Published Oct 1, 2005
Nurseman317
2 Posts
This is a really big board!!! Anyway I am a recent High school Grad looking to pursue a career in Nursing. I am a guy if you are wondering. I have a large background both my mother and father work in the nursing field my mother as a CNA and my father currently works as a MRI Techician When I told them I was majoring in Nursing they were thrilled. However when I told them after Graduation I was thinking about joining the Navy Reserve's as an NROTC student they were not so thrilled. My mother thought it was a good idea because she thought my father would like it (Because he is a veteran of the first Gulf War), However he does not like the idea because he fears I will be called up. Are there any Naval reservist nurses who went through the NROTC program in the house. Tell me how your experience was and also what university you attended. Also what do you think is the probability of my being called up. HELP!!! I have so many questions.
papawjohn
435 Posts
Hey!!
Congratulations on your decision!! It's a great job most of the time--which is as much as anyone can say about their job. (Except maybe Tom Cruise?)
If you wanted to join the NROTC, don't let your Mom & Dad talk you out of it. My Sis got her BSN through a Navy Scholarship Program. Which YOU SHOULD DEFINITLY CHECK OUT!!! She served 4yrs and has had a wonderful career since getting out. Her GI Bill paid for her MSN.
And it's part of the point in your life that you have the right to go off in pursuit of your dreams. Lots of us old timers--I guess I'm your granddaddy's age--actually welcomed the draft. Believe it or not. (VietNam changed so much.) There's nothing wrong with being a Navy Nurse or for that matter a Navy Corpsman.
Go for it!!!
Papaw John
RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN
8,498 Posts
hello and welcome to the wonderful family of allnurses.com. enjoy your stay, and best of luck to you. :)
sirI, MSN, APRN, NP
17 Articles; 45,819 Posts
:Melody: Hello and Welcome to Allnurses.com:Melody:
I wish you much luck in your choices and career. GO FOR IT!!
BulkyMonster
23 Posts
In all likelihood you will be called up. If you're young and healthy, they'll need you out there. If you're okay with that, and okay with someone else making your decisions for you and putting a lot of restrictions on you, then there are a lot of benefits to being in the military.
I don't like it. But I didn't mind Iraq, despite being mortared daily and sorely overworked, it was the experience of a lifetime.
Most of the time you do a regular nurse's job though, and are made to jump through endless military hoops.
Personally, I'm getting out as soon as my comission is up, but I know a lot of nurses who think it's definitely worth it to stay in and retire.
sandman1914
128 Posts
Utilizing NROTC to fund your schooling is a sound choice. As a midshipman you are in an INACTIVE Reserve component. This essentially means you will not be recalled into service while in school. Now when you graduate and get commissioned, all bets are off. In your situation you have to look at it from the stand point of how the situation in Iraq will be at the time you graduate. Now I cannot say for certain that you will not deploy, but in my opinion, the deployments to Iraq at the time of your graduation (which I am guessing will be in four years) will not be at the rate they are currently. In the event you have to deploy, it is a small price to pay that comes with the job.
SmilingBluEyes
20,964 Posts
I wish you well in your pursuits of a career in nursing, whether military or not. Don't be fooled, however. Anyone in the military, reserve, guard or active can be called up in the event of war or for stateside or overseas commitments the military makes/responds to. Nurses are sorely needed and the chances of your being called up to help "someplace", whether stateside or overseas can be very good. Read everything before you sign and be prepared to be held to it, when the time comes to serve. Military nursing can be very rewarding, and nowhere will you learn and hone your skills more than in the service. The training you would receive will be first-rate; no doubt about it!
I wish you well, whatever decisions you reach regarding your future and career. And welcome to allnurses.com!
"Thank you for you enlightenment, my brethren!!! I am now at peace with my decision" and Sandman you answered my question that the recruiterman didn't want to answer. So I can't be called up until after College I'm satisfied with that. Thanks again!!!