Navy Medicine > Nurse Corps

Thank you for your interest in Navy Medicine. The Nurse Corps includes over 2,566 active-duty and reserve nurses serving in various specialties worldwide. Navy Nurses have been providing excellent care to Sailors and Marines at medical treatment facilities, shipboard and Marine Corps assignments since the establishment of the Navy Nurse Corps in 1908. Nurses play a vital role in the integrated healthcare team, bringing their unique experiences to provide the best healthcare possible while also teaching Hospital Corpsman basic healthcare skills. I encourage you to utilize this website as a starting point for discussing Naval Service as a nurse with others. The decision to serve your country is commendable. Our Sailors and Marines require nurses who possess expertise, quality, compassion, and advocacy. Should you choose to join us, you will truly understand the special calling of service. Best of luck in your pursuit of nursing.

Captain Robert Hawkins
Chief, Nurse Corps, U.S. Navy

The Navy Nurse Corps is currently comprised of more than 2,566 active duty and reserve nurses who provide care or support patient care in more than 20 specialties. Navy nurses are stationed at military treatment facilities, medical education institutions, clinics, hospitals and research units located within the United States and various overseas locations. Navy nurses provide direct support to Navy and Marine Corps commands, squadrons, battalions and units. Navy nurses deploy in support of combat operations, disaster relief, and humanitarian assistance missions, providing the best care our nation can offer ashore and afloat.

Specialties

Ambulatory care nursing
Critical care
Education and training management
Emergency/trauma
Family nurse practitioner
Health care business analytics
Maternal infant nursing
Medical-surgical
Mental health
Neonatal critical care
Nurse anesthesia
Nursing education
Nurse midwife
Nursing researcher
Operational nursing
Pediatric nurse practitioner
Pediatric nursing
Perioperative
Psychiatric health nurse practitioner
Public health

Navy Nurse Corps Direct Accession:
- Nurse Candidate Program (NPC) you can concentrate on being the best nurse possible and look forward to a great career as an officer in the Unites States Navy.
- The NCP provides a monthly stipend for full time students in accredited Bachelor of Science Nursing programs accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) or the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission, Inc (NLNAC). Students can enroll after their sophomore year. This is not ROTC and no drill time is involved.
- Each NCP participant has an opportunity to receive a signing bonus. The first installment is paid within 2-4 weeks of your benefit start date once the Navy receives your NCP enlistment documents, and the second installment is paid after 6 months in the program.
- NCP participants receive a month (taxable) stipend paid in (2) increments on the 1st and the 15th of the month for 24 months while in the program. The stipend stops on the graduation date. The applicant will receive no further money until you report for active duty.
- After graduation, participants join the Navy Nurse Corps as an Officer, with the opportunity to earn a competitive salary, regular promotions, comprehensive medical and dental coverage, low cost travel opportunities, excellent retirement and educational benefits, further training, and a rewarding clinical practice. Additional benefits include 30 days of paid vacation a year, use of military recreational facilities around the world, the opportunity to serve around the world in a variety of facilities, and be a part of supportive team of highly trained professionals. The NCP nurse may also specialize in a specific nursing field as their skills and experience evolve over time.
- Tuition, Reimbursement, Annual Training. NCP participants are NOT ENTITLED to tuition payments, reimbursement for books, fees, equipment, etc., or annual training.

Direct Accession (DA) Nurse Program for Practicing Nurses:
- The Navy Nurse Corps is currently comprised of more than 4,000 active duty and reserve nurses who provide care or support patient care in more than 20 specialties. Navy nurses are stationed at military treatment facilities, medical education institutions, clinics, hospitals and research units located within the United States and various overseas locations. Navy nurses provide direct support to Navy and Marine Corps commands, squadrons, battalions and units. Navy nurses deploy in support of combat operations, disaster relief, and humanitarian assistance missions, providing the best care our nation can offer ashore and afloat.
- Direct Accession Bonus is offered to all nurses who have graduated from a Accredited Commission for Education in Nursing facility with a baccalaureate degree or higher in nursing. Additionally, all applicants must have successfully passed the Registered Nurse National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX). There are additional monetary accession bonuses for Critical Care nurses with 2 or more years of full-time clinical experience.
- Incentive pays are offered for Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) for those that are credentialed and practicing as a CRNA and have completed the qualifying training required to be designated and as a CRNA.
- The Navy also offers Retention Bonus’ for Nurse Corps officers residing on permanent active duty with a nursing focus in in the following subspecialties: Medical-Surgical, Labor and Delivery, Mental Health, Emergency Room, Perioperative, Critical Care, CRNA, Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner, and Nurse Midwife.

Navy Reserves:
- If you’re a practicing nurse opting to serve part-time in the Navy Reserve, you may qualify for an immediate, one-time sign-on bonus. Depending on your specialty, you may have the option of choosing between a sign-on bonus, nursing school loan repayment assistance or specialty pay.
- If you’re a graduate student enrolled in a postgraduate nursing program in certain nursing specialties and opting to serve part-time in the Navy Reserve, you may qualify for up to for nursing school loan repayment assistance.
- In return of your service and dedication, the Navy Reserve will provide you with benefits to enhance both your military and civilian lives. Benefits include receiving four days of basic pay for only two days worked each drill weekend, educational and financial assistance, VA guaranteed hone loans, low cost life insurance, Military Commissary and Navy Exchange privileges for you and your family, access to Officers’ clubs worldwide, special pay incentives for in-demand skill sets, retirement benefit after 20 qualifying years, TRICARE Reserve Select health insurance for you and your family.
- If you’re a high school student or college student opting to serve full-time in the Navy, you could apply for a nursing scholarship through the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC). The NROTC scholarship program could cover the full cost of your nursing education at some of the best colleges and universities.

Nurse Corps Graduate Program:
- The Nurse Corps Graduate Programs provide central management and oversight of all aspects of graduate and professional education and training for Navy Nurse Corps officers. Graduate education is one of the many requirements to advance your career in the Nurse Corps. Officers may obtain a graduate degree on their own time through the tuition assistance program or apply for Full Time Duty Under Instruction (DUINS). DUINS offers the opportunity to attend school on a full-time basis at no personal cost while receiving all benefits, pay and allowances of their paygrade. Officers must have a minimum of two years’ commissioned experience to apply. Depending upon the degree applied for, students may attend one of three military service schools: Naval Post Graduate School, Monterey California, Army Baylor, Waco, Texas, and The Uniformed Services University, Bethesda MD. Students not in the degree fields provided by service schools may select a nationally accredited civilian college and universities leading to the requested subspecialty code.
- The NC Graduate Programs also provides program management for perioperative nurse training and funding procedures relating to professional credentials and participation in certification, recertification, maintenance of certification (MOC), and specialty board examinations for active duty Navy NC officers.

If you would like more information about the Nurse Corps, please email: usn.ncr.bumedfchva.list.recruitment---navy-nurse-corps@health.mil

Bureau of Medicine and Surgery
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General Navy Medical Inquiries (to Bureau of Medicine and Surgery): usn.ncr.bumedfchva.mbx.bumed-general-inquiries@health.mil