Can I work as a nurse for the navy seals?

jfratian, DNP, RN, CRNA · Jan 10, 2017

I'll be up front here: I'm Air Force not Navy. My knowledge is general military healthcare.

Nurses commission as an officer (not enlist). Also, the vast majority of nurses in all branches practice in a brick and mortal hospital/clinic environment. There are opportunities to do things in more austere, dangerous environments (ex. forward surgical teams). These are generally experienced ICU, ER, and OR nurses. Most nurses, however, treat patients in a stateside hospital. When they are deployed, they are typically sent to a field hospital within an established overseas base. That isn't to say that nurses are 'safe' when deployed.

I want to caution you that in general nurses aren't field medics running around outside the wire with a squad of spec ops guys. If you want that, you should really look at PA or some of the enlisted career fields (ex. AF Pararescue).

Bforesman · Jan 10, 2017

Definitely will. Thank you!

SKling · May 13, 2017

There are some opportunities to work in that kind of environment but they are very limited and not often. not as much as a navy seal would be trained but you are more of a medical support for the teams. I didn't get much detail on the deployment that I was on the list for, but I was unable to go because of rank and prior deployment experience. but it is a possibility just very limited.