Army ROTC Nursing

A Career Unlike Any Other in Nursing

Being a nurse in the Army opens doors that civilian healthcare can't. As an officer in the Army Nurse Corps, you'll be valued as both a leader and a healthcare professional, with greater authority and responsibility than most nurses see in their early careers. You'll use your expertise to guide patient care decisions and coordinate multidisciplinary teams in dynamic environments, including settings most civilian nurses will never work in.

The Army Nurse Corps is an esteemed team committed to caring for America's service members and their families. After earning your BSN from Florida Southern and commissioning, you'll join that team with opportunities to specialize, advance, and lead from your earliest assignment.

Building Your Nursing Career at Florida Southern

At Florida Southern, Army ROTC cadets studying nursing receive mentorship and hands-on leadership development designed specifically for future military nurses. The ROTC experience equips you for the demands and rewards of a military nursing career: you'll take on significant responsibilities early on and make meaningful contributions as both a nurse and an Army officer, applying the leadership foundation you built as a cadet.

The path runs alongside your nursing degree:

• Years 1 and 2: Earn your BSN coursework while enrolled in the Basic Course (MSL 1001–2002), gaining leadership fundamentals alongside your nursing classes.
• Summer between junior and senior year: Complete the Nurse Summer Training Program (NSTP) at an Army medical center.
• Years 3 and 4: Continue your BSN with the Advanced Course (MSL 3001-4002), preparing for commissioning.
• After graduation: Commission as a Second Lieutenant. Pass the NCLEX-RN exam, attend the Basic Officer Leadership Course (BOLC) at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, and report to your first assignment at an Army medical center.

Nurse Summer Training Program (NSTP)

The Nurse Summer Training Program is a four-week clinical elective for ROTC nursing cadets, typically completed between junior and senior year. It puts you in an Army hospital alongside experienced Army Nurse Corps officers, giving you hands-on clinical experience that goes far beyond what most civilian nursing students get during their summer breaks.

During the program, you'll manage patient care, make critical decisions, and develop confidence under the guidance of Army mentors. NSTP exposes you to the structure and demands of military healthcare, preparing you for your future role as an Army nurse and helping you build leadership skills in a real military healthcare environment.

NSTP is voluntary but highly recommended. It's a pivotal step in shaping future Army Nurse Corps officers, and it's a chance to see firsthand what your career as an Army nurse will look like.

Nursing Scholarships

Nursing students can apply for any Army ROTC scholarship. The Army ROTC Nursing Scholarship covers everything a nursing student needs to focus on their education:

• 100% of college tuition and mandatory fees
• Room and board at Florida Southern
• A $1,200 annual book allowance
• A $420 monthly stipend for personal expenses
• NCLEX study materials and exam fees

The full cost-of-attendance support, combined with the leadership development of ROTC, makes the path to becoming an Army nurse one of the strongest ways to pursue a nursing career.

How to apply:

• High school seniors can apply for the Army Nursing Scholarship through the National High School Scholarship program. Applications open in June of your rising senior year.
• Current college students can compete for a Nursing Scholarship by enrolling in ROTC and contacting our recruiting team.

For full scholarship details, see Army ROTC Enrollment page