Navy Nurse Questions

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I'm sure this question has been asked more than once, so please bear with me. I've been sifting through all the information I can find, but I still don't quite understand...

I've just started toying with the idea of Navy Nursing. I graduate from a BSN program in December. But have very little knowledge about the military in general, less about the Navy specifically, and even less about Navy Nursing.

Specifically, I'm wondering about the following:

1.What are the requirements for being accepted?

2.What is the minimum length for which you can sign up?

3.After being accepted, what happens as far as training? (What kind, where do you go, how long etc)

4.After training, then what? What kind of setting do you start off in, how long will you be there, and do you get any real choice at this point in where you'll be?

5.What about deployments? How often and how long? Do deployments differ for nurses and if they do, how so?

6.What other things do I need to know but I don't know enough to know that I need to know them? :bugeyes:

Thank you so much for any insight. I'm planning on speaking with a recruiter soon, but I want to be a little more informed first. You know... wouldn't want to have “sucker” written on my forehead.

^ what she said! One other thing to keep in mind though is that if you join the Army as Active duty, I do not know what your chances are of going to San Diego... and especially of staying there (not sure about in the Reserves) But remember, you will not make NY salary starting out in the Army, but most likely, you will also not be living in such a cost of living location either. 72K may be a starting salary for NY, but here in Kansas City (and many other places) 72K is VERY good money for a BS prepared professional. All I am saying is to be sure and look at all the factors in whatever choices you consider.

Best of Luck,

S

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Thank you both so much for your reply! i will def. take that into consideration!

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I want to join the Navy Nurse corps really bad, but... I'm not very good with math and i went to a recruiter and he didn't really answer my question he just told me he was a nuclear technician and told me that he was really good in that subject :confused:. Is that going to be a problem or what do you recommend me to do?

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I want to join the Navy Nurse corps really bad, but... I'm not very good with math and i went to a recruiter and he didn't really answer my question he just told me he was a nuclear technician and told me that he was really good in that subject :confused:. Is that going to be a problem or what do you recommend me to do?

First of all, it does not sound like you were talking to a Medical recruiter... Second, you will have to have a BSN to join the Nurse Corps (I am assuming the requirement is the same as the Army)... Most BSN programs I have looked at only require College Algebra as your highest math... if that will be a problem for you, many schools (especially Junior Colleges) have developmental math classes you can take to bring you up to the level you need to be to pass the College Algebra... I would start with your school councilor

Good Luck,

S

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Do you know anything about NROTC in colleges? because he just told me that when I finish boot camp that they'll send me to a NAVY college...is that true???or is there something else that

I have to do before that.

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Google "nurse candidate program." And talk to a medical officer recruiter! The one you are talking to now sounds like he wants to enlist you!

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As it's been said... this thread has been fabulous!

I just got accepted into the Navy and am waiting for my "Official" documents to arrive in the mail so that I am officially accepted. I am not sure what that means, but I eagerly await!

I graduated this past friday from school and am waiting for my golden ticket to allow me to take NCLEX!

My top choices for the Navy are San Diego, Portsmouth, and Bethesda... I hear the whole large hospital thing is a great idea:)

I am leaving for India the end of September to volunteer and hope to swear in the beginning of December and go to OTS in January.

I am curious about how soon I get my bonus and first check. I am not working a lot and obviously will have no income in India! I have to save money so that I don't go bankrupt my first week out there!:)

I've noticed that Navy time does not line up with my timeline... they move at a different pace. How much does that affect my plan to get in in January? Does that affect requested time off?

How does one go about finding housing in these large cities if they do not qualify for base housing and want to live cheaply but comfortably?

I'm sure I'll think of more questions... they always come to mind when I am miles from a computer!!

Thanks to all who have contributed! especially those who say the good and bad... I couldn't get that out of my recruiter!

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DTKene:

Congrats on being accepted! When did you submit your packet? How long before you were accepted?

M

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I began my packet in February and I think it was mid June that I submitted it... I am applying for the 2009 fiscal year I think... the one that starts in October. So it took a long time to get it all in and I still haven't gotten my official documents!

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You will receive you first pay check during your time at ODS in Newport, RI. However, the ODS website says that sometimes things take a little longer, so you may not get paid until the end of ODS. But don't fret, you will get paid!

You receive you bonus at your first duty station after ODS, i.e. San Diego, etc. If you just graduated, all your federal loans won't start repayment until after you are in, so don't worry too much about those. I'm not too sure on how the private side works.

If you are planning on going to India, do all of the traveling you can before you enter active duty.

I'm not in the Navy yet, just considering. However, I have read through many of these threads, and hopefully the active Navy duty nurses will chime in to answer all your questions.

Thanks

-recent BSN

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I graduated with BSN in december and currently working for an outpatient dialysis. I'm seriously considering NAVY nurse to pay for my student loan, get critical care exp for my CRNA, and finance my CRNA school. I have a lot of questions that needs to be answered though to make my decision.

1. The sign on bonus, loan repayment, and payment for my continuing education to get CRNA.. will I automatically have those? or do I have to apply for it and meet certain conditions to get approved for those benefits? I heard something about they only pay 100 hours for master's? is that true or will they pay for all my CRNA school at a civilian institution of my choice for 3 years of service?

2. What is the closest I'll be to danger or battle as a navy nurse? do they actually go out in the field? or they just stay in harbors and ships?

3.BESIDES the 30 days PTO. do I have ADDITIONAL time to go back home and visit my family and friends? Like is holidays part of my 30 day PTO? Do I even get holidays? Also maybe if I have a 4 day weekend can I leave the base to go back home (not using my PTO)? or do I have to ask permission first? are any of these trips paid for by the navy?

4. My biggest concern is that I have a girlfriend that i'm going to leave for 3 years. I was wondering if anyone was ever in the same situation and what happened to the relationship? (not married, no kids)

any answers and perspectives are appreciated, I've actually been searching around the internet, including facebook for forums like these. I also already talked to a recruiter but I need to clarify a lot of stuff since I do'nt want to join and sacrifice 3 years without knowing what I'm jumping into.

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Specializes in EMT, ER, Homehealth, OR.
i graduated with bsn in december and currently working for an outpatient dialysis. i'm seriously considering navy nurse to pay for my student loan, get critical care exp for my crna, and finance my crna school. i have a lot of questions that needs to be answered though to make my decision.

1. the sign on bonus, loan repayment, and payment for my continuing education to get crna.. will i automatically have those? or do i have to apply for it and meet certain conditions to get approved for those benefits? i heard something about they only pay 100 hours for master's? is that true or will they pay for all my crna school at a civilian institution of my choice for 3 years of service?

you will need to get everything in writting for bonuses and loan repayment. crna you will need to apply for after you are in, not sure of the time frame or the number of hours they will pay for using ta (tution assistance).

2. what is the closest i'll be to danger or battle as a navy nurse? do they actually go out in the field? or they just stay in harbors and ships?

you can be assigned to a field hospital or with the marines in a surgical company which could place you near the front lines. very few nurses are assigned to ships other then the 2 hospital ships the comfort & mercy, then it is a additional assignment from your normal duty station.

3.besides the 30 days pto. do i have additional time to go back home and visit my family and friends? like is holidays part of my 30 day pto? do i even get holidays? also maybe if i have a 4 day weekend can i leave the base to go back home (not using my pto)? or do i have to ask permission first? are any of these trips paid for by the navy?

the military does not give pto. you will recieve 30 days of annual leave, all federal holidays (expect to work some if you are assigned to a hospital), unlimited sick leave if you need it. the rule on 4 day weekends is that you can travel upto 600 miles away from the base as the "crow flies", if the trip is over 600 miles then you would have to ask permission to travel that far. normal 2 day & 3 day weekends have different distances you are able to travel. these trips would be on your own "dime", the military only pays for offical travel.

4. my biggest concern is that i have a girlfriend that i'm going to leave for 3 years. i was wondering if anyone was ever in the same situation and what happened to the relationship? (not married, no kids)

that depends on your relationship that the 2 of you have and are you able to carry on a long distance one.

any answers and perspectives are appreciated, i've actually been searching around the internet, including facebook for forums like these. i also already talked to a recruiter but i need to clarify a lot of stuff since i do'nt want to join and sacrifice 3 years without knowing what i'm jumping into.

if you have not settled on the navy speak with the air force & army to make sure that if you join it is the right one for you.

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