Navy Nurse

rthale, BSN, RN · Jun 23, 2021

Hi!

I’m pretty sure you can join the Navy until 42 without needing a waiver. I turned 40 this year and have been working on my packet for active duty Navy. I recently did MEPS and am eagerly anticipating upcoming interviews. I just really hope there are billets available FY2022 for peri-op nurses!

I think the 6 month rule is pretty mandatory. If you start your packet as soon as you obtain your BSN (if they let you), you will have the 6 months complete by the time boards roll around in October. I wouldn’t give up hope ?

BevM15 · Jun 23, 2021

Rthale,

Thanks for the response. I know you have up to the day before you turn 42 to be commissioned. I just was having some self-doubt, bc it seems like most Navy Nurses start young. But I guess I shouldn’t let that sway me. Good luck with your process. I’d love to hear how that goes.

BK34 · Jun 23, 2021

I am a current nursing student I am am interested in peri-op as well has going into the Navy. It seems difficult to find info about peri-op nursing in the navy. What made you choose to go active duty?

rthale, BSN, RN · Jun 23, 2021

I enlisted in the Army Reserves when I was 17. I spent 10 years as a medic before I decided to get out and continue on to nursing. Unfortunately, the Army doesn’t have a mission for Peri-Op nurses unless I wanted to go into the reserves again. The reserves has always been super inconvenient for our family (hubs is still in) and I’d like to eventually finish my retirement! My kiddos are old enough that we don’t need the support from local family any more, so the hubs and I decided it was time. I have missed the military since getting out. I’m not getting any younger, so it’s now or never!

Mursey, BSN, RN · Oct 17, 2021

Hello! I'm in the Navy Nurse Corps. Yes, you can join until you're 42. No, you're probably not likely to be allowed to start your package without at least 6 months experience. My recruiter told me 1 year experience.

Regardless of all of that, I would highly recommend you not join. I was in the Air Force prior to joining, and I would go back in a heartbeat if I could. This was the biggest mistake of my life and there isn't a day that goes by in which I don't regret it. If you join the Nurse Corps, you will have no say in what you do. I joined with three years ICU experience and was told that I was needed for my ICU experience. They immediately tried to stick me in MedSurg because they feel like I have to earn my ICU position. They have done that will all of the new nurses that have come with prior experience. What a waste of my own experience. Luckily, I was able to use my priory military experience to push into the Pediatric ICU, but because it's still the Navy it's one big joke. Don't do it. Really, for your own sake.

BevM15 · Oct 17, 2021

Mursey,

Thanks for the response. I’ve gone back and forth with trying to decide if I should join as I have 2 kids who would obviously be impacted by this decision as well. What you mention in your message is exactly what I fear in joining.. so maybe it’s not in the cards for me. Do you have any knowledge on what life is like as a nurse in the Air Force?

Thanks again.

Mursey, BSN, RN · Oct 18, 2021

I honestly don't. I think military medicine in general fails on many fronts. I worked as a civilian at a multiservice military hospital. They just don't really know how to respond to just about anything in a way that you would see at a good medical facility. That includes dealing with people (workers, patients, and family members) or even with management. The acuity was much, much lower in the ICU there, but I was grateful for that since the pandemic had already been going on for awhile and I saw it as a much needed break. I would say that if you really want to join, but would like the opportunity to "stick your foot in the water" then consider the reserves. That would offer more opportunity for you to fulfill the role in which you seek. They have a later join date and they offer some really good benefits in return, as well. Best of luck!