I'm thinking of Joining the Navy as a Nurse... ?

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How should I go about joining the navy? because my main goal is to become a navy nurse.

I have one more year left in nursing school before graduation.

I went to the navy recruiter today in my area, an enlisted navy recruiter, and they told me I can sign up and they will start me at the rank of E-3.

I've also heard there is a navy nurse officer program, but they gave vague details on that.

Is there a difference between E-3 and officer? I heard as an officer, you have more responsibility and you have to be a leader to lead people. I dont feel like I'm the type who can lead people, I'm more of a follower, tell me what to do, give me and assignment to do, and I'll do it.

THey also told me as an E-3, I will get 1500 a mont base pay plus other allowances for daily living, and 250 dollars for working in the naval hospital.

Does a navy nurse who starts at E-3, get paid by the hour when working at a naval hospital, like in civilian hospital? I'm a little confuse about how they get paid. I know in my area, the starting pay for graduates is around 26-30 dollars per hour, plus time and half for overtime. does the navy nurse get paid by the hour.?

If i want to join the navy, the pay has at least gotta be equal to what i make in civilian hospitals.

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I am not too sure how the Navy works as we are Air Force. However, I understand the correlation between ranks.

Your rank will be based on your degree. Are you working on a four-year BSN? In that case, you should join as an Officer; an E-3 in an enlisted person for which a degree is not required.

Also, remember whatever the recruiter tells you is NOT legally binding; some recruiters will tell you anything to get you into the system. My husband is retiring after 20 years; he has a master's degree, but was told to enlist. "It will then be easier to become an officer." Twenty years down the road and he's still enlisted.

If you will have a four-year degree, make sure you speak to an officer recruiter and not an enlisted recruiter. Also, as an officer you will be a leader - no if, ands or buts. As an officer, you are the boss.

One more thing....I've heard the Navy is offering HUGE sign-on bonuses for BSN (in excess of $100,000) for a four year commitment. I would consider joining, but would rather not see Iraq this lifetime.

Best of luck with your decision. The military is a totally different way of life.

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Hello,

I signed up with the Navy as a junior in BSN program in Illinois (Chicago). I went throught the Nurse Candidate Program (NCP) with a sign up bonus ( which trippled since I signed up with them- oh well) and a monthly stipend which will continue beind deposited into your account until you are done with nursing school. While I was in school I had a E5 status on my paper, but once you have your bachelor they will commission you an officer, during your graduation ceremony. (pretty awsome thing) Anyway I will be going to OIS for 5 week training in a few weeks and from there to my first duty station, which you get a choice of (got my first choice assignement).

Anyway, if you are going to sign up do it through a Medical Programs Recruiter ONLY!!!!! let me know where you are from and I will try to help you as much as I can. When it comes down to pay, it is comperable with the civilian sector, but it's different when it comes down to taxes, your BAH, etc.

Let me know, I will try to answer to my best knowledge and whatever you do do not sign up through the first recruiter on the street you go to. . . .only an officer recruiting individual.

Best luck

GO NAVY

Kornelia

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I am a Navy nurse who came back into the Navy after being enlisted for 5 years as a Navy corpsman. I just came back in last year. I got a $45,000 sign on bonus and was given the rank as Ensign (01), which is the lowest ranking officer. For this bonus I had to join for 5 years. I graduated from the University of Connecticut, went to see a Navy nurse recruiter, filled out all of the forms including security clearances, waited for about 2 months until I found out that I got a commission. I then had to wait about another 3 months until I got orders to go to OIS (Officer Indoctrination School). OIS is 5 weeks long and introduces you to physical fitness and the Navy life. After all of that you will go to your ultimate command. I chose Balboa which is located in San Diego. Once you join you will be made an Ensign. Then two years from that date you will be promoted to Lieutenant Junior Grade. Two years from LtJg you will be made Lieutenant. After becoming a lieutenant all promotions will depend on what kind of sailor you are. It is very competitive. I don't know about any of the other progams that the Navy offers. All I know about is what I got which is a direct commission. Is it worth it? Hell yeah! I do love being a Navy nurse. I also worked in the civilian world as a nuse and I thought that it sucked compared to the Navy. You get to do a lot of cool things when you are part of the Navy. The Navy has sent me TAD (temporary assigned duty) to a combat casuality course in San Antionio, TX and to L.A trauma training for a month at L.A. county hospital in East L.A. All were great experiences. Not to mention all the other free training and benefits. So I say to anyone thinking of joing...do it!

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Specializes in ER, Trauma, US Navy.

To add on to what was said above, look into the NCP, Nurse Candidate Program, and finish school FIRST. DO NOT come in as an E-3, yes you get $1500/ month and all that stuff. As an Officer you get about $1800 every 2 weeks, that's a stark difference in pay. Don't let them talk you into anything, tell them you want to speak to an officer recruiter and if they don't help, let me know I'll get some numbers for your area, rank has its privleges.

LCDR Dan

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I am not too sure how the Navy works as we are Air Force. However, I understand the correlation between ranks.

Your rank will be based on your degree. Are you working on a four-year BSN? In that case, you should join as an Officer; an E-3 in an enlisted person for which a degree is not required.

Also, remember whatever the recruiter tells you is NOT legally binding; some recruiters will tell you anything to get you into the system. My husband is retiring after 20 years; he has a master's degree, but was told to enlist. "It will then be easier to become an officer." Twenty years down the road and he's still enlisted.

If you will have a four-year degree, make sure you speak to an officer recruiter and not an enlisted recruiter. Also, as an officer you will be a leader - no if, ands or buts. As an officer, you are the boss.

One more thing....I've heard the Navy is offering HUGE sign-on bonuses for BSN (in excess of $100,000) for a four year commitment. I would consider joining, but would rather not see Iraq this lifetime.

Best of luck with your decision. The military is a totally different way of life.

$100,000??? Where did this come from? I am close to being an Army Nurse, but if this is out there.....

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I'd like to know that also, re: 100k bonuses... on navy.com, they're currently showing 25k for RN and or 34k for students going to school. I'm more familiar with the Army way, since I've met with an Army medical officer recruiter, but I don't believe it would be THAT far from what the Navy offers.....

If anyone has more info on that much of a signon bonus, I'd be glad to see it in writing somewhere official. Thanks!

Richard

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Iam also considering joining the Navy as a nurse, im only 17 but i know i want to be a nurse and im seriously considering doing it in the Navy, i was just wondering what expeiriences some of you have had in the navy as a nurse

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Specializes in Anesthesia.

There is not a $100k sign-on bonus for RNs!

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No. There is not a 100K bouns for RN's in the Navy. Maybe if you are a CRNA. I came in last year and got a 50K bouns for joining 5 years. So unless they increased it by another 50 I'm gonna have to say no.

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Specializes in MED/SURG.

I am a nurse presently at a VA. Navy wife 24 yrs. My husbands last 4 before retirement was a Navy recruiter. FIrst off Navy is the way to go. I work with Air Force, Army and Navy nurses and the Navy nurses are the most satified with their careers. Graduate with a BSN and you will go in as a O1, officer. If you go in with out a degree you will go in Enlisted. The pay difference between O and E's is VERY significant. You can google it , Military pay scales or tables. Plus you will get BHA as to where you are stationed. Equlas more money.With at least 20 credit of college anyone gets a E3. ALso so many days into Tech school everyone gets it. Also if you go in Enlisted your main job function will be that of a Nurse assistance. In some states after you have been a Navy corpsmen for 4 yrs you can sit for a LPN board. But why do that if you are so close to getting your degree. Lastly talk only to a recruiter that is officer and medicial. Don't sign anythng unless it is in black and white.

Good luck

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Specializes in ER,ICU and Progressive Care Unit,Peds.

Hello everyone...sorry for my absence! Being deployed on the ship makes it hard to get on this web site b/c the internet is so slow on here!

Any how...to address the op. Ditto to what everyone has said about looking into the NCP program and not signing any paper that makes you enlisted. Go to a officer recruiter. Whoever, said they got a 50k bonus...wow..I wish mine would have been that much. I only got a 10k bonus and that was just 3 yrs ago.

I love being in the navy, and I love navy nursing. I've done a lot more in my 2 yrs in the navy than what most people have done in a life time as a civilian nurse in my home town. Right now I'm cruising around the south Pacific on a warship. I'm acutally part of a history making mission a board a navy warship; we are doing a humantirian mission aboard a grey hull. Missions like the Mercy and the Comfort do. Its pretty cool to know that I'm helping make history. I've got to see and do lots of stuff I would have never got to do if I hadn't joined the navy.

Good luck with whatever you choose to do. And keep the questions coming. There are lots of people on this board with many difference experiences that are willing to help.

ENS PM

PS Sorry for any grammar or spelling errors; its late out here!

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