the training and mentoring of junior Soldiers in your specialty, and you will have a dedicated staff to support your practice. Working together as one team is all part of the philosophy of the U.S. Army.
Corps Specialties & Requirements
Care for a Diverse Patient Population in State of the Art Medical Facilities
As an Army Nurse, you will have the chance to gain specialized education, training and experience. Regardless of the specialty you choose, you will be caring for a diverse patient population in state of the art medical facilities using the latest technology. Although specialized training is available, some Army Nurses choose to remain unspecialized and also experience a wide variety of exciting jobs. You may be eligible for a Generic Course Guarantee that will allow you to attend specialized training after one year on Active Duty. There are four 16 week courses available as a Generic Course Guarantee:
- Critical Care Nursing Course
- Operating Room Nursing Course
- Psychiatric/ Mental Health Nursing Course
- Obstetrical/ Gynecological Nursing Course
There are two other courses that require a nomination from the Chief Nurse of the military treatment facility after you complete one year on Active Duty. The Chief Nurse can nominate you for the Army Public Health Nursing Course or the Emergency Room Nursing Course.
There are multiple advanced practices and Master's prepared nursing specialties recognized within the Army Nurse Corps. However, Family Nurse Practitioners, Psychiatric/ Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Certified Nurse Midwives, and Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist are the only specialties utilized as Independently Licensed Health Care Providers.
Areas of Concentration
Areas of Concentration (AOC) Tracks last from six days to five weeks, depending on your specialty. Track modules integrate Soldiers into the day-to-day practices of AMEDD Officers.
Available Areas Of Concentration
- Army Public Health Nurse (Active Duty Only)
- Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist
- Critical Care Nurse
- Emergency Room Nurse
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Medical Surgical Nurse
- Ob/Gyn Nurse (Active Duty Only)
- Perioperative Nurse
- Psychiatric/ Mental Health Nurse
- Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner (Active Duty Only)