Nurses in the U.S. military gain valuable experience and skills by working in a variety of settings, on and offshore. These skills are desired by employers. Learn how to become a military nurse by earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree through an accelerated program.
Becoming a nurse in the military is a meaningful way to combine sense of duty with compassion for others. Fulfilling this role could allow you to serve your fellow service members overseas or at home. Military nurses provide essential care across all branches of the U.S. armed forces.
If you are wondering how to become a registered nurse in the military, there are foundational steps that are common to both military and civilian nurses. This includes earning a nursing degree from an accredited institution and passing the NCLEX licensing exam.
If you hold a previous non-nursing bachelor’s degree, you could be eligible to earn your Bachelor of Science in Nursing in as few as 12 months through Mercer University’s Second Degree Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) track. After earning a BSN degree and attaining licensure, you will have the foundation needed to enter this rewarding career path.
What Is a Military Nurse?
Military nurses are officers who hold BSN degrees and are licensed just as civilian RNs are. They provide evidence-based care to members of the U.S. armed forces in a variety of settings –– from hospitals to the battlefield. Their goal is to ensure the health and readiness of service members around the world.
Benefits of Becoming a Military Nurse
There are many benefits to becoming a military nurse. Military nurses:
- Are commissioned officers
- Earn a competitive salary and benefits package
- Work in a variety of settings, including hospitals and clinics, ships, and combat zones in the U.S. and overseas
- Interact with diverse patient populations
- Have opportunities for advanced training and developing leadership skills
In addition, military nurses can work in a myriad of specialties and receive special training. Practice areas include:
- Ambulatory care nursing
- Critical care
- Medical-surgical
- Mental health
- Neonatal critical care
- Nursing education
- Research
- Pediatrics
- Perioperative
- Public health
Military RNs typically receive a standard salary and benefits, just as a civilian nurse does. They also have opportunities for advanced training and leadership or management roles like advanced practice nurse practitioner (APRN).
Financial Benefits
Nursing candidates might also receive financial benefits like scholarships or a signing bonus.
The U.S. Army’s Health Professionals Scholarship Program, for example, covers tuition and other funds for qualified candidates. In the U.S. Navy’s nurse candidate program, full-time students in accredited BSN programs receive a monthly stipend and grants.
How Much Are Nurses in the Military Paid?
The base salary for military nurses depends on their grade, years of service, location, and other factors. They also can receive additional compensation for earning board certifications or in the form of housing and other allowances.
The U.S. Department of Defense’s most recently published base pay table can be found online.
For comparison, civilian registered nurses earn an annual median wage of $86,070, higher than many other occupations, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Civilian nurses who work for government agencies earn a median annual wage of $99,840.
An accelerated nursing program is a great way to begin your career faster. Learn more.
How Do I Become a Nurse in the Military?
Like civilian nurses, commissioned military nurses must earn a bachelor’s degree and a nursing license prior to entering their roles. Steps include:
Earn a Nursing Degree
Obtaining a nursing degree can help launch your career as a nurse. Many employers prefer nurses with a BSN and favor veterans due to the skills and experiences they gain while serving.
The length of time it takes to become a nurse depends on the nursing program in which you enroll.
While a traditional BSN degree typically requires four years to complete, some universities, like Mercer in Atlanta, Georgia, offer accelerated degree pathways for those who already have a non-nursing degree. Mercer’s accelerated nursing track enables students to complete their nursing degree in as few as 12 months (not including any necessary prerequisites).
Benefits of an ABSN track include:
- An accelerated timeline
- Several start dates per year
- Online or blended learning options
- Ability to start practicing skills sooner in labs and clinicals
- Diverse backgrounds and supportive like-minded fellow students
Once you have earned your BSN, you should be prepared to take the licensing exam.
Become Licensed
The licensing exam to become a registered nurse, the NCLEX, uses realistic case studies to measure your ability to think critically and make the right decisions about a patient’s care.
The key to passing this exam is to start preparing as soon as you begin nursing school. Be sure to lean on your cohort members, instructors, and test-prep resources.
Other Requirements
Each branch of the military has certain requirements that recruits must meet. These vary by branch and whether you want to be an officer or enlisted personnel. These might relate to:
- Citizenship
- Age limit
- Physical fitness
- Education
- Passing the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB)
- Commitment to service
To be a military nurse candidate in the Navy, for example, you must:
- Be a U.S. citizen
- Be under 42 years old
- Meet the branch’s physical fitness standards
- Be enrolled in an accredited nursing program and earn a BSN within 24 months
- Commit to active-duty service obligations
A recruiter from your branch of interest can outline the specific requirements.
You might wonder: Do military nurses go through basic training? Yes, to meet military nurse requirements, they must complete some form of basic training. The specific program depends upon the branch of service.
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ROTC Option
If you are planning to earn an undergraduate nursing degree, enrolling in a Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program through the Air Force, Army, or Navy could be an option. This college-based program trains students to become commissioned officers upon graduation.
Students in the Navy Nurse ROTC program participate in hands-on training and spend time at a Navy hospital and ship. Nursing cadets in the Army ROTC, meanwhile, can elect to participate in a summer program, where they work at various military hospitals throughout the country and internationally.
ROTC candidates also can receive scholarships.
Note that if you are enrolled as an ABSN student, the accelerated nature of the track and schedule may not provide the flexibility to also join the ROTC. A college enrollment counselor can help you determine the feasibility of this pathway.
Launch Your Nursing Journey at Mercer
If you already hold a bachelor’s degree, then Mercer’s ABSN track can accelerate your path to becoming a commissioned nurse in whichever branch of the military you choose.
Mercer’s BSN is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), which satisfies the military’s accredited program requirement.
Mercer’s ABSN track contains three main components:
- Online coursework centering on basic nursing concepts
- Hands-on experience in our state-of-the-art skills and simulation labs at our learning site in Atlanta
- Clinical experience in a variety of settings throughout the Atlanta area
Contact a Mercer enrollment counselor today to learn how you can earn a nursing degree on an accelerated timeline.