Navy Nurse First Duty/ODS/Relocation 2013

Specialties Government

Published

Hello to all Navy NCP students! I am graduating in two months and finally got an email from Bethesda that I can now contact detailer for ODS dates and first duty station. I cannot believe it takes so long to find out where I will be stationed. I was told that I need to only choose from three big Navy hospitals; however, by reading older post, it seems like I still could be sent to other places. Please keep in touch and let me know if any of you get any word from *****. I will too:)

Guys, I am already working as an RN. So, I hope I will go to ODS asap, like June:) I am looking at all other hospitals and bases to make an informed decision where I want to be if I won't get any of my choices (big three hospitals). I really like Jacksonville, FL or Camp Pendleton (which I visited last spring). I hope detailer calls me soon as I already scheduled a vacation at the end of March, so I could visit my duty station and plan my living there.

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I was stationed at the Hospital in Jacksonville, Florida. Didn't really care for it, nor did many others. Of course, that was back in 2009, so things may have changed...doubt it.

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Have you been to any other hospitals and like any of them beside San Diego and Jacksonville? I want to work at Bethesda.

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Hospitals I've worked at:

NH Pensacola, FL

NH Portsmouth,VA for a short time;

NH Guam

and lastly, NH Jacksonville.

I've also been to, but not worked at, NMCSD

Pensacola was fun. I turned 21 one there, so it was a wild time. The beaches are great, there's plenty of things to go do during the day and night, and New Orleans isn't too far of a drive when it's time for Mardi Gras. The hospital is a medium-sized facility with your typical specialties. Traffic and parking were not too bad. The area is one of the safest I've been to.

I was only in Portsmouth for about 6 months for training. The hospital is large and has many specialties (Hence it being one of the Big Three). It was a decent place, but I also place a lot of weight on how the area surrounding the base is. The surrounding area was a bit run down and there always seemed to be news reports of someone being killed (not service members, though). Traffic was horrible there. If there's a car wreck in on of the underground tunnels, you might as well turn of your car and read a book.

NH Guam was my top duty station, and I loved it there. It was on a small island in the Pacific, so the weather was great and the water was always warm every day of the year. If you like outdoor activities, this is the place...hiking, scuba diving, kayaking, boating, waterfalls, jungles, etc. It was wonderful. Plus, it's just a short plane trip away from Japan, Australia, Palau, etc, so there's lots of opportunity to travel. As for the hospital, it was a medium-sized facility. They are considered a trauma center, so you get to see some pretty nasty stuff like MVAs, shipboard injuries, plane crash victims, GSWs, all sorts of crazy stuff. They are currently building a new hospital, so it will be larger and more modern. Also, it was very relaxing at that command. Everyone seemed very laid back and ready to have a good time.

NH Jacksonville was the most recent hospital I worked at. It's where I worked before I got out to go to school. It's a medium-sized facility with you typical services. They just added onto the hospital, so there are more operating rooms and stuff like that. Traffic can be thick at times depending on where you live and what route you take to work. As far as safety, it has its good and bad areas. You'll have to talk to people at the hospital and ask them where you should move to. If you don't ask them and move to some place like 103rd street, you'll probably regret it. I've been living here since Jan 2008 and I am soooo ready to leave.

NMCSD is another BIG hospital. I haven't worked there, I've just been there. Like Portsmouth, it'll have all the specialities you'll want. There's lots to do in San Diego. If you can't find something to do at this place then you are the most picky, boring person ever. There's something for everyone. As far as crime, I hate to say it, but it's kinda bad. My wife is currently stationed there and she came out to find her brand new Jeep sitting on car jacks one morning, and she hadn't even been living in SD for a month. She also had someone try and open her apartment door while she was there. Fortunately, she is about to move to another location. I would strongly urge you to ask other people where the best place to live is...even more so than Jacksonville. Although I like SD, I have to say it's the worst place so far when it comes to crime. Also, the parking is VERY bad in SD. A lot of people have to park their cars out on the street....which makes easy targets for thieves, and they take advantage of it. Other than the crime, traffic, and parking, SD is a great place. lol

If you have any other questions just let me know.

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Wow! Thank you so much for your input! I love San Diego, but crime is definitely an issue there. Is your wife not living on the base? San Diego is my #2 choice after Bethesda. I visited hospital and four bases there last spring, all seemed very nice. I liked all the perks of being a military member during my visit:) Still, being stationed at Bethesda is a dream. I am so excited about my new endeavor! It's time for a new challenge.. Going to clinicals in the morning and will keep cell phone in my pocket in case "someone" calls:)

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Got a call today and got exactly what I wanted...super excited!

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I got the call around 1500 today, and I got NMCSD! Just what I wanted!

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Congratulations! Very happy for you and your family! When will you go to ODS? Since I am already RN, I am going to ODS in June and report to Bethesda in August.

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Congrats HM2Doc! Did he give you a sense of when you would go to ODS?

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Congrats aketamax!

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I'm graduating at the end of April, so he said I'd probably go to ODS in June...maybe July. He said ODS dates depend on how long it takes you to pass the NCLEX. I plan on taking it as soon as possible in order to make the June class.

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I am sure you will pass it just fine and I may see you at ODS on June 16th! You will probably identify me very quickly because of my Russian accent:) I am now waiting on sponsor to contact me as I have so many questions regarding relocation, living and schools..

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