The Naval Nurse Corps is unlike any other medical service in the world. Once part of this team, an individual can gain a broader experience and attain leadership skills that will far exceed a civilian counterpart pursuing the exact same medical career. There are two paths that can be followed in the Nurse Corps pipeline but both lead to a commission as an Ensign in the U.S. Navy. The Nurse Candidate Program allows an individual to complete his or her BSN within two years. Upon graduation he or she will be granted a commission as an Ensign in the Naval Reserve Officer Corps.
Students alone are responsible for their university tuition costs.
While participating in the College Program, the student is responsible for university tuition costs. There, you will receive a classroom orientation to your specific hospital, and enter into a preceptorship program. You will work with a senior Nurse Corps Officer who will instruct you in patient care management, relationships between the departments within your hospital, and procedural skills and techniques. In addition, you will be responsible for aspects of the administration and management of your ward or department, as well as supervising the services given to patients under your care. It is impossible to state what the path you will follow as your career progresses will look like, as it varies depending upon your specific skills and areas of expertise.