New to Navy, ODS, Portsmouth-need any help?

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Hi there,

I've been a nurse since 2010 and graduated from University of Portland, Oregon. I worked in mental health and with the red cross for a year before applying for the Navy. 13 mos later I found myself at Officer Development School and graduated this February. I'm stationed at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth now and living in Norfolk. I wanted to offer myself as a resource to any of these topics since I felt like I was at a loss for information prior to coming in. Feel free to ask anything about the nursing, the Navy, the application process, duty stations, ODS, Norfolk, etc. Good luck to you and thank you for considering service in the US military.

Specializes in Psych, Critical Care, ER, Military.

The NCLEX appears extremely difficult. It asks you more and more questions on topics you did not do well on. By the end of the test the questions are about diseases, medications, and procedures that you've never heard of. Most people feel like a failure at the end and the computer shuts down. I may have cried, I don't remember. Lol. I passed it in the minimum amount of questions, 75.

I did take a review course-Kaplan. I probably didn't need it to pass the test, but I did need it to calm my nerves.

My university used the ATI program throughout the two years. It had several practice tests that were available. Most of the test is about the test taking strategy, investigating the questions, knowing how to be calm and focused. I know this sounds terrible but I passed and most of my class did as well.

Good luck!

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Why did you feel like you didnt need the review? How did you study for the test?

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
Why did you feel like you didnt need the review? How did you study for the test?

You would probably benefit from visiting the allnurses NCLEX forum - https://allnurses.com/nclex-discussion-forum/ - rather than discussing the NCLEX in the gov/mil forum. Best of luck to you! :-)

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After taking the nclex how long after that did you leave to ODS?

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Specializes in Psych, Critical Care, ER, Military.

I worked as a nurse for almost two years before leaving for the Navy. Feel free to PM me further questions.

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Wow, this thread is awesome! I have my BS in psychology and currently am in a BSN program, graduating in May 2014. I am considering Navy but am interested in learning about what everyday life is like for a Navy Nurse. Is it true that it is difficult to join right now? Does anyone regret their decision to be a Navy nurse instead of a civ nurse?

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Specializes in Psych, Critical Care, ER, Military.

In my experience, everyday life of a Navy nurse is not much different form that of a civilian. Navy nurses work 12 hour shifts in the hospitals and the standard 8 hour M-F in clinics. Patient-staff ratios are better. Patients are generally less ill than in civilian. You provide patient care for your shift and go home. You will have training requirements and competencies. I work in the NWU (camo) and combat boots. ICU, ED, L&D and Peds wear scrubs (at the hospital I work at, may be different at others).

Nursing as a salary employee is very different from civilian. There is no opportunity to make more money without promotion, no overtime, no holiday pay, etc. Everyone rotates night/day shift without differentials. The pay is lower than civilian for about the first 2-4 years, then it is greater. Free healthcare, benefits, tax-free housing/substance allowances etc.

I'm confident in my opportunities for advancement in the Navy. You receive an 'automatic' promotion every two years x2. If I spend 20 years in the Navy I'm confident that one of my tours would include 'Duty Under Instruction' where the Navy would pay me to go to graduate school for CNS, DNP, etc.

I have been able to travel, I'm originally from Oregon and am stationed in Virginia. I am hoping to be stationed next overseas: Spain, Italy, Japan.

My department has 1-2 people deployed to Cuba and Afghanistan. This is out of about 60 nurses. They have recently been taking LT ranks and higher. These spots are sought after, meaning if this does not interest you, it can be avoided in the beginning. However, it is still recommended that the military is not for you if you are unwilling to deploy.

The choice to serve can be complicated. Know that you will have to 'play the game' but that exists in civilian jobs too. At times you have to complete paperwork or tasks that seem unnecessary. The actual nurse work is very good. I believe you have more opportunity for learning several specialties, floating and cross-training to other units in the hospital. This is a nursing job I could easily do for 20 years. My previous civilian job would of burned me out after 5 years or so with high patient-staff ratios and bad coworkers. Military promotion has you generally in a manager position within 6-10 years. If this is not your cup of tea, getting a graduate clinical-based degree can keep you on the clinical side longer.

I have been very happy with my choice to join and have already decided (after one year) that I will request another tour and extend my contract. I took a 3 year contract for Virginia. I very much miss my home Portland, OR and am jealous of my coworkers that can drive home to Pennsylvania, North Carolina etc, on the weekends.

Regardless of this, I feel I am right where I am supposed to be. Please let me know if you have any more questions, also feel free to PM me. Good luck with your decision-making.

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Sw88tpea - best quote ever and oh-so-true:

"The choice to serve can be complicated. Know that you will have to 'play the game' but that exists in civilian jobs too."

I think a lot of folks don't 'get' that while we get told what to do, so do civilian RNs - no one here is their own boss unless they're an NP with their own practice, and even then in most states they're not truly 'free agents', so to speak. We all have a boss. I've not worked a place yet - civilian or otherwise - where someone isn't telling me what to do.

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Thank you for that awesome response! It's definitely something that I'm considering. I think that serving others is obviously required to be a good nurse and it is so awesome and such an honor for you to be able to serve our military and the people that make such sacrifices for others everyday. So thank you!!!! I have total respect for our military and I think that this is a journey that I will have to really think about.

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Hi, I just lost a bunch of weight, 50lbs to be exactly and I and almost ready to apply. I am an experienced nurse of 4 years in psych and ED. Do you think I have good chances of being accepted? Recruiter told me that every year in October a needs list comes out and it is really hard to be commissioned and it can take years.

Thanks for your time.

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Specializes in Psych, Critical Care, ER, Military.

Yes any experience will help you get in. I don't know any person that is in where they say it took years to come in. Great work on losing the weight! If you're not within the height and weight standards I can't see them taking you. October is the beginning of the fiscal year. Are they still looking at boards in September? Meaning your package has to be in by August?

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Yes any experience will help you get in. I don't know any person that is in where they say it took years to come in. Great work on losing the weight! If you're not within the height and weight standards I can't see them taking you. October is the beginning of the fiscal year. Are they still looking at boards in September? Meaning your package has to be in by August?

I will not be ready for boards this year. I have not started on my package and chief McDonald told me i won't until I have my weight ready. Is it like first come first serve? She told me to apply as early as I can because if the needs are met than there is no way to apply. I did not know it was this difficult to get in the navy nurse corps but it is my dream and it will happen! Currently I am getting fit so I be ready when the day comes. I will probably get my package started in November. Hope to get in by next summer. Thx for your respond. Can you tell me more about the boards?

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