Navy nurse candidate program?

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Hi! I am planning to join the navy nurse corps one day, but right now I'm only in my 2nd semester of my first year getting my general ed done. I was wondering if anyone could provide tips and info on what to expect trying to get into the Navy nurse candidate program.

I haven't started yet because I have yet to find an officer recruiter. I've talked to the Air Force and they would be my second choice if Navy doesn't work out for me. I don't know about the Army though

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How in depth was the physical exam process? Do they actively look in your medical records to confirm no prior? I had a friend in the Army say the don't look at any kind of history and just go off of what you tell them?

The way this question is worded sounds hella sketchy!

Don't lie on your physical. They will ask a lot of questions and may ask for documentation. This is going to be the group that will provide all of your healthcare for the next 4 to 20+ years (or lifelong if you retire), so just be honest with them. The military requirements are strict, but if you don't make the cut, there are plenty of other nursing opportunities!

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I haven't gone to them yet, I'm sorry. I have yet to find an officer recruiter, only enlisted ones and they are not always the best people to ask when it comes to this because they just want you to hurry and enlist.

Yeah, getting ahold of a medical recruiter cam be tough. I actually couldn't find the Navy medical recruiter online and ended up getting their info through a friend (...after going to the Army recruiter first and doing Army ROTC for a semester). If you're already talking to an Air Force healthcare recruiter, keep in contact with them. I don't know anyone who has done it personally, but their Nurse Transition Program (if it still exists) sounds awesome. I would have applied for it if I hadn't gotten into the NCP.

Regarding the nursing school acceptance letter, I just know that my recruiter wouldn't talk to a prospective nursing candidate until after they had been accepted into an accredited BSN program. The time investment simply wasn't worthwhile for him otherwise. There are a lot of pre nursing students who just don't accepted. If you have a healthcare recruiter who is talking to you now though, by all means, don't let my advice deter you. Just make sure it is a healthcare recruiter and not someone who is trying to convince you to enlist.

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
How in depth was the physical exam process? Do they actively look in your medical records to confirm no prior? I had a friend in the Army say the don't look at any kind of history and just go off of what you tell them?

I have seen people who get tripped up on this in the military. It comes down to integrity. Lying about past history can have serious repercussions. As an officer, you background investigation is pretty thorough because you are granted a secret clearance. I have been interviewed for others' investigations and they ask lots of people very interesting questions. Just sayin'.

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