going to navy as RN w/out nursing experience

Dino · Apr 1, 2008

I am close to submitting my package for NCP program, and have a few questions:

1) I will be attending a 12 month 2nd degree BSN program, will I have an opportunity to study/prepare for the NCLEX before going off to OIS? IF not when do I get the chance to study to take this exam?

2) How much more difficult will I have it going into the Navy w/out any nursing experience other than school?

3) Do nurses in military eat their young? ie) higher ranked nurse officer, or rather than help you learn, instead don't help at all?

4) Also, if I went to a 12 month BSN program, would I only owe 2 years to the Navy?

I am thinking of making it a career in the Navy if I get accepted, but from what I keep hearing no matter where you go nursing is miserable and underpaid. I come from pharmaceutical sales, half the people I work with are nurses and dread the profession. And the nurses I run into at hospitals always ask if my company is hiring. Any comments on that?

5) Last question, my school costs 45k for the one year, is there any way the Navy can help out more than just the 10k and 1k/month while in school, that comes out to 22k before taxes, I'll be left with around 25+ thousand on my own, that doesn't seem like much of a burden taken off my back?

Thanks for any help and advice!