Life as a Navy nurse (pros and cons)

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Hello all,

I've been thinking about making the Navy my new home (with my wife and 4 children) so I've contacted a recruiter and all is looking well so far. I'm 33 years old and an experienced critical care nurse. My wife is a nurse critical care nurse as well. We've thought long and hard about this move and we're going for it. We love the idea of being able to move around from time to time, we love being by the water, and the sign on bonus, benefits and retirement are very attractive. However, we want the inside knowledge before we plunge in. What navy life is like, do you move around a lot, how frequent are postings and deployments, is it better to live on base, is childcare care readily available, do kids go to school on base, what kind of hours are you normally expected to work, is it ok to moonlight, how difficult is it to move up in rank, and whatever else you can think of!

Also, with my wife being a nurse we're trying to decide if she should join as well or just get a civy job (or Navy contract) where ever we're posted. What are the benefits of both husband and wife being in the Navy and what are the drawbacks from your points of view?

Thank you for reading and sharing,

LilBigAl.

aaronracca said:
i am 23 and am currently working towards my lvn however i am planning on doing a lvn to bsn bridge primarily so i may join the navy. I love medicine however i do have dreams of working directly with men on the ground i.e marine infantry, seals etc. is this at all possible? In the navy or any service is this at all possible? also does anyone have any advice as to wheather i should join after i get my lvn as a reserve or should i just wait to join until i complete my bsn? please any advice/ insight/info is very appreciated.

As prior enlisted Navy (ABE2); I will tell you if you go in with LVN/LPN you will be an enlisted corpsman and unless you get a guaranteed C School in your contract theres no telling what youre specific duty assignment will be. Im Currently Working on my RN to go back with a commission. In the Navy, wearing Khaki increases your quality of life 10 fold no matter the rate. So id hold off and get the BSN first if your dream is to go Navy.

As far as Boots on the Ground, you can sign up for specific tours as a nurse. But if you take Orders to a Marine base or squad or whatever they call it, Your chances of going are even with theirs.

SEALS is a special program with an Insane Attrition rate. And if you dont make it, any bonus, push button rank, school guarantee, etc goes out the window with it. They then usually give you some rate choices you can pursue that are in high demand or go what they call undesignated (Enlisted of course). As for the officer side of seals...not a clue.

You can however get a commission in the ARMY Reserve with an ADN if thats something you would like to try.

As for picking your shift....Ive never seen such an animal in the Navy. Could have changed or be different for Officers...But i Doubt it.

1 Votes

Are you able to pick your own shift as a Navy Nurse Officer

Specializes in healthcare12 years.

I am a ICU/CCU nurse I also work perdiem as ER nurse and perdiem as flight nurse i wll be done with my Bachelors in March two classes shy, does anyone know how I can get into CRNA program do I join military or do I do it as a civilian?

What is life like at one of the Navy Hospitals, for example, in San Diego? How intense are the work days? Do you see the same things over and over?

I couldn't find any info on here about the waiting list for nurses. I've heard there is a 2 year wait for nurses trying to get into the Navy. Is this true? Are they still offering a sign on bonus to nurses as of 2011?

Specializes in OB, oncology, med/surg.

I am a RN, 29 yo, married with 4 children and I am in the process of joining. They are offering sign on bonuses at this time-I believe $20,000 for 2 yrs and $30,000 for 3. I am planning on going in until I retire since that is part of the perks for me. From my research I believe that it is a great opportunity, sign on bonus, if you extend your stay they repay school loans up to $40,000, free health care, housing allowances if not on base and no housing cost if on base, and my family and I are wanting to travel. Good luck to you.

nydoll911 said:
I am a RN, 29 yo, married with 4 children and I am in the process of joining. They are offering sign on bonuses at this time-I believe $20,000 for 2 yrs and $30,000 for 3. I am planning on going in until I retire since that is part of the perks for me. From my research I believe that it is a great opportunity, sign on bonus, if you extend your stay they repay school loans up to $40,000, free health care, housing allowances if not on base and no housing cost if on base, and my family and I are wanting to travel. Good luck to you.

Who told you they'd repay school loans up to 40k? I am in the process currently of applying into the program, took me 3 weeks to finish the entire application and get my medical exam done by MEPS. My CPO said they don't do Loan repayment programs anymore. But i'm getting 5k starting my junior year, and 1k every month until i graduate and 5k Christmas of my junior year.

As far as applying 2 years in advance, you don't have to, but it's encouraged if you know that this is something you want to do. I'm applying now and i'm only a sophomore in the program. But! i'm glad that i looked into it because there were only 7 spots open for 2014 as of October 2011. Like I said, i just finished my app and i'll know next month.

i ask that everyone could please pray for me. This is something I've wanted to do since i was 10 years old.

And if anyone has any questions about the process, i'd be more than happy to help in any way i can.

Maybe i should start my own thread on here about my process....

1 Votes

Hey pitbill2o08,

Just following up with you to see how it went? Hopefully ok, I actually have an app. Friday to meet with a recruiter I just wanted to see if you could give me some quick feedback on what they told you.

Thanks and all my best wishes

1 Votes
Meli23xo said:
Hey pitbill2o08,

Just following up with you to see how it went? Hopefully ok, I actually have an app. Friday to meet with a recruiter I just wanted to see if you could give me some quick feedback on what they told you.

Thanks and all my best wishes

Thanks, i just posted that yesterday... so not much has changed. I'm just playing the waiting game until they make a decision, unless they need to verify anything on my application or med recs.

I know that they review applications twice a month, if i recall correctly. You're going to want to talk to another officer, not a recruiter. Recruiter's at a recruiting station recruit enlisted individuals. At least the one's around here do. But that was my first step also, and they just referred me to my Chief Petty Officer (CPO). My CPO is wonderful, and very knowledgeable and she's basically been a beacon of information for me. I'm not too sure what the recruiters down there will have you do, but if they ask you to take the ASVAB, tell them you don't have to, Officers DO NOT take the ASVAB. You don't want them to con you into enlisting. Just have them refer you to a Chief Petty Officer who can get the ball rolling on the application. It's very extensive, you need multiple background checks, many references (professional, colleagues, even references to validate where you've lived the past 7 years!) And your physical exam starts at 6am and lasts until about 12pm or 2, depending on how many people are there. I took mine with a bunch of enlists the other week and do a VERY thorough eval on you. Any medications or surgeries you've had your entire life, you need all the documents on them faxed to your CPO, it's just very extensive and time consuming. I'm happy it's all done. But, there is so much that needs to be gathered that i wouldn't doubt if i missed something, they ask me to verify my information, etc.

I'm just happy i have my mom's support, I'm her only son and you know how moms get.

I think the most fun part of the whole process would have to be the phone interview you get to have with two Lieutenant Commanders who are already USN nurses. They were just wonderful, and very thorough also. It was like a job interview, but only 3 times more nerve racking. They check to see how well you speak, not only your answers to their questions. But when they told me about themselves and all the accomplishments they've done, i knew right then, that this was for me.

I'm very excited. ? By the way, what state are you in? I'll PM you my number in case you have any questions immediately before your interview or anytime, just text/call. The name's Andrew! ?

1 Votes

Sorry Meli, i don't really know how to PM on here.. if you do just PM.

But one more thing i just remembered...

If you are interested in furthering your education with the NAVY and want to get your masters or Doctorate, they bread all their own DNPs and CRNAs and i believe the school is in Washington DC. But they have a lot of specialties, much like civi nurses do. But, in order to go on to your MSN, you need to prove your proficient in the MED/SURG unit for 1-2 years, i can't remember exactly how long. That's their stipulation, and you'll have to pay back the money they pay your schooling with, with service time. I'm thinking about retiring with them so it's ok with me.

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Hi Pitbull2008,

I've been browsing around this site, trying to get a feel for everything, and I saw your posts about your expriences with getting into the Navy (I know these posts are over a year ago, hopefully you'll see this!) I'd very much like to join the Navy either while I'm in nursing school (hope to get accepted to OHSU this summer) or after I graduate. I have two uncles and an aunt that served, plus I feel like it's something I really should do, lots of excellent learning opportunities and experiences. But reading over what it takes to apply makes me so nervous! I have some medical history including two surgeries (ACL repair and rehab at 23, tonsils out at 24) plus I've been to councilors for various issues including depression. I know that lying to the MEPS is a federal offense, and I fully intend to be honest and own everything in my past. Do you have any insight or advice for someone else going through this process? I know my records will be like an open book, and I might not even get accepted. I guess what I'm trying to ask is, any ideas for someone who is really nervous about the whole process of strangers looking at everything about you?

Thank you very much, hope to hear from you (or anyone else who may have insights or advice)

shrkbyte

It wasn't a year ago, It was just a couple months ago.

I'd say don't be nervous, and don't let them know that you're nervous... or just get over it.

If they see that you can't handle applying to a very demanding position, then they'll know you can't handle the very position you're applying for. Trust me on that. The interviewers who have been Navy nurses for 10-15 years told me that there will be times when you know you can't do it. But you're going to have to. And they tell you that everyday is going to get harder but you have to push through it. I see it as a challenge because i'm competitive.

If you have the will to do it, you will get it going. If you don't.. well then you must not want it that bad. And that's ok. Not everyone does this. Not everyone invests this amount of time into a job... years before they're going to graduate. But if you really really want this.. then you'll find a way to get it. Just get started.

Also, if you can't handle people knowing everything about you, that's the way it's going to be from the day you get in, until the day you get out. Gotta get over that.

The depression thing is iffy. I remember they did a specific mental analysis on me that took all of 30 minutes, and i had no prior thoughts of suicide, depression or any of that. SO, i don't know what else they'll ask you as far as going into detail. I'm sure if you have paperwork to document that you're fine that they'll be ok with it, or want more info.

I'm not trying to discourage you, but it sounds like you're already psyching yourself out of it, and have made up your mind. But that's just my take on it. I'm pragmatic.

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