Male/NAVY/RN

Gennaver, MSN · Nov 24, 2006

Hello all, I'm 22yrs of age and going to school right now for my RN. I'm taking my pre-reqs and in the beginning of my educational path for my BSN. I still have a lot to go. Well over this past year the navy has been a interest to me for some reason. I have always been very , very, interesting in world travel. I absoulutely love geography and the idea of world travel. The only downfall is I don't know how to swim,lol. Also I have had a big interest in working out and seeing the world and being in a diverse community. Every since I was a child I have lived in different places of the US......from New Orleans, LA,Nebraska,and now Memphis,TN. My main question is could I become a RN through the naval as a male? Is it common for males to become RN's through the navy? Also I thought it would be great to join the navy for the great benifits and 30 days vacation time/yr. Along with it will give me some type of security and ability to grow instead of being a college student working at a Fast Food joint. Would any of you advise the navy?

Hi,

Is the question you are asking if you should quit your job, drop out of school and join the Navy now, before completing your BSN?

Or are you asking if there are male RNs in the Navy?

What I would suggest is to seek if there is any Nurse candidate positions in the Navy, (I know that the Army has an Army Nurse Candidate program for junior senior level students who would receive a bonus and a monthly stipend), the Army also has ROTC which would pay for your current eduction right now...not sure about the Navy.

What I do know is that the population of Nurses that has the greated Male nurses is indeed in the services so, yes, Male Nurses have a welcomed opportunity.

Would I suggest that you drop out of school, quit your job and go in as enlisted, (or whichever term the Navy uses...) that is your call, there may be benefits you can seek such as the GI bill which will grant you tuition moneys after you complete your service.

It sounds like you are willing and ready to enlist now, why not speak with both a Medical Naval recruiter and also a regular Naval recruiter as well as wait and read form Navy nurses here, take your time, make your informed choice and good luck!!

Gen

guerrierdelion · Nov 24, 2006

Hello all, I'm 22yrs of age and going to school right now for my RN. I'm taking my pre-reqs and in the beginning of my educational path for my BSN. I still have a lot to go. Well over this past year the navy has been a interest to me for some reason. I have always been very , very, interesting in world travel. I absoulutely love geography and the idea of world travel. The only downfall is I don't know how to swim,lol. Also I have had a big interest in working out and seeing the world and being in a diverse community. Every since I was a child I have lived in different places of the US......from New Orleans, LA,Nebraska,and now Memphis,TN. My main question is could I become a RN through the naval as a male? Is it common for males to become RN's through the navy? Also I thought it would be great to join the navy for the great benifits and 30 days vacation time/yr. Along with it will give me some type of security and ability to grow instead of being a college student working at a Fast Food joint. Would any of you advise the navy?

I addressed your question in the "Male Nursing Student" section. For more specificity, I strongly suggest you inquire from as many sources as possible about the "Medical Enlisted Commissioning Program (MECP)"-a Nurse Corps commissioning program specifically intended to provide an advancement pathway to a commissioned status in the Nurse Corps, U.S. Naval Reserve, on the active duty list.

Specifically, you would first enlist in the military and then apply for this highly competitive program-be advised that your grades have to be stellar. Going this route, you could feasibly obtain your RN through the Navy. PM me if you have further questions. In my opinion, this is a tough route to follow but if you think you have the right stuff (grades and perserverance), then go for it.Yes, you definitely would not be working at a Fast Food joint and banking away money for your prized G.I. Bill but there is a nasty phrase in the military known as "standing duty" (working at another assignment over and above your regular working hours).

guerrierdelion · Nov 24, 2006

Additionally, I believe there is a difference between 1) becoming a male RN in the Navy versus 2) being a male RN in the Navy. In my opinion, the numbers of male RNs in the Navy are higher than their civilian counterparts. The male Navy Nurses I have known were awesome, highly motivated, and exceptional role models. In regards to becoming a male RN in the Navy, I don't have specific numbers except those I can count on my fingers or have read about who have been accepted to and sucessfully completed the MECP towards a commission as a Naval Nurse Corps Officer.

navynurse06 · Nov 24, 2006

Ok...as far as how many males are in the navy....the ratio of male to female nurse is pretty close to being equal. (ie. There are a lot of male nurses in the navy).

Also, the navy has a Nurse Candidate Program (NCP), which has some interesting offers. I did this program, and I enjoyed it. For more info, you can PM me. I would suggest that you try doing this or ROTC program instead of enlisting then finishing nursing school. Sometimes it can be hard to switch over from the enlisted to officer. And it may take you longer to do so this way instead of just finishing the school pathway you have already started. So if you have your heart set on being a nurse go to nursing school 1st!!!

There's nothing wrong with working some mediocre job while in nursing school. You can always work as a nurse's aid or tech while in school, which can help you greatly with your nursing skills.

But I HIGHLY suggest you finish school 1st before you join the military.

The navy is awesome, and I've enjoyed my experiences so far. If you have any more questions, I would be happy to answer them for you.

ENS PM

MCHnurse · Nov 25, 2006

There's nothing wrong with working some mediocre job while in nursing school. You can always work as a nurse's aid or tech while in school, which can help you greatly with your nursing skills.
But I HIGHLY suggest you finish school 1st before you join the military.
ENS PM

I completely agree with navynurse06! You have positioned yourself well to be accepted to nursing school (because it sounds like you are finishing prereqs so I'm assuming you'll be applying soon). Nursing school can be hard to get into so if you get in, take the opportunity and go for it. The job you work in school does not have to be the job you do for the rest of your life. Don't worry if it doesn't suit your goals, however it certainly doesn't hurt to try and get a job as a nurse's assistant.

If I could do my schooling over again I would have done the NCP (Nurse Candidate Program). The Navy pays for your school and you get a monthly stipend to help pay for costs of living. This takes some of the pressure off so you don't have to work as much. Nursing school is hard enough without having to work your butt off to pay for it. While I'm not in the Navy yet (waiting to hear back on my application) I can say that they have offered my a VERY nice sign on bonus which might be comparable to what I would have earned in the NCP. So, either way you get some school paid for. I just think it would have been nicer not to take out the loans in the first place. My advice? Stay where you are, get into the NCP (that is if you are totally committed to the Navy), and do your best to succeed in school!

Navynurse06 spoke to the ratios in the Navy, and since I'm not in, I can't really be specific on that topic. What I can say is that I have a male friend who is a nurse in the Air Force. He works ICU and says that most of his co-workers are male (he works with all branches of the Military right now because he's overseas working in a German hospital). He loves his experience thus far.

Best wishes!

Jennifer

MaleRNstudent21, ASN, CNA, RN · Nov 25, 2006

Thank you all for your support and advice. I'm actually trying to get my CNA cert's soon. I'm taking a big route but quick one to get this done. I'm also taking this spring semester off to do so. I plan on going back to school in the summer to finish my pre-reqs. It all depends on my living arangements and if I'll stay in my current city. Yes, I would agree I have a hectic life but its livable,lol. I will get my BSN before joining the navy and hopefully be accepted into becoming a Naval Officer Nurse Corp. My main reason for this goal, for becoming a RN is for global travel. So I believe the best way to see the world is through the navy helping lives daily. The only thing I worry about is the pay. As a civilian you make about 30,000 more as new grad if I'm calulating a rank of a 01 salary pay. It was about 29,000/yr. I know you get alot of benefits as far as housing and other things. But is that salary really livable living aboard?

MCHnurse · Nov 25, 2006

Here is something I can speak to! I have done tons of research about pay because I wanted to be sure that I was getting comparable pay to civilian nursing. Depending on where you live, RN pay varies. Where I live new grads start out around $18-20 per hour depending if you worked as a tech in nursing school. My first job out of school with not tech experience I was making $18.90 per hour plus differential for weekends (the only shifts I worked). That brought my total pay to about $26 per hour. Not bad but I got taxed our the wah-zoo and still had to have my medical taken out for my family. As you know, the military gives you some nice perks from medical, to housing, to food allowance. I would recommend this site:

http://www.militaryconnection.com/benefits.asp?xgroup=Navy

It has some great info. I'd suggest looking at the "Military Pay Calculator" link. Use O-1 as your rank and tweak the rest. The site is meant to be used by people already in the military but it is still useful for comparison. After you do this you will see that the pay rate is VERY similar. From what my friend in the AF has told me, the longer you are in, it is likely that you will actually make more than you civillian counterparts. That is also dependant on rank though.

Jennifer

guerrierdelion · Nov 25, 2006

Thank you all for your support and advice. I'm actually trying to get my CNA cert's soon. I'm taking a big route but quick one to get this done. I'm also taking this spring semester off to do so. I plan on going back to school in the summer to finish my pre-reqs. It all depends on my living arangements and if I'll stay in my current city. Yes, I would agree I have a hectic life but its livable,lol. I will get my BSN before joining the navy and hopefully be accepted into becoming a Naval Officer Nurse Corp. My main reason for this goal, for becoming a RN is for global travel. So I believe the best way to see the world is through the navy helping lives daily. The only thing I worry about is the pay. As a civilian you make about 30,000 more as new grad if I'm calulating a rank of a 01 salary pay. It was about 29,000/yr. I know you get alot of benefits as far as housing and other things. But is that salary really livable living aboard?

Best wishes to you in all your endeavors. I know you will be sucessful!

Here is some inspiration for you in the interim, enjoy!http://www.navychief.com/soundfiles/anchorsawy.mid:trout:

navynurse06 · Nov 25, 2006

I am an O1...so yes it is possible to live on that!!! I live in San Diego, so its really expensive here. But all of my friends that are O1's have no problems with money.

And you won't live abroad...ie over seas until after your 1st tour is up (1st 3 yrs). At least, its rare to be sent overseas on your 1st tour of duty. So by the time that you go overseas you will be an O2 or O3.

So once again its very, very possible to live on an O1 salary. As mention before, you have to take into account that we don't have healthcare taken out of our checks. Plus we have allowances for housing and food.

Good luck in all you do.

ENS PM

DanznRN, RN · Nov 25, 2006

MaleRNstudent21-

Hello, my name is LT Dan D'Aurora and I have been a nurse in the Navy for 9+ years, I happen to be male. I personally disagree with the term "male nurse," I'm a nurse just like everyone else, again personal opinion. As for being anurse in the Navy goes, I love it and will continue to love it. If you have specific questions, please let me know. When I was in nursing school I worked every weekend as a nursing assistant, probably the best experience I ever had. I wish you good luck in what you are attempting to do, if I can be of any help please let me know.

LCDR(s) Dan

Gennaver, MSN · Nov 26, 2006

MaleRNstudent21-
Hello, my name is LT Dan D'Aurora and I have been a nurse in the Navy for 9+ years, I happen to be male. I personally disagree with the term "male nurse," I'm a nurse just like everyone else, again personal opinion. As for being anurse in the Navy goes, I love it and will continue to love it. If you have specific questions, please let me know. When I was in nursing school I worked every weekend as a nursing assistant, probably the best experience I ever had. I wish you good luck in what you are attempting to do, if I can be of any help please let me know.
LCDR(s) Dan

Hello!

I am glad to read your words on this!

In concurrance,

Gen-future Nurse, (Nurse is indeed a sex neutral term in English)