Looking for Navy Nurses to Give Input

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Hello, everyone!

I am a 21 y/o male fixing to graduate with a BSN in a few months with a 4.0 (woohoo). I've been contacted by a Navy recruiter that is offering a considerable accession bonus ($20,000 for a 3-year commitment). I am meeting with him in a couple days to discuss the whole application process, but I wanted to get some input and personal experiences from any current/former Navy nurses to see if this is a good choice for me.

At the moment, my pros for joining the Navy include:

1. Travel (I don't have any kids, therefore no real commitments)

2. Invaluable experience

3. I am hoping to go back to grad school (ACNP or CRNA), or even medical school, and I've heard that the Navy is a great place to do that.

My cons are:

1. I don't want to end up in a place that I don't want to be in (which I know is the whole risk of being in the military)

2. If I don't get good experience, then I will be behind everyone else when it comes to applying to grad school--or will I???

3. I have a tiny fear of being on the open ocean...

If I don't go the Navy route, then I have already received a definite offer in a Cardiac ICU at a Texas hospital that has a pretty good reputation. Although I realize that the choice is ultimately up to me, I would really appreciate any input from Navy nurses to see what the "real" deal is, not just what the recruiter promises me.

Thanks so much in advance!

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Specializes in ER/Tele, Med-Surg, Faculty, Urgent Care.
Hello, everyone!

Iconsiderable accession bonus ($20,000 for a 3-year commitment).

At the moment, my pros for joining the Navy include:

1. Travel (I don't have any kids, therefore no real commitments)

2. Invaluable experience

3. I am hoping to go back to grad school (ACNP or CRNA), or even medical school, and I've heard that the Navy is a great place to do that.

My cons are:

1. I don't want to end up in a place that I don't want to be in (which I know is the whole risk of being in the military)

2. If I don't get good experience, then I will be behind everyone else when it comes to applying to grad school--or will I???

3. I have a tiny fear of being on the open ocean...

Thanks so much in advance!

I served 1989-1992. Desert Shield/Storm/Gulf War. Got deployed on USNS Comfort one of two hospital ships. 1,000 pt beds, 12 operating rooms, 90 ICU beds. Also had 3 year active duty commitment plus 4 years inactive commitment. A "3x4" means you can get re-activated any time in those 4 years so ask about the inactive reserves cuz they don't usually talk about this. Get deployed& you will see places you never heard of before ( Bahrain, AbuDhabi,) You will definitely get experience not available in civilian world. Navy used to do fleet hospitals, hospital in a tent. Active Duty in Training (AcDuTra) for getting

MSN is very competitive and may not happen until second re-up. Competition will be those that are 0-3/4 rank. Unlikely that they can promise where you will get stationed but I asked and got first choice. Used to be Ensigns were only sent to bigger hospitals that may have changed will leave that to any one with more current info.

I couldn't swim when I joined Navy and yup the oceans are huge but so is the ship. My Navy nursing experience has shaped me professionally & personally.

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Specializes in ER/Tele, Med-Surg, Faculty, Urgent Care.

Ps if that's your real name please change it. Suggestions SquidRNWannaBe or something like that

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