Nursing
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 the Eleanor Mann School of Nursing, University of Arkansas-Fayetteville, and at Northeastern State University and it's Partnership Schools. All scholarships provide:
- Tuition/fees: up to $20,000 per year
- Books: $900/yr
- Graduated Monthly Stipend: Freshman- $250, Sophomores- $300, Juniors- $350, and Seniors- $400
- University Incentives: Additional financial assistance is available for eligible students through the Financial Aide Office.
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 UAF Army ROTC Scholarship and Enrollment Officer at (toll free) (866) 891-5538 or email at olrayfor@uark.edu. Check out these websites for more information: http://www.goarmy.com/amedd/nurse.html and http://www.goarmy.com/rotc/courses-and-colleges/programs/nursing.html