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

Specialties Government

Published

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 Certified Pediatric Nurse (CPN).

dumb question - I live within driving distance to Newport (Boston), my question is.. is it okay for me to drive down there? and if so, whats the situation with having your car on base? Thanks!

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Specializes in Psych, Critical Care, ER, Military.

Your welcome!

You can absolutely have your car with you (I did). You're 'supposed' to get a decal but we never really had this opportunity and it wasn't much of a problem. Having a car was great for liberty-we drove to Boston. Just know that it will be parked-out of your sight-and you won't have much regular access to it. Secure it and leave it.

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Specializes in Certified Pediatric Nurse (CPN).

Thanks sw88tpea! :)

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Specializes in Psych, Critical Care, ER, Military.

This is not particularly uplifting. It's good to know what you're getting into. Remember you are joining at a time of war. It's easy to forget from our peaceful soils. Keep our deployed joint forces in your prayers.

Real deployment nursing: A chance in hell | Inside a combat hospital in Afghanistan | HamptonRoads.com | PilotOnline.com

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Specializes in CVICU.

Hi I'm not sure if this was answered. But I was wondering about the physical portion of ODS. When you do your push ups is it on your knees or feet? Female just wondering for training purposes! Thanks!

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing (CEN).

Get up on your feet!!! :) No girl push ups allowed!

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Specializes in CVICU.

Thanks!

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Specializes in Psych, Critical Care, ER, Military.

Happy 4th! Be loud and proud America!

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I'm currently in the Navy's Nurse Candidate Program and will be graduating in May 2013. (YAY!) I was just wondering...what are the shifts like for Navy Nurses? (How long and how often?) I know they must vary based on the setting but I'm just looking for a general estimate since I've been curious for awhile now. Thanks!

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Specializes in Psych, Critical Care, ER, Military.

Hi there, I work a standard block schedule Monday, Tuesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, then Wednesday, Thursday and repeat. So I have a three day weekend every other week. I work 12 hours shifts 7-7. We rotate days and nights every six weeks for six weeks. :) That's the deal.

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when you say that there arent 10 days between ODS and your duty station...exactly how many days do they give you?

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Specializes in military nursing.

It depends on where you are going. If you are flying from ODS back home, then driving to your next duty station they'll give you travel days depending on how far you are going (e.g. flying back to Seattle then driving down to San Diego). However each command is different. Bethesda allotted one travel day and the day of graduation (friday) counted as the travel day so I needed to report on Saturday.

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