Nurse Summer Training Program (NSTP)

NSTP is a clinical immersion experience and is the pinnacle training event for future Army Nurse leaders. The goal of the NSTP is to provide Army ROTC Nurse Cadets with clinical experience in a hospital setting while introducing them to the duties, roles, responsibilities and expectations of an Army Nurse Corps Officer. The nurse Cadet will exercise leadership skills in a hospital environment by planning, organizing, decision-making, implementing and being accountable for the outcome of nursing care. Nurse Cadets will collaborate with health care professionals on decisions related to patient care, management, as well as unit issues and strategies utilized in the provision of medical care to a select population. Cadets attend NSTP at 17 Medical Treatment Facilities (MTFs) around the world, to include Germany, Hawaii, and Korea.

NSTP is a minimum 28-day training program. Included in the 28-day time period are travel days, in-processing, out-processing, and graduation. Cadets are expected to work the same full-time schedule as their assigned preceptors and may work any shift that the preceptor works. The goal of the program is to attain 150 clinical hours of training time. 120 hours is the absolute acceptable minimum. Cadets should work full-time until out-processing, with normally occurring days off, regardless of the number of clinical hours attained. Cadets are NOT permitted to discontinue training when the minimum number of hours is attained.

Primary clinical assignments can be made throughout the inpatient clinical arena to include: medical/surgical, critical care, maternal-child, emergency room, same day surgery/recovery room, burn unit, perioperative, and inpatient psychiatry. Cadets assigned to the OR or inpatient psychiatry should be limited to those Cadets who have expressed a desire to work in those particular areas, as the opportunity for hands-on skill development in these areas is limited. Assignments that enable the Cadet to develop and practice hands-on clinical skills are of utmost importance. When making Cadet assignments, site coordinators should consider the availability of preceptors, other MTF obligations, patient census, and Cadets' areas of interest whenever possible.

Cadets may be entitled to the ROTC daily camp rate of pay during NSTP. Cadets must be in a training status for a minimum of 28 days to be eligible for the camp rate of pay. Cadets who do not complete 28 days of training are not eligible for the camp rate of pay for any of the completed training period. Due to the processing requirements for Cadet pay, Cadets will likely not receive pay until after completion of the NSTP rotation. Therefore, Cadets should plan to have supplemental funds on hand for the duration of NSTP. Cadet pay issues that arise during NSTP should be directed to the USACC Deputy Chief Nurse for further inquiry.

To be eligible for NSTP participation, nurse Cadets must have completed their junior academic year of nursing, with successful completion of at least one semester or two quarters of a clinical nursing course (excluding Community Health or Psychiatric Nursing.) Cadets attending NSTP are required to have all basic immunizations and a current American Heart Association Basic Life Support certification valid for the duration of NSTP. The Brigade Nurse Counselors will validate all applications prior to attendance at NSTP. Exceptions to policy will be considered on a case by case basis as determined by the USACC Deputy Chief Nurse.

Cadets must be in good academic standing at their respective schools of nursing and have passed an Army Combat Fitness Test in the semester prior to NSTP. In addition, Cadets must meet HT/WT standards in accordance with Army Regulation 600-9.