[RE Agent]

I encourage all nurses who can, and who are willing to join the military. I spent 10 years active duty in the navy, and one year in the reserves. I had to leave the reserves because I could no longer put up with the abuse, and disrespect civilian nurses must tolerate to keep working. To stay reserves you must work as a nurse. I sell real estate now, and I'm doing quite well for myself. My only regret is that I did not stay active duty.

[caffeinism]

Could you talk more about your personal experience going from military nursing to civilian. I am graduating soon from an ADN program and have looked into the military. I spent four years active enlisted duty in the navy on subs, but I am hoping that being a nurse and an officer in the military will be a better life than I experienced as an enlisted man.

[RE Agent]

Originally Posted by caffeinism

Could you talk more about your personal experience going from military nursing to civilian. I am graduating soon from an ADN program and have looked into the military. I spent four years active enlisted duty in the navy on subs, but I am hoping that being a nurse and an officer in the military will be a better life than I experienced as an enlisted man.

You must finish your BSN, or the navy won't take you. Talk to a recruiter, if your ADN grades are good, the navy may put you on a program that will pay for your degree, in exchange for time. In the navy you will have respect, and as a nurse corps officer you will have a say in patient care, and how things are run, but not at the start, you have to earn it. You can get your MSN paid for, if your grades are good >3.4 GPA. Go for it.

You will work with corpsman, the enlisted side. Corpsman are great! It's a close nit community. I often think of the corpsman I trained that are in Iraq right now. Frankly, I would rather take care of patients in Iraq, that work in a civilian hospital, and I mean every word of that statement.

Civilian nursing is really bad, there is a huge lack of leadership, and no respect. Go navy and stay 20 years. You will be working with the best nursing has to offer.

I'll return to the navy after I finish my MSN.

[smilin_gp]

I am a BSN-junior transfer student currently applying to the Navy's Nurse Candidate program and am planning on going to San Diego to talk with some of the officers there. It was very nice to read about someone having such a wonderful experience in active duty!

[DukePedsEducator]

I have been in nursing in all of the services (Don't ask, long story... ) I finally settled in the Navy and have never regretted my decision! I am a Reserve nurse and love it! Navy Medicine is the best (Ergo the Presedint goes to Bethesda, a NAVY medical center and the Surgeoin General is NAVY!) Go military, you won't regret it!

[jnette]

Wooot ! Go Navy !

My son is in the Navy.. currently in Norfolk on the USS GW, but going on to Great Lakes later this year for Hospital Corpsman schooling. From there he wants to specialize in radiology in hopes of getting a jumpstart on his Rad Tech degree when he gets out. (so if any of you Navy nurses have good advice for him on how best to persue his goals, feel free !)

I myself was an Air Force corpsman many eons ago and thought we were pretty dang good, but I continue to hear the Navy has the best !

Wish I had stayed in..it took me all my life to finally get my RN just two years ago !

Yep.. Navy is kool. (Actually it was my first choice, but my Dad was an officer in the Air Force, and at my young age back then.. you know how it is.. you still want to please your parents !) Still wish I had gone Navy. Oh well... next life, right?

[boulergirl]

A friend of mine was a Navy Nurse for 20 years, and he loved it.

[jnette]

OK.. have a question here.

My son wants to start school for Registered Rad Tech.

He's in the Navy. Which means he'll be deployed at times for six month stretches at sea. He wants to sign up for classes at the local college to start his education, but is wondering how will he be able to do this if and when he gets deployed. They can't do online courses aboard ship, but are there any "distance learning" options he could persue for those times he's out at sea?
He doesn't want to just "waste" those 6 month periods here and there while he's on shipduty, but wants to be able to continue his education.
For those of you who have been there, done that, any advice is greatly appreciated.

I think I'll also post this on the Distance Learning forum as well.

Thanx.

[DukePedsEducator]

Originally Posted by jnette

OK.. have a question here.

My son wants to start school for Registered Rad Tech.

He's in the Navy. Which means he'll be deployed at times for six month stretches at sea. He wants to sign up for classes at the local college to start his education, but is wondering how will he be able to do this if and when he gets deployed. They can't do online courses aboard ship, but are there any "distance learning" options he could persue for those times he's out at sea?
He doesn't want to just "waste" those 6 month periods here and there while he's on shipduty, but wants to be able to continue his education.
For those of you who have been there, done that, any advice is greatly appreciated.

I think I'll also post this on the Distance Learning forum as well.

Thanx.

I recommend he talks to his Career Counselor. Every unit has one (Navy Mandate). They should be able to help. Also, contact his Colleges counselor. They may be able to work something out.

[jnette]

Originally Posted by DukePedsEducator

I recommend he talks to his Career Counselor. Every unit has one (Navy Mandate). They should be able to help. Also, contact his Colleges counselor. They may be able to work something out.

He found a college right there wher he lives in Va. Beach, and we went to the ARRT website to make sure it was on the accredited list.. it is. He's going over there to enroll tomorrow.. or at least get on the waiting list, whichever comes first.

He will discuss his situation whith them at that time.. and as you said, he can also work with his Navy career counselor. He's still new at all this, so any little bits of advice are welcome.

I guess the proirity is to find out which pre reqs he will need and tackle them first. We're just wondering if he can do some of these while aboard ship if/when he gets deployed.