Become an Army Nurse

Nurse Types / Army Nurse

As an army nurse, you have the chance to care for patients while serving your country. You will help heal patients and educate them on their overall wellbeing. This is much the same as a civilian nurse.

Officers in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps lead nursing teams in caring for Army soldiers and their families. Army nurses are leaders, who command nurse corps units and coordinate soldiers at all levels from platoon to battalion and higher. 

This article will show you how to become an army nurse. 

• What is an Army nurse?
• What do Army nurses do?
• Where do Army nurses work?
• What are specific types of Army nurses?
• How do you become an Army nurse?
• What are additional requirements of Army nurses?
• What are the salary and career outlooks for Army nurses?
• Army nurse career advancement
• FAQs

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What is an Army nurse?

An army nurse is a nurse that has signed a contract to work for the Army branch of the U.S. military. Nurses in the Army can be either “enlisted” or “commissioned” soldiers. 

Enlisted Army nurses

The shortest route to becoming an Army nurse is to enlist or sign up for military service. High school graduates without nursing experience can follow this route. The Army sends enlisted recruits to Basic Training and provides specialized training for a military job, called a MOS. 

LPN/LVNs who want to join the Army follow this path. They go to Basic Training and then apply for a job as an Army Practical Nursing Specialist (MOS 68C). 

Enlisted soldiers can advance through the ranks with additional training and education. An Army LPN/LVN may apply to military academies or use military education benefits to enroll in a four-year nursing degree program. Upon graduation, they can receive a direct commission to become an officer.

Commissioned Army nurses

In the military, commissioned soldiers receive higher ranks, greater pay, and more opportunities. Nurses with a degree and experience in nursing can join the military to serve as an officer for a two-, four-, or six-year contract. 

Instead of Basic Training, officers attend the Basic Officer Leadership Course (BOLC). BOLC is an intensive course that provides physical, weapons, and leadership training to new military officers.

The Army Nurse Corps (ANC) is a special branch of the Army composed of active and reserve commissioned Army nurse officers. It is made up entirely of RNs. When most people consider Army nursing, this is what they think of most often. 

Qualities of a successful Army nurse

Working in war zones can be stressful. Caring for soldiers and veterans requires empathy.  So, a successful Army nurse must be compassionate and able to deal with high-stress situations. 

Successful Army Corps nurses must also have these qualities:

• Intelligence
• Self-discipline
• Confidence

These traits will serve them well as soldiers in the US military.

What do Army nurses do?

The Army Nurse Corps officers provide healthcare services for military personnel, their families, and military retirees. Occasionally, they may treat non-military patients such as contractors who are injured or suffer illness while working on a military site. 

In addition, they may support humanitarian missions, respond to natural disasters, or staff overseas field hospitals. 

In the Army Nurse Corps, there are five main specialties in which nurses may practice:

• Critical care
• Mental health
• Perioperative
• Emergency trauma
• Gynecology/Obstetrics

Nurses in these areas meet the U.S. military needs both domestically and abroad.

A day in the life of an Army nurse

A day in the life of an Army nurse looks very different, literally. That’s because army nurses typically wear an army combat uniform (ACU) to work, instead of scrubs. They work in Army medical facilities and clinics providing care to military servicemen and their families. 

A day in the life of an Army nurse includes tasks such as:

• Assessing and monitoring patients
• Documenting medical records
• Educating patients and families
• Meetings for collateral duties
• Random training

Army nurses typically work 10 or 12 hour shifts, and may be required to work mandatory overtime to meet the Army’s needs. 

Where do Army nurses work?

Army nurses train in army medical hospitals. They work at some of the world’s most advanced medical facilities. Healthcare providers in the Army gain access to sophisticated medical technologies and work with the latest therapies. 

Army Corps nurses work at: 

• Active war zones
• Army bases
• Aeromedical evacuation teams

What are specific types of Army nurses?

Currently, the Army Nurse Corps is recruiting for the following specific types of nursing specialties:

• Military Occupation Specialty (MOS) code 66B Army public health nurse – jobs available in regular Army (RA) active duty, army reserves (AR), and national guard (ARNG)
• Certified nurse midwife -RA, ARNG
• Critical care nurse – RA, AR, ARNG
• Emergency room nurse- RA, AR, ARNG
• Family nurse practitioner -RA, AR, ARNG
• Medical-surgical nurse – RA, AR, ARNG
• Nurse Anesthetist – RA, AR, ARNG
• OB/Gyn nurse – RA, ARNG
• Perioperative nurse – RA, AR, ARNG
• Psychiatric/Behavioral health nurse – RA, AR, ARNG 
• Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner – RA, AR, ARNG

How do you become an Army nurse?

Step 1 – Become a registered nurse

To join the Army Nurse Corps (ANC), you must be a registered nurse (RN).

Earn a BSN 

Becoming an Army nurse officer requires a bachelor’s degree or higher. Students can join the military as BSN-RN nurses or earn a BSN while in the military if they choose to enlist.

To join the ANC, Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) nurses will need to complete an RN-to-BSN degree. 

College graduates with a bachelor’s degree in another field can return to school and obtain a nursing degree in 18–24 months with an Accelerated BSN (ABSN) program. 

Pass the NCLEX exam

After earning a BSN degree, you must pass the NCLEX-RN exam to be recognized as a licensed professional nurse in your state. The NCLEX is computer adaptive and items are selected based on each candidate’s ability. If you fail the NCLEX, you must wait 45 days before taking it again.

Step 2: Accumulate experience

With a BSN degree and an active RN license, the next step to becoming an Army nurse is to gain experience. 

Civilian experience

Depending on the specialty, the U.S. Army may require one year or more of direct patient care experience. 

Talk to recruiter

An Army recruiter can help guide you in the application process. They are recruitment specialists who can tell you about the training and career opportunities you will have as you pursue an Army nurse career.

When you meet the criteria and are ready to join the military as an Army nurse, you must work with your recruiter to discuss your options. 

Apply

Your recruiter will help you apply for a direct commission if you have a BSN. The application process can take a year or more. 

Nurse applicants must submit the required documents and undergo an extensive background check. Then the application goes before a board periodically scheduled throughout the year. This part may take six months or more.

When the board members receive your application, they will review your documents and determine whether you should be selected. If so, you will receive a formal approval which may take another 1–3 months. 

When you receive your scroll approval, then you take an oath, sign your contract, and wait on your orders for officer training. 

Complete Basic Officer Leadership Course (BOLC)

Nurses selected for a commission must complete the 5-10 week commissioned officer leadership course. The training provides an introduction to military life and education on leadership in the Army. 

Step 3: Obtain certifications

Currently, there are no military-specific nursing certifications. All military nurses must have basic life support (BLS) or advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) certification depending on their job description. 

Many RNs pursue other specialty certifications related to their practice, such as mental health, OB/GYN, or ER/Trauma nursing. 

What are additional requirements of Army nurses? 

In addition to a BSN degree or higher and an active nursing license, Army nurses must also meet the following requirements.

• Must be a US citizen for active duty (permanent residents are only eligible for Army Reserves)
• Between 21 and 42 years old
• Must be eligible for Secret Security clearance

What are the salary and career outlooks for Army nurses? 

According to ZipRecruiter, pay for an Army nurse averages around $65,000 per year, while the majority make between $30,000 and $82,000. As an Army nurse’s rank increases, so do their pay. The highest paid Army nurses earn up to $176,000 annually.

Other benefits

The benefits package for Army nurses is substantial. Some incentives that Army nurses receive include:

• 30 days of paid vacation annually plus 11 federal holidays paid
• Free medical and dental care (Tri-care) for active duty with low-cost benefits for dependents
• Regular pay raises (annually for the first four years, then every two years after that)
• Regular promotions
• Free relocation assistance if you have to move to a different state
• Housing allowances and food stipends
• Generous retirement plan
• Low-cost life insurance
• Savings on gas, groceries, and other purchases via Post Exchange and Commissary
• Sign-on bonuses or student loan repayment

Army nurse career advancement

Army nurses can advance their careers by climbing the military ranks. The army rank structure determines pay and ranking based on experience. Commissioned officers in the ANC follow this ranking system.

• Second lieutenant
• First lieutenant
• Captain
• Major
• Lieutenant Colonel
• Colonel
• Brigadier General
• Major General

As your time with the Army increases, so does your rank.

Job satisfaction

Job satisfaction is rated high among military nurse jobs such as Army nursing. Research shows that Army nurses report desirable job characteristics, such as:

• Strong sense of teamwork
• Favorable work environments
• Pay and benefits
• Promotional opportunities
• Leadership and management experiences offered to junior officers

What are some things to consider?

Becoming a military nurse can be very rewarding and very demanding. You may be away on deployment for months at a time. You may work long hours that are physically and emotionally demanding. 

There are many questions to ask yourself before sign a contract:

• What do you want to get out your time in the military?
• Can I serve out my term?
• Will the military pay for my education?
• How are you at taking orders?

Next steps

Army nurses have many opportunities for growth that align with common career goals. 

Some climb the military ranks to gain more experience and status. A higher rank also leads to more responsibility and greater career opportunities. 

Nurses who enjoy learning can also take advantage of the military’s education benefits to explore additional training, certifications, and even advanced degrees. The Army may also provide continuing education at no cost. Incredible Health also offers free continuing education courses for nurses.

Whatever path an Army nurse decides to take, one thing is certain. A career as an Army nurse offers many rewards to those who dedicate their service to the nation’s defense.

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FAQs about Army Nurses