Navy- Info needed!!!!

DanznRN, RN · Feb 24, 2006

Baby_gurl-

My name is LT D'Aurora, most call me LT Dan. I have been in the Navy Nurse Corps since 1997. I came in through the Nurse Candidate Program. I actually got out of the service for 11months and came back because I like it so much. I'm not a recruiter, but I will give as much info as you want. I'm using the questions you listed as a guide for my answers. The more specific you ask, the more specific I will get. Here goes...

When would be the best time with me to go and meet with a recruiter?

The sooner, the better. You will have to go to OIS, Officer Indoctrination School if you join. They are forming classes now, so you need to get started so when you graduate you can go right to OIS and there is no idle time for you.

When will they make me take the fitness test?

You first official PRT will be during OIS, after you have had about 3-4 weeks of rigorous physical training, don't worry you'll pass it in OIS. If you are overweight currently or can not pass the bodyfat standards, get to work on it now. The recruiter can give you more specifics.

Also, do they give you a choice of where you want to go for your first assignment?

The Navy will give you a sheet when you sign up of the places that are available for you to go to as a new grad. They prefer to send new grads to one of the big three, San Diego, CA, Bethesda, MD, or Portsmouth, VA. There are some others options on the sheet, but the 3 listed are the norm.

Do you have a choice of what area you can work in? I really liked OB, but I know this is a hard area to get into as a new grad so I was just curious.

Choice on where you work, depends on the needs of the Navy. Learn that phrase now, "needs of the Navy." The Navy prefers all nurses to be "well-rounded," to have an general background in everything and then specialize. Although OB is great, it is of limited use in the field, but the Navy still needs them. I worked as a nursing assistant while in school, so I came to the Navy with 5+ years medical experience. I was able to pursuade the Director of Nursing Services to put me into the ED, where I wanted to go. After 2 years or certification test you get a subspecialty code in that area, if you want. Therefore, I am a 1945R for ER. I also got put in the ICU, not what I wanted to do, at one of my commands. I picked up the 1960S for that one. Basically, I have built myself into a critical care nurse and because of my experience that is where they put me. Doesn't make sense now to put me in Med-Surg now, it'd be a waste. I can eleaborate more if you like on this one. At any rate, the Navy needs OB nurses, we just don't have enough.

Finally, if I am offered a sign-on bonus, when would I receive that?

You wil get your bonus once you get to OIS and sign all your papers.

How are working conditions, the hospitals, etc.?

I like the working conditions. We are groomed to be VERY autonomous, to think for ourselves. Remember, the training gears you for being in the field where there isn't always a doctor. I feel I get more respect in the Navy as a nurse than I did when I was a civilian, your opinion is valued more. The hospitals, again the bigger the better. The bigger ones our more technilogically advanced and the smaller ones play catch up, just like the real world.

How are living conditions?

Not sure what you mean here, if you are talking money, there is no contest. You will make more in the ling run in the Navy for what you do. Remember, you are paid based on your rank, not on your experience. This goes both ways though, you can be a stellar nurse earning every penny and then work with some shlep who's getting paid the same. There are a lot of allowances and perks that the civilian world doesn't get. Again, I could eleaborate more. As far as where you can live, well. I have lived in San Diego, CA, Chicago, IL and for the last 2 years Sicily, Italy. I have travelled to Spain, North Africa, Greece, the Azores (islands in the Atlantic), going to Ireland, and England in April, even bought a time share in Paris, France all becuase of the Navy. You tell me?

How do your duties as a military nurse differ from those of civilian nurses?

You will still have your regular nurse duties,patient care stuff. However, because you are an officer you will have some extra duties you are responsible for. This won't happen for the first year or two because you need to concentrate on becoming a nurse. After that, you will be expected to do some other things. I am the Nurse of the Day Coordinator (supervisor basically) I have to train new nurses, assign preceptors, and write a schedule. Takes an extra 2 hours a month, no big deal, but it goes on my evaluation. I have a few others if want to know, just ask.

I hope this helps some. I will be in Italy until July, then we come back to the states because the Navy is sending me back for my Master's degree. Imagine, I get paid by the Navy to go to school, it's called DUINS, Duty Under Insrtruction. No nurse duties, just school, can't wait. Talk to you soon.

LT Dan

baby_gurl0604 · Feb 25, 2006

LT Dan,

Thank you so much for all the info- it is extremely helpful!!! I guess I had better get going with all this and talk to a recruiter pretty soon...oh, as far as Duty Under instruction goes, what are the requirements? Do you have to have a certain GPA? I am very interested in going back to grad school eventually so hopefully some day maybe the military can help me with that.

Also, I am really interested in living overseas eventually...is it hard to get assignments in, say, Spain or Italy? Well thanks again for everything, and thank you for your service!

:yelclap:

DanznRN, RN · Feb 25, 2006

Baby_gurl-

For DUINS, you have to have been in the Navy about 4 years minimum, you have to be on your second set orders. There is a package you have to put together and then you compete for spots in various fields. You have to take the GRE and do O.K. Historically, it has been very competative, but this past year was not. There were 81 spots open and only 87 applied, good odds. Normally, it is like 150 applicants for 75 spots, it all depends on the year. Living overseas is not a hard thing to come by. You could actually head overseas after youe first 3 year tour, it is where you go that is the trick. In years past, if you were stationed on the East Coast, you headed to Europe. If you were stationed on the West Coast you headed to Japan, Guam, etc.,. Currently, I don't think there are preferences like that anymore, we just got a few people who had been in San Diego. if that tells you anything. The best thing to do is start talking to the detailer early when you want to head over here. Living in Italy has been awesome, going to miss it when we leave this summer. If you have kids, this is probably the safest place in the world for them. Once I'm done with grad school, would consider coming back for another 3 years.

Hope this is helpful, let me know how things are going, especially what the recruiter says. Currently, the Navy is short by about 300 nurses so don't let him/her pull your leg, make them show you the dough. The bonus could be as high as $20,000 right now.

LT Dan

joshuaclay · Feb 27, 2006

LT Dan,

As enlisted,it was nearly impossible to change coasts. The only way was to go the Great Lakes as an RDC or do recruiter duty; sort of a "stepping stone" approach. Is this also the case for officers? I noticed you mention it is (or was) in regards to overseas duty, but does the same rule apply when trying to move from Balboa Hospital to say Bethesda?

Thanks,

Josh

DanznRN, RN · Feb 27, 2006

Josh-

As for now, I'm not sure how they are handling this now. Things have changed so much since the Iraq war, people are jumping from place to place without regard to coasts. That plus the fact that they have closed so many potential duty stations, I would think the lines are blurred now. I'll ask the detailer when I talk to him next. Not much help on this one, sorry.

LT Dan

Trauma Columnist · Feb 27, 2006

Lt Dan - you make me jealous. Oh to be 15 yrs younger and 50 lbs lighter!

(Just kidding - already served in the US Navy - a long time ago)lol

Thanks for youre welcoming notes to the newbies wanting info. It is much appreciated.

joshuaclay · Feb 27, 2006

Lt Dan - you make me jealous. Oh to be 15 yrs younger and 50 lbs lighter!
(Just kidding - already served in the US Navy - a long time ago)lol
Thanks for youre welcoming notes to the newbies wanting info. It is much appreciated.

:yeahthat: seriously...someone get this man a NAM! thanks again for all the helpful info LT.

DanznRN, RN · Feb 27, 2006

TraumaRUs-

Me make you jealous? You graduate from your CNS program in a few months. I start mine in August, going to the University of Maryland in Baltimore. Its a blended CNS/ERNP program, however the Navy is paying for it, so I got that going for me.

Josh-

I'm happy to help. If anyone ever has any questions or needs info, please point them my way. I prefer to tell them what the reality is so they know what they are getting into and how it really is, both good and bad. I'd be happy for you to come back on active duty as a colleague. Tell you what, you come back on active duty and if your near Bethesda or Baltimore (when we get there this summer), beers are on me, deal?

LT Dan

joshuaclay · Mar 1, 2006

Tell you what, you come back on active duty and if your near Bethesda or Baltimore (when we get there this summer), beers are on me, deal?
LT Dan

Hey, NOW we're talkin'!

baby_gurl0604 · Mar 2, 2006

Well I called the local Navy recruiting place the other day and told them I'm interested. They said the officer recruiter would get back to me...having heard anything yet but hopefully I will hear from someone soon. Thanks again for all the information!!

joshuaclay · Mar 2, 2006

Well I called the local Navy recruiting place the other day and told them I'm interested. They said the officer recruiter would get back to me...having heard anything yet but hopefully I will hear from someone soon. Thanks again for all the information!!

don't worry. he'll get back to you....and back to you....and back to you. he will not sleep until you are in boots! my recruiter wants to meet with me all the time, even though i keep telling him i have 2 years to go!:rotfl: