I want to be a Navy Nurse

[SunshineRN]

Hello my fellow nurses,

I am an active RN license who graduated with BSN degree (received my degree from a US institution) who wants to join military because I dream to be a Navy nurse. However, I am a green card holder and I can't join as a nurse because I am not a US citizen. I am going to bootcamp in 2 weeks as an enlisted RP and will be getting my citizenship after my bootcamp.

My question is now, how do I apply to become a Navy Nurse after I receive my citizenship? Who is the right person that I can talk to apply for Navy Nurse?

Because I am going as an enlisted RP, how long do I wait until I can become a Navy Nurse?

And, would it be hard to transition from being enlisted to be a Navy Nurse?

Thank you in advance for your responses. I greatly appreciated.

[jfratian, DNP, RN, CRNA]

Oh, man. You got sold a bill of goods. You really should have waited to get your citizenship and then commission as a nurse.

You don't automatically commission the second you become a U.S. citizen. You will have to apply for an enlisted commissioning program. Generally, those have minimum grade or time in service requirements. I would estimate that it will take several years for you to commission. You actually may end up having to serve your 4 year enlistment, separate, and then apply to commission.

There is generally a senior enlisted career field manager at each treatment facility (an E-8 or E-9). You'll meet with that person shortly after arriving at your first base (after basic and tech school), and will get a definitive answer then.