Deployment in Nurse Corps

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I'm considering applying for the Nurse Candidate program in either the Army or Navy. My first choice is Navy but I'm still deciding. I have been told that most of the time(in the Navy at least) you will spend the first year or two in a hospital in the US befroe deploying. I just want to know typically how many years until you deploy? And will I every deploy? Deploying is one of the reasons I want to join the Nurse Corps. Does deployment depend on what department you work in the hospital(ICU vs maternity)? Or do they send you by groups? Am I more likely to deploy in Army or Navy? As a new nurse fresh in the military what department am I likely to start in?

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I'm more interesting in the ER, ICU or med surg wouldn't be bad either. I'm not really interested in the maternity department(I'll do whatevers given to me though). How do you make it known your interests?

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We seem to go to war with someone every 8 to 12 years so if you stay in long enough you should get your chance to deploy.

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Specializes in RN-BC MedSurg.

It will depend upon the command you are attached to and the experience you have. But I have seen new nurses with about a year of experience deploy. Some specialties will deploy more often such as ICU, however I have seen numerous deployments from every department to include the clinics and Maternity units. You may or may not have much choice as to the place you are deployed to.

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Specializes in Critical Care Emergency Military Nursing.

lvlynn,

navymurse you are correct. I work in the ICU and most every military nurse has deployed or will deploy during their time in the unit. Other areas do deploy just not as much. If you work in other areas of the hospital there is a slim possibility that you could deploy. If you are wanting to deploy then you need to get to the ICU/ED. Good luck.

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Specializes in critical care: trauma/oncology/burns.

I just got back from an 8 month deployment to Afghanistan

It seems I deploy every 20-22 months, but that could be r/t my being an 8A (criticial care nurse)

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
I just got back from an 8 month deployment to Afghanistan

It seems I deploy every 20-22 months, but that could be r/t my being an 8A (criticial care nurse)

Welcome back, and Happy Thanksgiving!!! :)

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Specializes in Medical-Surgical, Informatics.
I just got back from an 8 month deployment to Afghanistan

It seems I deploy every 20-22 months, but that could be r/t my being an 8A (criticial care nurse)

Welcome back Maam :)

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Specializes in ED. ICU, PICU, infection prevention, aeromedical e.

I'm AF ICU. I had 14 months between Iraq and Afghanistan (leaving soon). Strange how some people never go, but many just keep tagging each other back to back. I'm not complaining - this is what I came in to do.

(ok - back to work for me. The movers come in the morning. Positive thing about deploying is putting household in storage and having no rent for 6 months. )

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Specializes in critical care: trauma/oncology/burns.

Midinphx:

Safe travels! Watch your six.

Do me a favor and post your APO....that way Santa won't miss ya while you are deployed! (wink.....)

Leekun and Lunah: Thank You!

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Specializes in ED. ICU, PICU, infection prevention, aeromedical e.

Athena, thanks so much! I think it's great the way we don't care what branch of service we are. We are all here for the same thing. We nurses get to go out there and be "hero support"!

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