Military Nursing Questions Answered

[navyman7]

Hello. I have seen many questions posted about the recruiting, the military, and future military experiences, I wanted to start a Q & A forum where you can ask questions related to the military from someone who is in the military.

- I am NOT a recruiter. I am fellow nurse who wants to inform others so they will be more informed than I was when I joined.

- I have been in the U.S. Navy for almost 3 years now. I have worked in the ICU for the same amount of time. I have also deployed as a Navy Nurse overseas. I am currently pursuing a masters in anesthesia degree.

- I will do my best to answer all questions. I will not lie to you about the military. If the subject is sensitive and possible jeopordize my career I will not answer you publicly about the issue but in a private email response.

Thanks and good luck.

[oaktown2]

navyman7 - thanks for all your insight. Is there anything that you wished you had known prior to joining the Navy? And what is the biggest different you see between friends in civilian nursing roles and Navy nursing?

[utamaverick]

Hello navyman7,

I'm currently in the NCP program and set to graduate in May. I've been told not to contact my recruiter until mid-March regarding my orders. I've been getting a lot of questions from family about what my schedule is going to be like after graduation. I graduate on May 12 and want to take the NCLEX as soon as possible. We are given a 30-45 day window to study for and take the NCLEX. Once I pass the NCLEX, I'm guessing there will be a window between that and going to ODS. During this time period, is this when we will be coordinating living arrangements, etc? Sorry for being vague, it just seems very cloudy what happens after graduation and NCLEX.

Thanks for your time.

[navyman7]

GuelnRN: I don't know much about the reserves, however I have heard that the reserves usually only take practicing RN's with experience. As for the NCP I agree with you, It sounds great in the begining but by the time papers are signed and you start getting paid you lose out on a bunch of money. I tried the NCP but it didn't work out. I came in as a direct accession. I was much happier about that process, plus the signing bonus was larger than what my friend had earned in the NCP. In addition to the money, you can choose how your time commitment. 3-5 years. Hope this helps. I will attempt to send you a message with my email. if i get spammed then it's over.

[navyman7]

Oaktown2: Where to start? Here is a list of some of the things that have been a thorn in my side: All the excesses that occur drive me and many of us crazy. No freedom to choose schedules, EXCESSIVE paperwork to do anything like take vacations, classes, overtime without any kind of compensation. Working hours that my civilian counterparts don't have to. Deploying is rough, and little to no support from the home command. Getting screwed every year by congress with low pay. NO choice of where to work in the hospital.

With all that said, I love where I work. I love the people I care for. I love getting to serve my country and serving those who have served. I kind of wish I was a civilian working in the exact same place as I do now, I just never knew such positions existed before I started with the navy.

In regards to navy vs civilian nursing. I have worked in both fields. I love the patient population in the Navy. In a civilian hospital you take care of everyone. You get all kinds of people. In the Navy you're all of a similar mindset. I also never felt appreciated in the civilian hospital or felt like I was making a difference. I don't get much thanks now, but neither do those who I care for. In addition to that, as a civilian you get paid more, get to choose your schedule (relatively speaking). There is far less bureaucracy in the civilian world too. Hope this helps a little.

[oaktown2]

Thanks navyman7, that does help. I think I just have to go for it. They may own me, but I want to serve!

[navyman7]

UtaMaverick: It’s been a while since I had to do any of this but I will do my best. First of all you will negotiate your orders before you graduate. Actually you should be doing this soon, within the next month or so. After graduation you will need to take and pass the nclex. You don’t want to be that nurse at officer development school (ODS) that didn’t pass the first time. You should have your orders to RI before you take your nclex, but this may vary. Sometime after the nclex you fly to RI for 5 weeks of “officer training” or ODS. If you’re married then your spouse will be negotiating the move to your duty station while you are at ODS. (some of this may vary depending on how soon you go to RI after the nclex.)

It seems to me that this is still confusing; I will explain what we did in hope of clarifying things a little.

I negotiated orders in feb or march. I graduated in may, passed in june. ODS in mid july. My wife and I house hunted before I left to RI in june. While I was in RI, my wife worked with the moving office to get us moved from A to B. After ODS I flew to my new duty station. (I think that the navy will only fly you from ODS to your new duty station, not back to your home of record location) Once I got to my duty station I could have taken some leave or immediately get to work/orientation. Let me know if you have more questions or need further clarification.

[GuelnRn]

Hello navyman,

thanks for all of the detailed responses. I had a question with your reply to utamaverick. Earlier on this thread you told me you didn't do NCP and were under direct accession when you came into the Navy. How is it then that you were negotiating orders before graduating with your BSN. Aside from the NCP, is there another way to apply to the the Nurse Corps. while still in school?

[navyman7]

guelrn: in regards to your ncp/da question. I applied to the Navy while still in school via the direct accession program. Since they turned down me for NCP I reapplied via the DA route while still in school. I know it has gotten harder for people to get into the Navy now, so they may not do this anymore. But when I joined I was able to negotiate coming into the Navy straight from school. I also had experience as a rn before I came into the Navy, about a year in a non military hospital so maybe that's why I was able to pursue that route.

[harrelj1]

Hey navyman,

First, thanks for all the help. It can be hard to trust what you're getting from a recruiter. I've been to talk to one and it all seems fantastic. My only concern is that he told me that after I graduate nursing school I'm guaranteed to be stationed in one of three places as a new naval nurse: San Diego, Bethesda, or Norfolk. This seems a little to good to be true. He also told me that I wouldn't be deployed in my first round of service. I have no problem with deployment but I have a wife trying to coordinate some of her post graduate plans and to be honest I want to know if my recruiter is being honest. Any help would be great. Thanks.

[RN_survivor]

hi navyman7,

im an RN (BSN), with 7 yrs experience in Med-Surg/Tele, and i interested in joining the Navy as a Reserve. i have a few questions before i swim right in to this big ocean!

1. do i still need to take the ASVAB?

2. do i need to go to bootcamp?

3. will i choose the hospital where i am gonna work at? or do they choose it for me? ; i work in Med-Surg, do u think they'll consider my options if i wanna try and work in the ER? do they provide training?

4. will i get to deployed out of state / out of the country even if im only a Reserve?

5. will i be excused from my civilian job just in case i get deployed?

6. do they give u a sign-on bonus as a Reserve? if yes, is it lump sum?

7. whats the minimum yrs of service for a Reserve?

8. i live in LA, do they send me to san diego to work?

9. will u be an officer right away if you're an RN or has finished the BSN?

10. will i get a Navy Uniform even if you're a Reserve?

sorry too many questions haha! but thanks for your time, though! i wanna know more info before i meet up with a Recruiter. they said that they would talk all good about the Navy to sell it, but wont tell you the not-so-good-ones haha! thanks!

[navyman7]

harrelji1: Those 3 hospitals are where they try there hardest to send all the newly commissioned nurses so that part is true. As with all of my posts, there are exceptions to the rule especially in the military. As for the no deployment, I heard that lie too. I deployed after 1 1/2 years into my contract. Deployments depend on many factors like; where you work, where you work, where you work. Typical deployment heirarchy goes something like this: ICU, ED, CCU/other critical care areas, med/surg nursing. You're recruiter may be telling the truth, he also may be leaving some crucial things out or he doesn't know. I have seen both instances. Good luck.

[navyman7]

RNSurvivor: no asvab, that's for the enlisted only. No bootcamp, medical/nurse corps goes to 5 weeks of ODS. YOu may request where you want to go, but the needs of the navy always come first, typically its: bethesda/portsmouth/sandiego. yes you can work other areas but if they hire you as a medsurg nurse then that's where you will most likely work. there are more reservists deploying than active duty. as for the excuse, yes thay have to excuse you if you get deployed. I have no idea about the bonus' or time commitments for the reserves. As for san diego, most likely. They want to save money too, but again nothing is for sure. To be a navy nurse you have to have you're BSN they won't commission you without it. All officers AD & reserve get uniforms. You will have to pay for them though. The basics will cost you around 2k, Sorry but there spendy. Good luck, and make sure you talk to a nurse corp recruiter.