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Seton Hall University
Nursing student working with medical equipment.

Army Nurse Corps

Upon graduation from college with a Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing, you will become part of an elite organization that protects the health of our nation’s fighting forces. It is a position of great responsibility, high expectations, learning and adventure. You will immediately be given more responsibility, sooner and with greater authority than you would expect in the private sector. You will refine the leadership skills you developed in ROTC as you serve your country.

Nursing Scholarship

Students who accept an Army Nurse Scholarship and are pursuing a Nursing degree through Seton Hall University can receive a room and board incentive. Seton Hall University provides this incentive to qualified Army Nurse Scholarship students who are in good standing with the ROTC Program and Nursing Program.

In addition, Nursing cadets are entitled to:

  • NCLEX-RN review course fee paid
  • NCLEX- RN exam fee paid
  • Guaranteed nurse position upon graduation
  • Uniforms paid (clinical scrubs and jacket, shoes, stethoscope)

Expectations of a Nursing Cadet

As a nursing cadet, you will be held to a higher standard in comparison with your peers. Effective time management will be expected of you in order to balance Nursing school and ROTC. You are expected to attend a one hour PT session each morning 3-5 days a week, participate in an ROTC leadership lab every Friday, and maintain good academic standing.

The nursing cadet must meet and pass all the required ROTC classes and training courses in order to commission as a 2nd Lieutenant. For the nursing cadet, they are expected to pass two major training courses:

  • Leadership Development Assessment Course (LDAC): a 32 day field training exercise, focusing on basic military skills and leadership training which are taught throughout your MSLI-MSLIII years of ROTC. This training course is conducted at Ft. Lewis in Washington State.
     
  • Nurse Summer Training Program (NSTP): a three week clinical experience at an Army Hospital where nurse cadets will work one-on-one with an Army Nurse Corps Officer. This is a valuable experience because cadets will be able to refine their leadership, clinical, and administrative nursing skills while familiarizing themselves with an Army medical environment.

What Happens After Graduation?

Once you have successfully completed your entire Nursing and ROTC curriculum, you will receive a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army Nurse Corps. After commissioning and completion of the NCLEX, you will attend Officer Basic Course (OBC) at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, TX. This nine week course is specialized for every newly commissioned officer entering the Army Medical Department (AMEDD). Here you will work in collaboration with other officers of various healthcare specialties (Doctors, Physician Assistants, Pharmacists, Veterinarians, etc.) and learn about being a part of the Army health care team.

Active Duty Nursing

After completion of OBC, you will then move on to your first duty station. Duty Station assignments are based on your input of location preference and your performance throughout both the nursing and ROTC program. There are eight Army medical centers across the United States and one regional center in Europe. Medical centers in the U.S. include Walter Reed in Washington, D.C., and Brooke in San Antonio, Texas, both of which are internationally recognized facilities for medical treatment, education, and research. More than 20 Army community hospitals are located in the United States, as well as around the world in such countries as Japan and Germany.

After just one year at your initial assignment, you will have the opportunity to attend a clinical specialty course in one of the following areas:

  • Perioperative Nursing
  • OB/GYN Nursing
  • Critical Care Nursing
  • Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing
  • Medical Surgical
  • Public Health
  • Emergency

Army Reserve Nursing

If you’re interested in an alternative to active duty service, then you should consider the Army Reserve. In addition to entering the Army Nurse Corps as a commissioned officer, you will also be able to earn a second income and have the opportunity to pursue educational and career goals. After completing OBC, you will serve with a reserve unit a minimum of two days each month. You will also be required to participate in annual training for at least two weeks each year. During this time, your duties may include attending professional seminars and military or nursing education courses provided by the Army. 

Educational Opportunities

The Army Nurse Corps encourages its nurses to improve their skills and enhance their professional experience through a variety of educational programs, including fully funded post-graduate opportunities, continuing education, and specialty courses. Post-graduate fields include:

  • Clinical Nurse Specialist
  • Healthcare Administrator
  • Nurse Anesthetist
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Informatics
  • Nurse Midwife