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ARMY NURSE CORPShas established a two-year scholarship using the HealthProfessions Scholarship Program (HPSP).Army nurses, regardless of specialty, care for an extremelydiverse patient population in advanced medical facilities usingstate-of-the-art equipment. And they do so in collaborationwith talented physicians, pharmacists, dietitians, therapistsand other health care professionals.WHY JOIN THE ARMY?Nurses join the Army Nurse Corps for a variety of reasons —both personal and professional. Some join for the continuingeducation opportunities, others for the opportunity to servetheir country and still others for the opportunity to leadas commissioned officers in the Army. All, however, agreeon one thing. Their decision is due, at least in part, to theprofessional growth opportunities the Army offers.A TEAM OF DEDICATED PROFESSIONALSAn integral component of the U.S. Army Health Care Team,the Army Nurse Corps continues to distinguish itself fromthe traditional nursing field in both purpose and composition.Consisting of more than 11,000 men and women, the ArmyNurse Corps is dedicated to providing high-tech, quality healthcare for military personnel, their families and military retireesall over the world.Ranging in age from 21 to 62, these nursing professionalsvary with respect to both their backgrounds and experiences.Nearly 66 percent of active duty and Reserve nurses aremarried. In addition, 35 percent of active duty nurses and28 percent of Reserve nurses are men, compared to only 5.4percent of the nursing population at large. With regard toeducation, Army nurses further distinguish themselves. Allactive duty nurses hold at least a baccalaureate degree innursing, while 40 percent of their Reserve counterparts sharethat distinction. What’s more, 35 percent of active duty nursesand 20 percent of Reserve nurses hold master’s degrees.That compares to a civilian nursing population in whichapproximately 30 percent of registered nurses have bachelor’sdegrees in nursing.The Army has positions available in many specialties,including obstetrics/gynecology, critical care, nurseanesthesia, community health, psychiatric/mental health, andperioperative nursing. Many Army nurses have the opportunityto gain education and experience in advanced practice nursingroles such as clinical nurse specialists, nurse practitioners,nurse midwives and nurse anesthetists. Because there is alsoa growing need for psychiatric nurse practitioners, the ArmyRPI 518 FS, June EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIESThe Army Nurse Corps encourages its nurses to improve theirskills and enhance their professional experience through avariety of educational programs, including post-graduateopportunities and continuing education and specialtycourses, all of which they often attend at the Army’s expense.These programs not only ensure a high degree of motivation,professional opportunities and career satisfaction, but serveto maintain both the Army’s high nursing standards and yourlevel of expertise.GREATER RESPONSIBILITYOnce you enter the Army, you will work with a team oftalented health care professionals, all of whom are dedicatedto providing the highest standard of patient care possible.As a key member of the Army Health Care Team, you willhave the opportunity to excel in your area of expertise. You’llalso provide a comprehensive approach to nursing for yourpatients.You will be in a leadership position and enjoy the privileges,pay, respect and authority of a commissioned officer in theArmy. As an officer and a leader, you will lead by examplein meeting the Army’s high professional standards and begiven a great deal of responsibility, beginning with your firstassignment. You’ll supervise a variety of professional andparaprofessional nursing care providers at Army health carefacilities, making decisions about day-to-day patient care andensuring that your decisions are carried out in an effectiveand efficient manner.THERE’S STRONG. THEN THERE’S ARMY STRONG.Page 1

ARMY NURSE CORPSADVANCEMENTAs you progress in the Army, so will your professionalnursing career. Army nurses earn regular increasesin salary, rank and responsibility and have manyopportunities to prove their abilities and potential forpromotion. In fact, it’s not uncommon to see a staff nursebecome a head nurse in just three or four years. To helpyou advance professionally, the Army Nurse Corps offerscourses that cover a wide range of nursing specialties. Youmay also apply for a master’s or doctoral nursing degreeprogram. While you’re working toward your degree andtaking a full course load, you may receive tuition, pay andallowances — so you can focus on learning, not financialobligations. Once you complete your master’s degree ina clinical specialty, you’ll have the necessary credentialsto take advantage of even more nursing opportunitiesavailable in the Army Nurse Corps.OBSTETRICAL/GYNECOLOGICAL NURSINGPrepares you to care for the full spectrum of antepartum,intrapartum, postpartum and gynecological patients. TheObstetrical and Gynecological Nursing course lasts 16weeks and is offered at Tripler Army Medical Center inHawaii.lasts 16 weeks and is offered at Walter Reed Army MedicalCenter in Washington, D.C. This course requires one yearof military nursing and one year of medical/surgical nursingexperience, which can be obtained simultaneously.ARMY PUBLIC HEALTH NURSINGProvides you with the skills and knowledge to function inspecialty areas of preventive medicine at an entry level. TheArmy Public Health Nursing course lasts nine weeks and isoffered at The Army Medical Department Center and School inTexas. This course requires a minimum of one year’s experiencein military nursing (any clinical specialty).EMERGENCY NURSINGPrepares you to function in any clinical setting that meetsthe environmental nursing standards for emergency nursing,focusing on fundamentals of emergency nursing such asrespiratory disease, cardiovascular disease, hematology/oncology, trauma management, hepatic disorders andinfectious diseases. The Emergency Nursing course lasts 14weeks and is offered at Brooke Army Medical Center in Texasand Madigan Army Medical Center.SPECIALTIES AS DIVERSE AS YOUR TALENTSCRITICAL CARE NURSINGCovers anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, physics,advanced CPR, inhalation therapy, diagnostic procedures,psychological and sociological problems, and ethical andlegal considerations in the care of critically ill patients. TheCritical Care Nursing course lasts 14 weeks and is offeredat San Antonio Military Medical Center in Texas, MadiganArmy Medical Center in Washington and Walter Reed ArmyMedical Center in Washington, D.C.PERIOPERATIVE NURSINGPrepares you for all phases of operating room nursing,including advanced skills related to specialty areas insurgery and the principles and techniques of supervisingand managing an operating room. The PerioperativeNursing course lasts 16 weeks and is offered at SanAntonio Military Medical Center and William BeaumontArmy Medical Center in Texas and Madigan Army MedicalCenter in Washington.PSYCHIATRIC/MENTAL HEALTH NURSINGWe are always looking for the finest nurses to join our team;professionals who are skilled in providing basic care to patients,as well as those with specialized areas of expertise. Included inthe many specialties the Army needs to better serve its patientpopulation are:CERTIFIED REGISTERED NURSE ANESTHETISTS (CRNA)As a CRNA in the Army, you will perform the specialized dutiesneeded to care for patients requiring general or regionalanesthesia, respiratory care, advanced cardiopulmonaryresuscitation, and/or fluid therapy, and apply your skills insurgical, diagnostic or therapeutic procedures.CRITICAL CARE NURSESAs a Critical Care Nurse in the Army, you need to be versatileand experienced in developing comprehensive plans of care forpatients experiencing acute trauma and/or critical illness. Youwill be exposed to a variety of nursing experiences, includingimplementing critical care intervention in a field environment,managing the treatment of a critical care patient in a militaryhealth care facility, and instructing and supervising a staff.Prepares you to provide specialized care to emotionallydistressed individuals both as inpatients and outpatients,and to provide consultation within the general hospitalcommunity. The Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing courseRPI 518 FS, June THERE’S STRONG. THEN THERE’S ARMY STRONG.Page 2

ARMY NURSE CORPSMEDICAL-SURGICAL NURSESAs a Medical-Surgical Nurse in the Army, you will providenursing care for Soldiers and their Families. You will beexposed to a variety of nursing experiences which will bechallenging and rewarding. You will have the opportunityto serve in a wide variety of organizations. The Army hasvaried facilities from small clinics to large state-of-the-artmedical centers. There are also opportunities to care for ourSoldiers in a field environment, ensuring they receive thebest possible medical care when it’s needed most.retirement benefits. In short, you will have a rewarding career.One that not only recognizes hard work and dedication, butencourages both your personal and professional growth.ACTIVE DUTY EDUCATIONAL AND FINANCIAL INCENTIVESIncentives and bonuses are available to qualifying activeduty nurses in certain specialties. Your local Army HealthCare Recruiter can help you determine your eligibility. (ArmyReserve incentives are described in the Army Reserve section.)MENTAL HEALTH NURSESBONUSAs a Mental Health Staff Nurse in the Army, you will providespecialized care to emotionally distressed individuals, bothinpatients and outpatients, and coordinate care withinthe general hospital community. As a Psychiatric NursePractitioner in the Army, you will serve in a vital role ofproviding comprehensive mental health care for Soldiers,their families and military retirees. This includes medicationmanagement, psychotherapy and crisis intervention. Inaddition, you will coordinate outpatient psychiatric serviceswith other services within the behavioral health care serviceline and serve as an expert educator, advisor and consultanton mental health issues to department chiefs and staff.You may be eligible for an accession bonus of 20,000 to 30,000. This incentive incurs an active duty service obligationof three to four years.PERIOPERATIVE NURSESAs a Perioperative Nurse in the Army, you will perform in allareas of operating room nursing including specialty areas ofsurgery. Your nursing experiences will include supervisingand managing an operating room whether it is in a fieldenvironment or at one of the Army’s most advanced medicalcenters.Additional opportunities exist for other specialty nurses.Your local Army Health Care Recruiter can provideinformation about your particular specialty, as well as awide range of financial and educational incentives.ACTIVE DUTY HEALTH PROFESSIONS LOAN REPAYMENTPROGRAM (ADHPLRP)Provides up to 120,000 (amount changes each fiscal year)for the repayment of qualified educational loans. The annualrepayment of 40,000 is contributed over a maximum ofthree years.Qualifying loans for repayment may include tuition,principal, interest, related expenses and related livingexpenses.Your active duty obligation to the Army is the minimumterm of service, which is three years.COMBINING THE BONUS WITH ACTIVE DUTY HEALTHPROFESSIONS LOAN REPAYMENTYou may opt to accept both an Accession Bonus of 10,000 andthe ADHPLRP. The combined active duty obligation to the Armyis six years.DIRECT ACCESSION PROGRAM FOR ANESTHESIA NURSINGPURSUE YOUR CAREER IN THE ARMYACTIVE DUTY SERVICEAs an active duty nurse, you will have the opportunity tobroaden your nursing experience beyond medical/ surgicalnursing, both through on-the-job learning and opportunitiesin the classroom. As an officer, your responsibilities andprivileges will expand as your leadership and clinical skillsdevelop. You’ll also be entitled to a wide array of benefits,from low- to no-cost medical and dental coverage toRPI 518 FS, June This is a graduate program for nurse anesthesia consisting ofone-year didactic instruction at the Army’s Graduate Programin Anesthesia Nursing at the Army Medical Department Centerand School (AMEDD C&S;) at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. Specialpermission may be obtained to attend the Uniformed ServicesUniversity of Health Sciences (USUHS) in Bethesda, Maryland.A Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) is conferred atgraduation.Students receive full pay and allowances commensuratewith their active duty rank during the entire program.Tuition expenses are paid by the Army.THERE’S STRONG. THEN THERE’S ARMY STRONG.Page 3

ARMY NURSE CORPSThe applicant must be selected for appointment andaccession onto active duty in the Army Nurse Corps priorto competing for selection in this program.Appointment and accession onto active duty in the ArmyNurse Corps may still be achieved even if the applicant isnot selected for this anesthesia program.Active duty service obligation is 54 months.DIRECT ACCESSION FOR POST GRADUATE PH.D. PROGRAMThis program allows a board certified registered nurseanesthetist who possesses an MSN in anesthesia with anopportunity to attend school full time to obtain a Ph.D.(pursuit of a doctorate in nursing practice does not meet theintent of this program).Will attend Uniformed Services University of the HealthSciences for a maximum of three years to fulfill degreerequirements.Receive full pay and allowances commensurate with theiractive duty rank during the entire program.The Army pays tuition expenses plus an annual 500book allowance.The applicant must be selected for appointment andaccession onto active duty in the Army Nurse Corps priorto competing for selection in the program.The active duty service obligation is 72 months.PSYCHIATRIC NURSE PRACTITIONER MASTER OF SCIENCEIN NURSING DEGREE PROGRAMUsing the Health Professions Scholarship Program, thisprogram provides BSNs the means to obtain a master’sdegree and become a psychiatric nu