Navy Nurse Deployment possiblities??? Airforce deployment?

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Specializes in Psych.

I am an RN, BSN and I am meeting with my recruiter soon to start paperwork. I have a few questions that I would love some help with from people who are actual Navy Nurses with a least a year in. I am a new mommy and I want to join the Navy for lots of reason such as family history of Navy Officers, GREAT benefits for my family, help to pay down my OUTRAGEOUS student loans! Any insight anyone can give is greatly appreciated!!!!!!!

1. I am not under any impression that I will not deploy at some point. I have friends that are Navy Nurses (active just under a year) who have told me that a new nurse will definitely get 18 months at a facility on base to obtain experience. I was told that the Navy wants nurses to be well trained before deployment. Is this true? After that how long are most deployments for Nurses? Where are your possibilities of being sent? Any one been to Iraq? With a 6 month old the possibility does break my heart. My recruiter says that at this point I wont make it to ODS until May so that would make my boy 13 months before I even start. The older he is, I think deployment would be SLIGHTLY easier.

2. I have an officer recruiter. Where can I find a Health Professions Accessions recruiter and do I need to talk to one? My recruiter is in Raleigh, NC.

3. I plan on having a second child probably right when my first five year commitment is up. I would like to make Navy my career. I have heard that your deployment deferment after birth is only 4 months. One thing I can not do is leave my four month old baby. I breastfeed (TMI I know but its relevent, sorry!) and I would want to do so for atleast 6 months. I could not take a risk of being deployed with an infant. Does anyone know if there is a possibility of leaving the Navy after my first term and rejoining after my second kid is a few years old? I know it sounds crazy but just a thought I had. I know about the age cut off and I'd still be way under it.

4. My Navy Nurse friends say that they do not have many other commitments after the normal nursing schedule. Maybe 2 hours a week. I saw on another post that you can count on 8-10 hours of other duties per week? Whats the deal with that and what are those duties?

5. For any Airforce nurses, what are Airforce deployments like? Length? How often and to where? Just curious.

I think thats it for now!

THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!

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Specializes in ED. ICU, PICU, infection prevention, aeromedical e.

Air Force deployments for nurses at my base are 6 months (dwell time. add on the travel time, so about 7 months). Then 18 months at home base.

I find that there is alot more time commitment in AF than I thought there would be. 36/48 each week of shift, then always seems to be extra meetings or duties. It doesn't matter if you are day or night shift, you have to come in on off hours for mandatory meetings. Plus, working 48 hours, you still need to keep up PT standards. I also have been given a ton of learning experiences. I got to go to PICC class and Advance Burn life support. Really great classes. Then I got 2 days notice that I needed to be in Alabama for a 6 week class. Poof. gone. It's alot. You really need to be flexible and mobil. I am so happy to be where I am.

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Specializes in Psych.

That is alot more than I thought as far as "extra" duties. Thanks so much for the info!!!

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I'll toss my 2cents is the previous poster hours and additional duties are still low in comparison to some jobs.. perhaps high for nursing and compared to normal nursing. I spent a lot more time at 'work' + field + schools.. then while deployed worked well over 12 hours a day 7 days a week for 18 months (minus R&R period). This is not always apparent when deciding on civilian vs military.

btw this was in the Army

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