Navy Nurse Questions

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.

Thanks. I have a couple of follow up questions.

1. how do i get everything on paper? do I turn in an application first for navy nurse and once I got accepted, they will let me know everything from all my benefits, how much I'm making, and where I'm going? and then at this time it is my choice wether to accept or decline? or is it too late to decline once I got accepted?

Once you get accepted that is when everything is written into your contract. You are able to decline your commission upto the time you due your finial commissioning which is 72 hours before you report on active duty

2. What is the likelyhood I'll be assigned with a field hospital and a surgical company? Are those on a red zone?

A field hospital & surgical company depends on the hospital/unit you are assigned to. You would work in a regular hospital and be assigned to one of these and would go with them if they are deployed

3. How often will they grant me permission to leave if I have a 3-4 day weekend? traveling from possibly san diego to houston (1,471 miles). I'm thinking of doing it every time I have a 3-4 day weekend. And does this count against my 30day annual leave?

It will depend on the command, that is the best I can tell you. No it should not count as leave most of the time, it is called liberty

4. I heard that new nurses like me usually get assigned to one of the big three hospitals. And people are usually station in one place for 3-4 years. Since I will only have 3 years of commitment is their only a very small possibility that I will never have to relocate or deployed?

Needs of the Navy will dictate that, which includes the unit you are assigned to. If they deploy, you deploy.

Thanks for taking time to answer the questions. This really helps clarify a lot of things rather than searching the navy website for answers.