Navy Nurse Questions

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Hi!

I am finishing up my freshman year in college. I am planning on becoming a humanitarian aid nurse. I am thinking about joining the navy sometime in my career. Should I join the navy as soon as next year? Or should I wait until I earn my BSN so that way I can do more while I am in the navy? Can undergraduates apply for the Nurse Candidate program? If so, how does that work?

Thanks so much!

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Specializes in Trauma, Teaching.

Your best bet is to contact a Navy recruiter. Way back when I looked into it the Navy would pay for school, but those programs went away with budget cuts and more nurses than they needed applying, who already had degrees.

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

You need to speak with a healthcare recruiter not a regular enlisted recruiter to find out the appropriate details. Know that the military is overstaffed right now in most areas and there is little need for inexperienced new grad nurses.

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Do not enlist in the Navy if you are still in school. You would have to join the Reserves and while chances are slim, you could get called to full-time active duty. Not to mention weekend drills and two weeks a year of active duty for training (ACTDUTRA). If you want to join the Navy, get your BSN, and then see if you can join. You'll be a commissioned officer and life will be better.

As my bona fides, I am a retired Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer with 31 years of service.

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