Navy Nurse Requirements

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Hey everyone! I am currently looking at joining the Navy Nurse Corps and would like some feedback on the requirements to join. The local recruiter I have been in touch with told me that I need recent work experience to start putting a package together. Is this true? A little background on me: BSN with two years of experience between 2013-2015. My husband was stationed in Okinawa, so from Nov 2015 to now, I have not worked in the field. However, I have landed a job and will begin shortly. The recruiter said once I have worked for six months, I can start a package. Are the two years of work experience honestly disregarded? Any input on this process is greatly appreciated.

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I just found out last week that I was selected for commission! I was also told I need at least 6 months of experience in a specialty, but my recruiter did tell me it was very competitive and it’s good to have your 6 months experience in a specialty the Navy needs. Their needs change every year, but they typically always need ICU and OR nurses. I didn’t have any issues getting in and got selected on my first try (I have 2 years experience in a very high acuity cardiac ICU). Good luck!

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ECUpirate can you let us know your background?

Talked to my recruiter and I need 6 mo. in a specialty that is needed, looks like for FY 2020, it is critical care. Will work towards getting into an ICU. In management right now. ?

Congrats on your commission! When do you go to ODS?

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My background is only 2 years of cardiac ICU experience. I was a new grad prior. I haven’t been given a date for ODS yet. Paperwork is still flowing in and my recruiter is trying to compile everything to get me a date to swear in etc.

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Awesome! I would love to pick your brain. I'm in a pickle now and I'm not sure how to handle it to be honest. ?

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On 11/6/2019 at 10:53 PM, caughtupinthismoment said:

Awesome! I would love to pick your brain. I'm in a pickle now and I'm not sure how to handle it to be honest. ?

I'm happy to answer what I can!

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On 11/10/2019 at 6:19 PM, ECUpirate said:

I'm happy to answer what I can!

You're the best!

I have a plan. After knowing I need at least 6 mo. ICU experience, I am planning to transfer to an ICU in the city when my lease is up (June). The officer health care recruiter in my division is not helpful at all. He was basically like, this is what I need, let me know when you get it, kbye. I had to contact a different recruiter, same type, just not in my division, to get helpful information to make reasonable decisions regarding what's next and if it's even worth it. I also talked to another recruiter, who is just a general officer recruiter who offered to put me through MEPS and the background check in the interim I'm waiting to get the ICU experience.

So I'm wondering if I should go through MEPS and the background check now before I make my move to the city and hopefully have it all completed, or at least in the process of completion, so that when I get down there I can just focus on working? He said it's transferrable and good for two years. And what advice do you have for working with recruiters? Obviously some are better than others, but unfortunately the one who will most likely be processing my application is on the more lazier/careless side. ?

My goal is to get selected. So whatever I can do to expedite and make myself a worthy candidate I'm willing to do. Any other advice would be appreciated.

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Specializes in Psychiatry/Mental Health.

Hey I'll give my 2 cents since I've went/going through the process for both AF and Navy.

Make sure you're in a specialty you enjoy. Yes, Navy love them dat ICU experience, but do it because you want to, not because it'll make you more competitive.

Yes do everything you can now and now. You can even do MEPS before you start your nursing job, so whatever you can do - docs, MEPS, etc, do it now.

Advice for working w/ recruiters - patience. My first AF recruiter was.... lord. She stressed me out so bad with how... BAD she was for her carelessness and lack of reliability and responsiveness. Kept losing my paperwork, didn't mention deadlines until the last possible minute, replies back once a month if EVEN. She PCS'd out of no where and didn't tell me after weeks and weeks of constant emails and calls on my end that she wasn't my recruiter anymore. UH. THANKS? WISHED YOU TOLD ME BEFORE YOU LEFT? Thankfully the new recruiter is a billion times better. And thankfully the navy recruiter(s) (both my old one and the new one) are amazing. Completely different experience from the AF. With the AF, I felt like I had to beg my recruiter for info or updates. The navy was like, come here dear child. The only reason why I was able to submit to the AF on time was because I did MEPS through the navy.

I was rejected from the AF this past board (though my recruiter is telling me to try again next Aug) but I'm going to try my luck w/ the Navy's Jan board and compete for the spots that's barely left (inner cry).

Everyone's experience is different but applying for the AF was stressful as heck and it's 99.999999999% thanks to my awful recruiter. Hurry up and wait is real. I thought it was just a saying.

It's real.

I'm happy to help however I can. I'll have a year of RN experience in Jan though not in ICU. Personally, I can't w/ critical care. Nope.

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Hello!

I was wondering if anyone had any advice for me. I have a B.S in Biology and am accepted into an accelerated M.S in Nursing program that starts in May. Does the Navy only allow BSN? I am doing a masters program because my end goal is NP. I was planning to get my M.S after 1.5 years, work for 1 year, then join the Navy and work as an RN for a couple of years. Is this not possible with just a masters? If I can't join then I will just become an NP in a couple of years and then join the Navy.

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On 1/15/2020 at 3:26 PM, Meep123 said:

Hello!

I was wondering if anyone had any advice for me. I have a B.S in Biology and am accepted into an accelerated M.S in Nursing program that starts in May. Does the Navy only allow BSN? I am doing a masters program because my end goal is NP. I was planning to get my M.S after 1.5 years, work for 1 year, then join the Navy and work as an RN for a couple of years. Is this not possible with just a masters? If I can't join then I will just become an NP in a couple of years and then join the Navy.

When you are done with your masters program, what boards will you take?

RN? NP?

On 11/13/2019 at 9:50 PM, MasalaC said:

Hey I'll give my 2 cents since I've went/going through the process for both AF and Navy.

Make sure you're in a specialty you enjoy. Yes, Navy love them dat ICU experience, but do it because you want to, not because it'll make you more competitive.

Yes do everything you can now and now. You can even do MEPS before you start your nursing job, so whatever you can do - docs, MEPS, etc, do it now.

Advice for working w/ recruiters - patience. My first AF recruiter was.... lord. She stressed me out so bad with how... BAD she was for her carelessness and lack of reliability and responsiveness. Kept losing my paperwork, didn't mention deadlines until the last possible minute, replies back once a month if EVEN. She PCS'd out of no where and didn't tell me after weeks and weeks of constant emails and calls on my end that she wasn't my recruiter anymore. UH. THANKS? WISHED YOU TOLD ME BEFORE YOU LEFT? Thankfully the new recruiter is a billion times better. And thankfully the navy recruiter(s) (both my old one and the new one) are amazing. Completely different experience from the AF. With the AF, I felt like I had to beg my recruiter for info or updates. The navy was like, come here dear child. The only reason why I was able to submit to the AF on time was because I did MEPS through the navy.

I was rejected from the AF this past board (though my recruiter is telling me to try again next Aug) but I'm going to try my luck w/ the Navy's Jan board and compete for the spots that's barely left (inner cry).

Everyone's experience is different but applying for the AF was stressful as heck and it's 99.999999999% thanks to my awful recruiter. Hurry up and wait is real. I thought it was just a saying.

It's real.

I'm happy to help however I can. I'll have a year of RN experience in Jan though not in ICU. Personally, I can't w/ critical care. Nope.

Wow. You have been put through the ringer. Thanks for the reply. We should talk in a message to update each other on progresses/regresses. Can’t figure out how to PM on this though.

PM me your update so far.

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@caughtupinthismoment I will just be an RN after graduating the program. I am also waiting on a decision for an accelerated MSN FNP program. However I read the Navy requires 1 year of RN experience and at least 6 months of NP experience in order to go in. I wouldn't mind getting the experience as a civilian and then entering the Navy after. I understand that I would be fine with the second program, because the Navy accepts both masters and doctorate degrees. I am just trying to see what my options are with the first program (1.5 years, come out with MSN and am just an RN).

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@Meep123 I see. Just get that RN and you’ll be solid. Anytime after that you will be learning an incredible amount of skills and knowledge time will fly by. Being a nurse has been the best thing for me. So many options.

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