Hello everyone. I am a new nurse in the Navy reserve. If you are interested in Navy nursing or have any question about application process, testing, medical exam, background verification, selection board, accession process, Package preparation, MEPS, quota, credentialing, interviews, drills or units, just ask and I will do my best to answer them. I am not recruiter and my posts are based on my personal experience and may or may not reflect those of the Navy. Thx.
I assume this is active duty? Pending degrees don't count toward rank so you'll be looked as an MSN. It sounds like you have 5 years of enlisted experience and 10 years of full time RN experience. I can comfortably say you'll enter as an O-3. You'll enter as an O-3E IF your 5 years of enlisted experience was all active duty; reservists need 1441 or more points to get the "E" prior enlisted pay code.
Look up the base pay for O-3E vs O-3 on any military pay chart (use Google). You need to add BAS and BAH with dependents to that number. Base pay + BAS + BAH equals your active duty monthly pay. Because BAS and BAH aren't taxed, you need to add about 15% for the tax advantage. BAH varies by zip code. On average I'd say you're looking at $8k-10k per month (depending on whether you get the O-3E or not); inclusive of the the tax benefit, it's the equivalent of 9k-11k per month as a civilian.
Schedule is at the unit discretion. In my experience, it's either panama or some sort of 'odd-ball self scheduling thing.' The self-scheduling usually has an A and B team who alternate picking their schedule. Usually you alternate days to nights every 3-6 months. Usually you work ~14, 12-hr shifts per month including every other weekend with additional 1-2 12-hr shifts of call. 30 days vacation per year.
Process takes 12-18months from start to arrival at basic if you get it on the first time.
Thank you for the clarification!
I am currently in the reserves and hoping to switch to AD 66S.
I already spoke with a consultant to review my CV and the expectations.
My wife (she's a nurse too) is fully supportive and I have a 2 year old.
Supposedly I pass the board, When do I stop going to weekend drills?
Is it after scroll comes back or after I'm given the go by the board?
My intention is to start doing shadowing with my current commander - he is okay with it. However, unsure when I can be allowed or if I will be, to do such.
These sorts of questions ultimately are left at the unit discretion. You get reasonable leadership, then you'll be OK. If you don't, then you won't. It's a dice roll.
Yes, on active duty you are completely owned by the government. In practice, they generally only abuse this fact when absolutely necessary. Some bases have geographic restrictions (say within 350 miles or 8 hr drive of base when not on leave/vacation) while others don't. It will be annoying at times, but you can make it work. Your general time commitment is roughly 3-4 12-hr shifts per week. You could theoretically get deployed to anywhere for 6 months out of every 24 months. In a typical 20 year career, I'd say the average nurse gets deployed 2-3 times.
Extra responsibilities are typically those held by admin staff in a civilian hospital. Someone does credentials while someone else does infection control. Another person handles the schedule while another person handles deployment readiness training. These activities generally take about a shift/week's worth of time.
I am currently in the reserves and hoping to switch to AD 66S.
I already spoke with a consultant to review my CV and the expectations.
My wife (she's a nurse too) is fully supportive and I have a 2 year old.
Supposedly I pass the board, When do I stop going to weekend drills?
Is it after scroll comes back or after I'm given the go by the board?
My intention is to start doing shadowing with my current commander - he is okay with it. However, unsure when I can be allowed or if I will be, to do such.
Reserves to active duty is hard to judge. It's at least 6 months. At some point you'll get active duty orders at some point and they will tell you where you're going and on what date. On that date you'll go from doing whatever you were doing in the reserves to active duty. If you weren't an officer before, your first stop is likely the officer basic course for your service branch.
These sorts of questions ultimately are left at the unit discretion. You get reasonable leadership, then you'll be OK. If you don't, then you won't. It's a dice roll.
Yes, on active duty you are completely owned by the government. In practice, they generally only abuse this fact when absolutely necessary. Some bases have geographic restrictions (say within 350 miles or 8 hr drive of base when not on leave/vacation) while others don't. It will be annoying at times, but you can make it work. Your general time commitment is roughly 3-4 12-hr shifts per week. You could theoretically get deployed to anywhere for 6 months out of every 24 months. In a typical 20 year career, I'd say the average nurse gets deployed 2-3 times.
Extra responsibilities are typically those held by admin staff in a civilian hospital. Someone does credentials while someone else does infection control. Another person handles the schedule while another person handles deployment readiness training. These activities generally take about a shift/week's worth of time.
So average weekly hours is 48-60hrs if you add the admin stuff? Are those admin stuff designated ahead of time or they will just call you on your day off to come in for this stuff?
Admin stuff is assigned in advance for the post part. In general, military hospital workload is really pretty cush compared to most civilian hospitals. A lot of your additional jobs can be done during your shift if you're efficient. I generally worked about 40-48 hrs per week when on active duty. At times, certain things will require you to come in on your day off. Quarterly commander's calls are one common reason. Typically there is also a monthly staff meeting; you'd come in if it falls on your off day and you're not on leave. These things are usually planned in advance.
Admin stuff is assigned in advance for the post part. In general, military hospital workload is really pretty cush compared to most civilian hospitals. A lot of your additional jobs can be done during your shift if you're efficient. I generally worked about 40-48 hrs per week when on active duty. At times, certain things will require you to come in on your day off. Quarterly commander's calls are one common reason. Typically there is also a monthly staff meeting; you'd come in if it falls on your off day and you're not on leave. These things are usually planned in advance.
Thanks for explaining it more clearly! Im in the middle of application but still contemplating active vs. reserves
Reserves vs Active Duty is a personal choice. I find that mid career nurses generally make more money on active duty than as civilians. However, they also work about 20% more (given that civilians work 3 12's per week) and carry admin duties foreign to most civilian nurses. Moves (PCS), training (TDYs) and deployments can be disruptive to family life. Reservists get a taste of this to a much lesser extent. Clinical skills do tend to atrophy while on active duty in most locations.
Reserves to active duty is hard to judge. It's at least 6 months. At some point you'll get active duty orders at some point and they will tell you where you're going and on what date. On that date you'll go from doing whatever you were doing in the reserves to active duty. If you weren't an officer before, your first stop is likely the officer basic course for your service branch.
Sir,
I just signed my contract today (09/24/2024) for a CPT - exactly as you stated in the previous thread. Recruiter told me, I will take my oath at the duty station, is that so? I wanted to have take my oath in my city (reason: to have all my family and love ones attend). I feel its a milestone and wanted to celebrate it with them.
When will I receive my orders?
Recruiter said AMEDD is usually fast with processing orders. What is your input on it?
Congrats. Fast is relative I think, but I'd bet you get orders within a month or so. No idea about the oath. It can technically be done by any judge or current officer, but you have to follow their policy. You probably would have to get paid active duty pay the day you take the oath; I'd suspect that's why they are waiting.
Evidently, my DD368 (currently reserve going AD) is still pending in the pipeline. It seems everything is on hold until that one is processed. It has been almost 8 months now. Do you have any suggestions how to speed it up?
Side note: I have had lot of career growth over the time, even had a CNO offer at a rehab. However, I have never felt this joy and excited. I know some out there are doing it for the incentives and whatsoever reason it may be. My reason is sheer passion and being a patriot!
Also, my wife (an RN) with ADN is looking into applying for an RN job at the same duty station.
Is this allowed? if so, will the recruiter be the contact person to assist? Does the military hospitals have their own HR and recruitment team we need to get in touch with?
We looked into USA.gov jobs but could not find anything.
Will associate's degree suffice or she would need a BSN before she can work at a military hospital?
ADN RNs can work at any federal facility. Pay may be lower then civilian sector jobs in the same area because they don't have a BSN. Getting hired in any federal facility is painfully slow. Your wife may be better off looking at civilian jobs in the area. If you're still interested, your sponsor or chief nurse at gaining base may be able to assist in getting you in touch with right people.
No way to speed things up other than to keep hounding recruiter every week or two.
Thanks for all your help!
I'm a new nurse working on a med/surg unit. I've been at the job for 6 months but am interested in joining the military. Wondering if I should gain more experience, 1+ yrs or longer then apply or if it's not necessary and can begin application process now?
Also, I know I need to get in better shape. Would you recommend waiting until better physically fit to reach out to a recruiter or is there time in the application process to do that simultaneously?
SP101BNZ, MSN
8 Posts
Thank you for the clarification!
I am currently in the reserves and hoping to switch to AD 66S.
I already spoke with a consultant to review my CV and the expectations.
My wife (she's a nurse too) is fully supportive and I have a 2 year old.
Supposedly I pass the board, When do I stop going to weekend drills?
Is it after scroll comes back or after I'm given the go by the board?
My intention is to start doing shadowing with my current commander - he is okay with it. However, unsure when I can be allowed or if I will be, to do such.