Navy Nurse Questions

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I'm sure this question has been asked more than once, so please bear with me. I've been sifting through all the information I can find, but I still don't quite understand...

I've just started toying with the idea of Navy Nursing. I graduate from a BSN program in December. But have very little knowledge about the military in general, less about the Navy specifically, and even less about Navy Nursing.

Specifically, I'm wondering about the following:

1.What are the requirements for being accepted?

2.What is the minimum length for which you can sign up?

3.After being accepted, what happens as far as training? (What kind, where do you go, how long etc)

4.After training, then what? What kind of setting do you start off in, how long will you be there, and do you get any real choice at this point in where you'll be?

5.What about deployments? How often and how long? Do deployments differ for nurses and if they do, how so?

6.What other things do I need to know but I don't know enough to know that I need to know them? :bugeyes:

Thank you so much for any insight. I'm planning on speaking with a recruiter soon, but I want to be a little more informed first. You know... wouldn't want to have “sucker” written on my forehead.

Thanks. I have a couple of follow up questions.

1. how do i get everything on paper? do I turn in an application first for navy nurse and once I got accepted, they will let me know everything from all my benefits, how much I'm making, and where I'm going? and then at this time it is my choice wether to accept or decline? or is it too late to decline once I got accepted?

2. What is the likelyhood I'll be assigned with a field hospital and a surgical company? Are those on a red zone?

3. How often will they grant me permission to leave if I have a 3-4 day weekend? traveling from possibly san diego to houston (1,471 miles). I'm thinking of doing it every time I have a 3-4 day weekend. And does this count against my 30day annual leave?

4. I heard that new nurses like me usually get assigned to one of the big three hospitals. And people are usually station in one place for 3-4 years. Since I will only have 3 years of commitment is their only a very small possibility that I will never have to relocate or deployed?

Thanks for taking time to answer the questions. This really helps clarify a lot of things rather than searching the navy website for answers.

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Specializes in EMT, ER, Homehealth, OR.
thanks. i have a couple of follow up questions.

1. how do i get everything on paper? do i turn in an application first for navy nurse and once i got accepted, they will let me know everything from all my benefits, how much i'm making, and where i'm going? and then at this time it is my choice wether to accept or decline? or is it too late to decline once i got accepted?

once you get accepted that is when everything is written into your contract. you are able to decline your commission upto the time you due your finial commissioning which is 72 hours before you report on active duty

2. what is the likelyhood i'll be assigned with a field hospital and a surgical company? are those on a red zone?

a field hospital & surgical company depends on the hospital/unit you are assigned to. you would work in a regular hospital and be assigned to one of these and would go with them if they are deployed

3. how often will they grant me permission to leave if i have a 3-4 day weekend? traveling from possibly san diego to houston (1,471 miles). i'm thinking of doing it every time i have a 3-4 day weekend. and does this count against my 30day annual leave?

it will depend on the command, that is the best i can tell you. no it should not count as leave most of the time, it is called liberty

4. i heard that new nurses like me usually get assigned to one of the big three hospitals. and people are usually station in one place for 3-4 years. since i will only have 3 years of commitment is their only a very small possibility that i will never have to relocate or deployed?

needs of the navy will dictate that, which includes the unit you are assigned to. if they deploy, you deploy.

thanks for taking time to answer the questions. this really helps clarify a lot of things rather than searching the navy website for answers.

nnnnn

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so i have a quick question for all you ncpers. i am looking into doing the ncp but i had a few questions.

1.) because i already have my bachelor's degree in another field i am applying directly to a 2 year nursing program, i will probably receive my acceptance letter in october, is this letter saying i am slated to begin jan 2010 enough?

2.)if i do start my packet in october and get all necessary stuff done, how long does the decision take to come through?

3.) this may seem really random but does the navy cover health insurance while you are in nursing school or is that something you start when you go to OIS?

ok thanks for all of your help! any advice other then the answers to these questions is always appreciated!

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Hi all, I am new to this forum, but have read most pages on this thread and it looks like a good one. I graduated with my BSN 1 year ago and have been working on a Surgical Telemetry floor (closest med/surg floor to critical care in my hospital) since graduation, but my heart lies with Public Health. I have recently been charge on my floor and am activily involved in numerous comittees both on my floor and throughout my hospital.

I have been toying with the idea of military nursing for some time and would just like some information about which branch has the best route for public health. I am planning on getting a Masters at some point in the future, am young (24), would enjoy traveling and do not really have anything holding me in Oregon (besides family/friends). My husband and I have been apart 4 of our 7 ears together, so I don't see that as an issue. Does the Navy have good ties with public health nursing? Thanks!

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Hi all, I've been reading this forum for a while and just wanted to chime in. I got my BSN on May 1st and passed NCLEX on May 19th. Army Nurse recruiters were always coming by and talking to us and it always sounded like a great deal to me but I'm 37. To make a long story short I found out I can join the Navy Nurse Corps up to age 42 and with the economy being what it is, the nurse corps has gotten more attractive to me by the week because I'm still looking for my first job. My federal loan payments start in November and things just aren't looking all that great. Not to mention I'm married with one child. And I've always like the Navy and was interested in joining years and years ago.

So anyway, I've read all I can get my hands on including a promotional packet with DVD I recently got in the mail and I talked to a Navy Medical Recruiter today. He told me all slots are filled up until October 1. After that, space will fill up fast so if I want to do this we'll have to get going. He sent me an application and after filling that out the next step would be getting an interview in Pensacola. So we'll see how it goes.

BartC

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I'm considering joining, but only want to live in San Diego. How likely is it that I will get assigned there if requested? Does anyone have personal experience they could share related to this question? If I join and get assigned somewhere else can I refuse the assignment and wait for another one? Sorry if that sounds stupid. I just considered joining yesterday and have a lot of questions. I'm waiting for a recruiter to call me back. Would it be worth starting to fill out the paperwork if I'm not completely sure or can I even do that? Thanks for the help.

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Hello everyone!

I'm a new grad working on my license; in fact I take the test in just a little while. I'm contemplating joining the Navy for nursing and have read lots of great stuff thus far. One question to add: how long are deployments for? Where do you go? What are working conditions like? Finally, do benefits apply to spouses and dependents only or can it apply to anyone living with you?

Thanks!

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LCDR Dan is right about the cultural changes in the Navy. I came in shortly after Tailhook and served 6 years active/2reserve, the culture had already changed alot but especially made a transition during that time. Whatever people think about Clinton, his pressure to create a "kinder gentler" military did create an environment of greater professionalism even if it didn't really make it that much kinder or gentler. I think this professionalism has suited the military well heading into these new wars, even though we had to toughen up in some areas early on.

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mmm333,

Professionalism? Really? I see waaaayyy too much hanky panky, fraternization, and nobody gives a care. Its happening left and right, its out of control. I feel like I am the only normal person in the sense that I don't get in bed with corpsman or senior officers. I guess I am just a stick in the mud. You should have seen the pictures from our dining in (which got really carried away when everyone decided to go out to the clubs in seville quarter). So glad I didn't go cause I was working that night.

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Did you just copy my screen name? I'm flattered! I'm literally blushing, and I don't usually blush.

haha, yeah, sounds like another Tailhook in the making there... I guess the core problems inherent in society at large didn't evaporate with a whimsical snap of Bill Clinton's fingers (as if he were the ultimate role model for conduct, haha)... But today's military is a far cry from the scummy 1970s military or the chauvinistic 80s military. Then again I was a SWCC, I didn't see alot of what went on in the real Navy. I'm still close to many friends on the inside and feel like I have a certain level of awareness, but I don't know much about the medical side. I do think that it's less tolerated in general. Medical has to watch itself because many people have civilian experience and their job resembles its civilian role closely, so I think it's very easy for military bearing to fly out the window.

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