Navy nurse or Air Force Nurse

[sea73]

Hi,

I am currently enrolled in a 4yr nursing program and have 1 more year before I start my nursing classes and would some information on what it is REALLY like as a navy nurse or an Air Firce nurse. I am married and have kids and was raised in a military family as was my husband, who also was in the service(all AF). I haven't found alot on AF, but this is what I got on Navy so far.I am interested in the NCP and I hope to keep my GPA up to hopefully be accepted. I have looked alot over the internet on different message boards and have heard both good & bad experiences of being a nurse. I want to know what it is really like as of today, not 10-15 years ago. I have spoken with a medical recruiter in Houston Texas and this is what he told me:

If accepted in NCP, will get $1000 month for 2 years, $10,000 sign on bonus ( in 2 payments),give 5 years, after school go to Newport RI for OIS for 5 weeks, then go to either Bethesda, Norfolk or San Diego for 2-3 years, then to another station. He even told me that I could request to stay state side since I have kids, is this true?? I don't mind going overseas or even on a boat for a short amount of time, but I don't want to be gone for 6 months or more. He told me tha the pay is comparable to civilan pay, less patient load. I heard also that the 30 days of vacation is hard to get because of staff shortage, and that you work longer hours.

I have looked at the AF site and got minimal info, just the basic. I want to know what happens after OTS, which bases am i likely to go to for internship (if they have that in the AF). How does the promotion work, how long from one rank to the next. Will the AF pay me (stipen) during my nursing courses, what about the sign on,I keep hearing different things.

Please give me a Honest account of what to expect, I know there are going to be some long hours or coming in on days off because sometimes things happen. I am not expecting an easy ride or anything, just want the honest truth.

Also if you can give me some info on the different naval stations or AF bases( which were good/not good, good schools etc.

Thank you, sorry this is long, I just want to get my info all down before I make a decision. WHich will be in early 2006.

Sharon

You can email me if you like

[email protected]

[sandman1914]

Hi,

I am interested in the NCP and I hope to keep my GPA up to hopefully be accepted. I have looked alot over the internet on different message boards and have heard both good & bad experiences of being a nurse. I want to know what it is really like as of today, not 10-15 years ago. I have spoken with a medical recruiter in Houston Texas and this is what he told me:

If accepted in NCP, will get $1000 month for 2 years, $10,000 sign on bonus ( in 2 payments), give 5 years

I would suggest your research other incentive plans and the obligated service time incurred. NCP, in my opinion and some of those I work with, does not offer enough incentives for the obligation service time(5 years). For example,with my ROTC benefits, I recieved 65K+ for tuition and fees plus 5-10k+ in stipends over four years and my obligated service time was four years:).

after school go to Newport RI for OIS for 5 weeks, then go to either Bethesda, Norfolk or San Diego for 2-3 years, then to another station. He even told me that I could request to stay state side since I have kids, is this true?? I don't mind going overseas or even on a boat for a short amount of time, but I don't want to be gone for 6 months or more.

You usually get your first choice of duty stations for your first assignment. As for your second duty station, your REQUEST can go through one ear and out the other. There is no guarantee you will get what you want. Keep in mind that many have children and go overseas. If you go overseas, the assignment is usually for atleast two years. If you get stationed on a ship( a billet that is difficult to get) you can count on being out to sea for ATLEAST one 6 month deployment. Lastly, even if you are stationed state side, you may get deployed to the desert, which can last between 6-8 months.

He told me tha the pay is comparable to civilan pay, less patient load. I heard also that the 30 days of vacation is hard to get because of staff shortage, and that you work longer hours.

The pay is comparable for to the civilian side and usually exceeds your civiliam counter parts as you make rank. As far as patient load, it will vary from hospital to hospital and the department you work in.

[sea73]

Thanks Sandman,

I know it is a lot to think about. There are pros & cons on both sides. Thanks for your reply and info, it was helpful.

[Mike1991]

All I ever see U.S. Navy nurses do is push paperwork. Most of the time when I get seen at the Navy base(my wife is in the Navy) I get treated by corpmans which are EMT's. I never tell them my educational background and I do like messing with the nurses about asking simple entry level nursing questions and listen to them give me some crazy unaccurate answers.

[kenheather]

I never tell them my educational background and I do like messing with the nurses about asking simple entry level nursing questions and listen to them give me some crazy unaccurate answers.

What does that mean?