Nursing in the Navy

Specialties Government

Published

  • Specializes in Public health, L & D/postpartum.

Need advice please!

I'm currently an RN in a public health setting also with experience in OB/GYN and med/surg. I have my BSN and have been working as a nurse for a year now, but have always wanted to go into the Navy as a nurse. I'm single without kids and feel this is the perfect time for me to fulfill my dreams. However, there is one thing holding me back. When I was in college, I was on an antidepressant. I'm no longer on one and doing very well. When I ask people, they just tell me not to mention it or lie and I don't feel comfortable lying about it. I have not contacted an officer recruiter yet. Any advice?

Also, how badly are navy nurses needed right now? I see critical care and periop nurses as well as CRNAs are needed, but I'm not interested in any of those areas.

Thanks!

Editorial Team / Moderator

Lunah, MSN, RN

14 Articles; 13,766 Posts

Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

I agree to not lie about it -- I feel like it's never a good thing to begin any endeavor with less than the truth. The military always needs nurses, though the needs expand and contract over time. It seems like the Navy and Air Force have more needs than the Army does right now, but that's purely conjecture, based mostly on what I've seen in this forum. :D Your best bet is, of course, to contact a recruiter. Best of luck and let us know how it goes!

nursespouse

263 Posts

I was recently reading alot into this. I was writing a piece on my blog about PTSD and the military. Sorry to say this, but it would be extrememely hard right now to get a medical waiver for history of depression with clinical involvement. Not impossible of course, but extremely difficult. There are factors involved also, were you hospitalized, did you have suicidal thoughts(I am not asking you this just putting these factors out there), were you so far as being adjudicated mentally deficient? To get such a waiver it usually requires quite a bit of paperwork ie clinical notations of your visits, exit surveys from your physician stating you do not need this type of treatment any longer, that sort of thing. Good luck with this, I know it can seem daunting, but if it is something you really want to do go for it and do not give up until all avenues are exhausted. For depression you must be off all medications and therapy for a minimum of thirty six months. For anxiety you must be off all medications and therapy for a minimum of two years. If these are met, then you would start the waiver process.

Need advice please!

I'm currently an RN in a public health setting also with experience in OB/GYN and med/surg. I have my BSN and have been working as a nurse for a year now, but have always wanted to go into the Navy as a nurse. I'm single without kids and feel this is the perfect time for me to fulfill my dreams. However, there is one thing holding me back. When I was in college, I was on an antidepressant. I'm no longer on one and doing very well. When I ask people, they just tell me not to mention it or lie and I don't feel comfortable lying about it. I have not contacted an officer recruiter yet. Any advice?

Also, how badly are navy nurses needed right now? I see critical care and periop nurses as well as CRNAs are needed, but I'm not interested in any of those areas.

Thanks!

I was in the military, sorry to say it but lie.if u go to a recruiter they will tell u the same thing if u really want to go in or if they really need to put people in. the military doesn't wasn't anybody "broke" meaning any condition that may prevent u from performing ur job in the military

+ Add a Comment