Is Navy after ADN graduation a bad idea? Lose clinical skills?

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I'm graduating from an ADN program this week and really want to work as a nurse in the Navy. My question is, should I join the Navy now (obviously not working as a nurse) so that they can pay for me to get my BSN, or should I get my BSN and then join the Navy? I've talked to a recruiter and he, of course, is pushing for me to join now and apply for the Medical Enlisted Commissioning Program to get my BSN. However, I'm really worried about losing my clinical skills I've learned in the ADN program if I wait a year or longer to actually work as an RN. On the other hand, jobs as a new grad really aren't that easy to get, I don't have one secured yet, so if I'm unable to get a job I will be kicking myself for passing up this opportunity. Any advice?

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That recruiter you're talking to is an ENLISTED recruiter and NOT a commissioning recruiter - he is trying to talk you into ENLISTING, where you will be a corpsman and not an RN. And you'll wait a whole lot longer than one year to get into a nursing program through the USN that way.

AFAIK, the USN is not accepting ADN grads as commissioned officers - only BSN grads. You need to talk to a NAVY HEALTH PROFESSIONS RECRUITER and stay far, far away from the enlisted recruiter at your local strip mall (unless you want to enlist - and I'm guessing from your post you don't).

I'm a commissioned Captain in the USAF Nurse Corps - I used to come on this board a lot and I sort of stopped coming, but popped in to take a look on a painfully slow night shift here...I thought about commissioning in the USN before I came back to the USAF (I am prior enlisted with the USAF from the mid 1990s), and that's why I'm saying I don't think they take ADNs.

Get with a health professions recruiter to get the answers you seek.

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Yeah, I know they don't take ADN grads as commissioned officers, which is why I'd have to enlist doing whatever (but definitely not nursing) until I got my BSN. But I'm pretty sure that I want to use everything I've learned while getting my ADN while I'm getting my BSN so I don't lose all that I've worked so hard to learn! The recruitor I've talked to has no idea how RN to BSN works, so I think I'll take your advice and steer clear of that. Thank you!

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One thing to keep in mind, the Navy isn't short on nurses right now which means that getting into the MECP may not be all that easy and yes, you may lose clinical skills while you wait. I would recommend trying to find a way to get your BSN and then apply. I believe as a RN-BSN student you would be eligible for their Nurse Candidate Program which would provide you with a little money while you are in school and then you would graduate and commission as an officer. If you are interested in that program, talk to a healthcare recruiter, but they usually want you to have an acceptance before beginning the process. They have also been reducing the numbers that come through the NCP so it would be good to find out that info.

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Specializes in Critical Care Emergency Military Nursing.

Bad idea to enlist. Take out a loan, apply for scholarships, etc. DO NOT ENLIST. You will be so sad that you did. Many of my corpsmen are biting at the chance to get out and get into school. You will be treated like crap, paid poorly, and have to wait many years just to be able to use your GI Bill. Yes there are other ways than the GI Bill but it is a competitve world and unless you are the absolute best in a field of overachievers then I wouldn't If I were you. I know how it is wanting to be done with school and wanting to almost anything to get there, but enlisting is NOT the route. Good luck in your search.

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Specializes in ER, ICU.

I agree with navy man, you will have trouble finishing your BSN if you enlist. You will spend up to a year in schools learning your trade, which won't be nursing. Then between travel and work you will be probably too busy for school. Find a way to get your BSN, work as a nurse to get experience, then contact a recruiter. Good luck.

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Navyman7...really? This is how you represent your service online? If "your corpsmen" are treated like crap then wouldn't it stand to reason that is your fault? If they are paid poorly then as a leader you are failing them and not helping them promote, and as far as many years to use the GI Bill, again why are you not supporting "your corpsmen" in pursuing off duty education? I would also suggest waiting and using the GI Bill until after using TA benefits. It sounds like **** poor leadership to me...

My advice Carolina is to weigh your reasons for joining the Navy. It is tough to get a degree, but not impossible. If you have specific reasons for joining then by all means raise your right hand. It is not the most glamorous of jobs in the beginning, but then again what job starts out glamorous. There is absolutely nothing wrong with being enlisted! Officer or Enlisted...hold your head high and be proud....The Chief

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Specializes in Critical Care Emergency Military Nursing.

Chief:

It absolutely IS there leadership. I am not there DIVO/DH. They have the worst enlisted leadership that dogs them day and night. I go out of my to support them, train them to be the best in the command, write letters of recommend for all my corpsmen, help them pursue college courses and more. It is there enlisted leadership who continually beats the metaphorical life out of them and fails to promote those who are truly worthy. Mandatory PT every morning despite working 12 hours at night. Not to mention there master chief won't allow them to live where they choose, they are all but forced to stay in navy sponsored housing, and so much more. They get paid poorly, deploy frequently, never get the duty assignments they need to help them in their careers. And more...

Like you said, it is not the most glamorous of jobs in the begining, but then again what job starts out glamorous. Why is that... You're an E7+, they start out in the hospital as a E2/3. As an E2/3 they are not getting much of a choice as to where they will work, regardless of what there career goals are. Needs of the navy first, as always. As a chief you have a choice to some degree.

If someone wants to pursue nursing they should get to it and not delay. Why waste time doing a job that may not help them in the long run just in hopes of possibly getting tuition assistance (TA).

One last thing; no one here is saying that being enlisted isn't a worthwhile job, it just isn't the best way to pursue a nuring degree. All of us here are proud of those who have served no matter if they are enlisted or officer, even proud of you chief. Now lets stop playing the blame game and present all the facts, even if its not the prettiest of pictures.

Newbie13;

These are some of the many things that many of my corpsmen encounter on a weekly basis despite the support of the officers, and some enlisted leaders, that they work with. Good luck!

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Specializes in PACU, ER, Military.

Dear ADN,

As far 'losing your skills': skills are learned, step-by-step processes. You may be better at them some days and not so great others. The more valuable part is the theory/evidence-based critical thinking that will take you much further than being able to place and IV etc. Skills can be re-learned quickly as needed.

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