Joining the Navy as a hospital corpsman even though I have BSN

[Myka]

I graduated from nursing school in July and I cannot find work. I always get passed up for the ones with more experience(understandably) and my region isn't experiencing any desperation for nurses. I have wanted to join the Navy as a nurse and found out about the nurse candidate program too late to apply and I'm sure it would be a waste to try to get commissioned as a nurse as a 22 year fresh out of school with no experience(and not so hot GPA) so I'm thinking about hospital corpsman because I really want to join the Navy. Do you think this is a reasonable idea? Would it be possible to promote to Nurse eventually? And I know the whole military is cutting back so what would be the chances at getting the job I want?

[dolphins421]

I was a corpsman for almost 6 years and am graduating with my BSN next December. I actually applied for the NCP and should hear results any day now. I wouldn't recommend enlisting as a corpsman. You won't get the new grad experience you need, thus hurting you in your efforts to become a good, competent nurse. I would continue to look for work (out of your area if necessary) and if you really wanna be a military nurse, talk to recruiters from all the branches and apply for all of them. You would be an officer in all of the branches that have nurses (army, AF, Navy), so your pay and quality of life would be good. As far as joining as a corpsman and then getting selected to be a nurse, i really don't know.

[jeckrn, BSN, RN]

Could not agree more, you will not work as a RN as a HM and the advise to look outside of your area for employment. I also was a HM in the Navy.