Prospective Navy Nurse

Specialties Government

Published

Hello everyone! I'm in need of assistance!

I am looking into becoming a Navy Nurse but I have not gone to school yet. I keep reading over and over in everyone elses' posts to go to school FIRST! join as an officer later. Do NOT go to an enlistment recruiter, instead go to an Officer Recruiter. While all this sounds fine and dandy, at my current full time job I could not afford to pay for schooling nor would I have the time to go to class. I've been looking into the NROTC program to send me through school while I also have training and then a job after I graduate. Can I do this and become an officer? I am going to speak with a recruitment officer tommorow to find out more, but I must say I am a little nervous. My roommate is in the Navy and is on his way to Iraq, he says DON'T ACCEPT FIRST OFFERS! DONT SIGN ANYTHING! I'll do my best, it all sounds so wonderful though! I just want to be able to help people as soon as possible!!!

Any information would be greatly appreciated so please get back with me :) try [email protected]

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Specializes in ER, Trauma, US Navy.

Ashley-

First thing, I agree with your roommate, do not agree to anything and DO NOT SIGN ANYTHING!! you are there to gather information no more, no less. As for NROTC, each school does things differently, so I can't speak on their behalf. I do know that it will not financially benefit you to go NROTC, but check to be sure. As for having a full-time job and going to school, well depends on how you want to do that. If you use the Nurse Candidate Program (NCP), they will pay for up to 2 years of school, so Junior/ Senior. That's what I did to come in, mind you they may have increased how many years they cover with the program, I don't know for sure. So theoretically you could take loans out for the first 2 years and then let the Navy pay for the rest. Sounds odd I know, but my sister-in-law is 40, in school full-time and not working. She's living off her loan money and doing school full-time. She'll have a heck of a loan to pay back, but she's going to be a CRNA. Anyway, there are more ways to do it, but I would not go in enlisted and then attempt to go to nursing school, would take at least 5-6 years at best. IN short, find a way to go to school first then become a nure corps officer and come active duty. Hope this helps.

LCDR Dan

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Thats what I was going to ask LCDR Dan. How are you suppose to work full time and go to nursing school full time? I was wondering that. I want to focus and concentrate on my studies and not have to worry about a full time job. I read what you said about your sister-in-law and wanted to know did you have anymore suggestions? You give great advice and this forum is lucky to have a great source of information like yourself.

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Thanks for your feedback it is greatly appreciated :)

I've been doing alot of research and found this on navy.com

http://www.navy.com/benefits/education/nrotc/nurseprogram/

Apparantly, with the right score on the SAT of course, they will cover all four years to getting your BSN. After you graduate you owe 8 years of service. Which is fine by me, the longer I can keep helping people the better. I don't mind where I'm stationed or if I go to war. The main thing I'm worried about is my boyfriend informed me for physical requirements I'm going to have to do somewhere along the lines of 40-45 push-ups in 2 minutes :uhoh21: I'm scared! LoL! And waking up at 4:30am sheesh =P Oh well as long as it is for the greater good :)

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Specializes in ER, Trauma, US Navy.

Yes, Navy Ashley there are some physical requirements too. Did he tell you that along with your push-ups you get the pleasure of doing sit-ups and running 1.5 miles? These are some of the joyous "perks' of being in the Navy. We have to take the PRT (Physical Readiness Test) or PFA (Physical Fitness Assessment) every 6 months, got mine of the 27th. Anyway, you have to meet minimum standards for all the above and it is according to your age group. I'm 33 so I fall into the 30-34 group. Do a google search for "Navy PRT" and you'll find all you need to know. Oh yeah, we have weight limits too according to height.

Took a brief look at the NROTC site, sounds like a good deal. Like I said I know nothing of what ROTCs offer. I do have this though, something to keep in mind. If you do take out loans for school, once you are active duty you can apply for the Loan Repayment Program. Depending on if you qualify, they will pay up to $30,000 per year of loans you incurred in school. Of course, there's a service obligation with that too. I applied 2 years ago, but the Navy already was paying for my Master's degree so I didn't get selected.

I have a question for NavyAshley, what do you mean by helping people? Not trying to be mean and I can assume the obvious, but what do you see yourself doing as a nurse in the Navy? If you have seen any of my other posts, my goal in participating in this forum is to have people as informed as possible about being in the Navy. The worst thing to have is a nurse corps officer who is gung-ho when they start and then hate it 6 months into an 8-year commitment,so just probing for an answer.

Kawain, thanks for the compliment, I enjoy helping when/ where I can.

LCDR Dan

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