Duty Stations...where to go/pick?

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, and Mother Baby.

Hello Eveyone,

So basically, I am done with all my paper work except one, to be commissioned in the Navy Nurse Corps, which is picking the 3 duty stations I may want to be stationed at. I have been discussing options with my recruiter and so far I have Blaboa as my first, Hawaii as the 2nd but not sure if they allow new nurses to go overseas. Third have no idea and maybe thinking Great Lakes for peds clinic (put from what I read on forums new commisioned nurses usually go to med/surg first so who knows if I'll get it. Basically I want to choose a location that has good schools, various recreation activities for a 9 year old, and somewhere where I will get great nursing experience, even if its challenging. All feed back will be greatly appreciated. Thanks:D

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Specializes in Med Surg.

Speaking from personal experience, I grew up in Bethesda, MD a few blocks from the Naval Hospital and NIH. The schools are great, and there are a million things for a kid to do (any sport you can imagine has a team or group in that area and there are many summer camps that are inexpensive or free through the county). It's near Washington, D.C. (about 5 miles), close enough where you can enjoy the free museums and its safe for a kid to take the bus or metro alone starting in middle school. It's about an hour and a half drive to both the beach and the ski slopes.

The cost of living is higher than in somewhere more remote, but the benefits for a child would make it worth it to me (and the housing allowance compensates). If I do the NNC that will be my first choice. Good luck with your decision!

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as far as I know hawaii isn't overseas for the Navy!!! For me when that time comes San Diego and Hawaii will be my choices as well, I have be where subs can go, so my hubby can be with me too Hehe!!! Good Luck!

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Specializes in L& D, High Risk Antepartum.

Hawaii is considered what we call out of conus while not overseas they have limited medical capabilities so you and your family members have to complete an overseas medical screening. As far as duty station assignments most new nurses are assigned to one of the big 3 San diego, Bethesda, Porsmouth... or a medium MTF Camp Pendleton, Bremerton, or Jacksonville. The theory is the bigger the hospital the more experience you will see in your first few years.

If you want to do PEDS then you need to stay in the bigger hospitals as we have desiginated peds floors and we do way more kiddos than the smaller hospitals who refer out to children's.

Most of my friends here did not go Med- Surg. That is what the talk on the street is but in reality it was not the case. We had nurses go straight to peds, OB, mental health, same day surgery, cardiac telemetry, surgical floor, and then we have plain old Med-Surg. I went straight to the Perinatal Special Care Unit and I have seen one day of Med-Surg and it was post surgical because they were short staffed. The Admiral's position is everyone is a generalist but at Balboa it isn't in practice.

ENS Allison

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I was stationed at NavHosp Bremerton and loved it. I worked with alot of new nurses there, they all seemed to love it there.

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, and Mother Baby.

Thanks guys for all the input...I'm off to choose where to go!!!

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Corpsman3,

What was the ER like at Bremerton? Have you been to many ERs? Where is your favorite?

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