Military Nursing Questions Answered

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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.

What all paperwork do you do after you are in and switch from enlistee to officer. Do you have to reapply for your security clearance? redo that whole 10 page application?

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Specializes in Critical Care Emergency Military Nursing.

Robinflynn: I don't have the details about your questions, definately need to talk to a recruiter.

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Specializes in Medical Surgical, Telemetry.

i am a practicing nurse for 7 years with a BSN and is determined to join the navy. i spoke to a recruiter and was disappointed that they're NOT accepting a foreign graduate, YET, an NCLEX and a CGFNS-passer (CGFNS - Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing School) AND has been serving Uncle Sam for years! they said if im sooo determined to join the Navy as an officer, i need to re-take my Bachelors at a school accredited by NLNAC and CCNE -- REALLY?! i AM gna have to REPEAT a degree that i have been practicing in the United States ALREADY?!!

total BS.

OMG, enlighten my soul and make me feel better. THANK YOU.

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Specializes in Critical Care Emergency Military Nursing.

Sorry to say that it won't happen. They have so many candidates that they can be super picky. I don't know what else to say. You could try the VA, or public health nursing. You could always work at a military hospital as a civilian (GS employee). I work with many of them, and they have a sweet gig. I would trade places with any of them in a second. They get paid almost twice as much as I do and get to serve those who have served. Good luck.

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hey! im in nrotc and i am on the nursing option scholarship. i was really interested in being a nurse in the navy but during our drills we have guest speakers from other warfare communities and it has me wondering if this is what I should be doing. I want to actively be apart of the warfighting effort and the big thing for me is that I want to be a leader. Also i know that when you first become an officer, such as surface, sub, etc., your immediately in charge of about 10 people. How is does that work with nurses? How do you feel you show leadership directly? I want to see the world and I read that deployments are given to those who ask so does that mean I could possibly spend my whole career in the US? How often do nurses deploy with the Marines? I was told that as nurses we train the hospital corpsmen who are the equivalent of LPNs and the corpsmen actually work in the field? (all things I've heard so don't shoot me if im wrong lol) How much can I expect to earn as an Ensign? If I want to work in a specific area, such as pyschiatric, what can I do while I'm in school to be able to do this? And if I want to deploy more should I try to focus on critical care or emergency room?

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RobinFlynn: I was prior active duty (Hospital Corpsman 7+ years) and when I did my NCP kit I had to fill out a "dummy" security form to submit. My security clearance from when I was AD was still valid, but they still wanted me to submit the completed forms since it was a requirement for the kit. So, yes, you may have to redo it. Of course, if you are going straight from enlisted to officer (no time as a civilian), then it may be different.

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cpf216: I was a Hospital Corpsman and I can fill you in on that a bit. Corpsman (or HMs), go to Corps school and are trained by other Corpsman. After Corps school, they get sent to hospitals and are frequently mentored by the nurses...so, you could say you will be training them. Also, not all Corpsman are the equivalent of LPNs. Some Corpsman couldn't give an injection or IV to save their lives, and others could practice medicine that would amaze some doctors (no joke). There are various training programs that a Corpsman can go though if they wish to specialize and become more advanced. The highest level that a Corpsman can achieve in the Navy is that of an Independent Duty Corpsman (IDC). In the hospital food chain, an IDC would be between a nurse and a doctor. They are trained and allowed to diagnose patients and prescribe medications (like a PA). HOWEVER, they are still enlisted, so they will have to salute you still.

And, yes, Corpsman do work in the field, AND the hospital. We deploy with the Marines, and even the Army. Nurses also deploy, but I would say that they deploy less than Corpsman. I've know nurses (and Corpsman) who have been in for over 6 years and have NEVER deployed. Of course, that's not a good thing if you want to get a promotion.

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Specializes in Critical Care Emergency Military Nursing.

CPF216: I have deployed with the real navy and the SWO's have a different life than anyone in the medical/nurse corps. As a new Ensign there is some opportunity for leadership but not much. It mostly comes in the form of training the enlisted corpsmen. As you progress in rank and deploy then you become more qualified to lead others in various roles/positions. With most jobs though, leadership comes with time and experience.

As for deployements, try reading some of my earlier posts here. But mostly you will deploy depending on where you work. As for working with the marines, it depends on where and who you deploy with. And working in the US your whole career, it's possible. But it depends on where you work. Most med/surg or OB nurses get more chances at working overseas vs the critical care nurses. But with all my posts things with the military always change and nothing is 100%.

If you want psych, then you'll get it. There is nothing special you need to do in school. The reason is that many nurse hate psych and want nothing to do with it so there is always a need. Hope this helps.

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Hello NavyMan7,

Thanks for all of your hard work on here. I have a scenario. I am 38, been a nurse for 14 years, in various departments. Unfortunately, not standard critical care. I have been in critical care but doing specific treatments of which has not counted. Regardless, I missed the Oct board last year in 2011 for FY 12. I didn't even know the board first met then, recruiter never told me and there was no rush. Anyway, the med surg slots filled up in october so i resubmitted for reserves. However, only to find out now that the reserves are doing away with permanent recalls. So, i figured what is the point in going reserves if after my 3 years served i cant go active. That's another story.

So, case in point.... I want to apply again for active duty for 2013 however, I am about to accept an ICU position starting in April hopefully which will give me about 4 months experience by the time my packet reaches boards. I'm not sure if they select in august or october???? at any rate by october i will have 6 months experience. I am being told like everyone else that it is highly competitive, which i know. I was going to try feverishly to get my CCRN during that time as well. I am also working on my Masters in leadership/administration but think i may change to clinical nurse specialist for ICU or something. What are your thoughts on this. I actually got picked up for the reserves but will most likely decline it since my chances of going active after three years are slim.

Do you have any insight on this please? I have seen several nurses on here who have far less nursing experience and with only about 4-6 months icu experience get in so .....

I was told by the operations officer that the navy only took 15 critical care nurses for FY 12.

What can i do to make chances better. I also saw where someone said their recruiter posted on their application 1. critical care nurse 2. med/surg nurse active duty 3. critical nurse reserves 4. med surg nurse reserves, to increase their chances.

Do you know ifthere is a minimum time in icu for experience? I know it's better to have the CCRN as well? and do you have to have had the critical care course. ? Some hospitals dont offer that necessarily.

Any insight you have would be helpful. I'm trying to figure out my next steps really soon.

Also, what about if i got accepted somewhere else and then try to transfer to Navy later etc?

Thanks again!!!

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Has your packet already been submitted and is now waiting in line to go before the board? I may have missed that somewhere in your post. It is my understanding that September is the first month for 2013 that the board would meet...which actually ends up being the end of August, if they operate as they did last year. I'm not an expert, but that was my experience having just gone through the process.

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Hey CynRN11,

My packet went to the board in Feb for the reserves and got selected but after finding out (albeit unbeknownst to me and my recruiter) that they are doing away with permanent recalls after serving your 3 years in reserves. So, my position is well, it really negates my whole point as that's how i was going to try and go active since my packet missed the board last october and it filled up. So, to answer my packet is not sitting at a board but I wanted to apply for this coming FY 13 in august. So i know the packet can be submitted by august 1 but i wasn't for sure when exactly the board met. The other thing is i know they meet twice a month, or so i have been told, however do they meet all year long as well for critical care nurses? I was told they only took 15 critical care nurses nationwide for FY 12??? And the board is closed obviously for that but yet they are still recruiting i guess for FY 13.

So, at what part in the process are you? have you been selected? are you applying this fiscal year ? What is your specialty and what else have you heard about the process?

Thanks for reaching out and replying!!

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I started the application process over two years ago when I was still in school for NCP. Had to get a waiver, which took a while, so I had to switch to DA when I was no longer eligible for NCP. My packet was complete and submitted in March of 2011, but the spots were filled so they stopped accepting packets for about 4 months until the backlog was cut down somewhat (or so my recruiter was told). So I had my packet in line when they began reviewing for 2012 and I was in the first board. I was final selected in October and took my oath in January.

I had only about 6 months of OR experience, but my recruiter and the detailer didn't think that was enough experience so they placed me in a med/surg position. I don't have nearly the nursing experience most of you all have, so I obviously have no insight on what the board uses for criteria. This is a second career for me (I'm 41), so I do have a lot of management/leadership (although it is not in healthcare), and a couple years of research experience (which is in healthcare).

The only thing my recruiter told me (and he was awesome) was the earlier your packet is reviewed in the fiscal year, the better chance you have... which should seem like a no brainer, but clearly this can be a long a frustrating process with a ton of speculation sprinkled on top.

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