I was recently accepted to the Navy Nurse Corps and I'm making this thread in hopes to connect with other nurses who are or already have been. I just found out my first duty station will be Camp Pendleton and my ODS start date is Oct 6th, 2024! I always enjoy reading people's experiences and conversations about this topic but have not come across any recent posts.
I'm currently a stem cell/cellular therapy RN with 1.5 year experience. I'm soo excited for this upcoming adventure.
Keep in mind that the ongoing DHA absorption of the non-deployed military heath system will eventually have more Navy at Air Force and Army hospitals. I have no clue what the timeframe for this transition will be. There is a small ICU at Eglin AFB near Destin.
Considering DHA absorption does it mean inter service assignments will be more common, meaning getting assigned to any hospital within the military system? Have you seen changes during your AD time. Thanks
Yes, this will mean that interservice assignments will EVENTUALLY become more common. The exact timeframe is nebulous at best. There are some of them right now. This is especially true at joint bases...walter reed and San Antonio (SAMMC/BAMC) are examples. Right now it's still uncommon and not the norm.
There are many advantages to a joint set-up. You don't need as much middle management and support staff; that frees up personnel to actually do real work. Military nurses largely do 90% that same thing. Sharing staff between branches allows greater staffing flexibility.
There are many problems with a joint set-up. Training and focus of each branch is different. Navy medical has a "jack of all trades" mentality while the Air Force loves "specialization." New AF ICU nurses go to a 6-month school. New Navy ICU nurses get on-the-job training. The Army loves guns and tents. Good luck finding an Air Force nurse who knows anything about either of them.
Do you have an update on where you are at in the process? I'm prior enlisted but the commissioning process is SO much different and much more difficult in my opinion. (Enlisted was still a process). I was hopeful to be done in time to have a decision and go to the Oct. 6 ODS date. I'm still waiting to do my two interviews. I also know my credentialing process is done on my end just waiting for "final review?" I haven't heard an update since then but I am already cleared by MEPS.
Do you have an update on where you are at in the process? I'm prior enlisted but the commissioning process is SO much different and much more difficult in my opinion. (Enlisted was still a process). I was hopeful to be done in time to have a decision and go to the Oct. 6 ODS date. I'm still waiting to do my two interviews. I also know my credentialing process is done on my end just waiting for "final review?" I haven't heard an update since then but I am already cleared by MEPS.
The interviews were hard for my recruiter to find someone available. People are busy but the two nurses I talked to had a lot of wisdom to share and did not seem like they were in a rush. It was a lengthy process, took me about a year exactly. When did you begin? Also, final review by who? The credentialing committee? It's getting kind of close to Oct 6 I'm unsure if all of that will be ready but they might push through in these last 2 weeks?
The interviews were hard for my recruiter to find someone available. People are busy but the two nurses I talked to had a lot of wisdom to share and did not seem like they were in a rush. It was a lengthy process, took me about a year exactly. When did you begin? Also, final review by who? The credentialing committee? It's getting kind of close to Oct 6 I'm unsure if all of that will be ready but they might push through in these last 2 weeks?
Yes final review for the credentialing committee. That would be awesome if they can get you in for October! From what I saw next ODS class after October is January so I'm hopeful to be going to that class. I started this process last June but I lagged on some stuff on my end because I'm in NP school.
Credentialing done. MEPS done. Interviews done. Just got "Pro-Rec Y" by the final board. Now I'm just waiting for the scroll and oath to come back, which will probably not happen until after the new FY.
Has anyone heard any rumors regarding the critical care bonus for FY-25? I hope it doesn't go away.
So the next ODS class date will not be until January. That would be really cold in Newport RI. Geez.
Question if you have prior nursing experience, any specifics on how they determine your rank? I thought MSN would give you automatic 2 years? And if they give you credit on you experience your pay would be based on initial rank and credited number of years, is my understanding right? Or your pay looks like initial rank and 0-2 years on the pay scale since your 0 years in the military? Thanks.
Question if you have prior nursing experience, any specifics on how they determine your rank? I thought MSN would give you automatic 2 years? And if they give you credit on you experience your pay would be based on initial rank and credited number of years, is my understanding right? Or your pay looks like initial rank and 0-2 years on the pay scale since your 0 years in the military? Thanks.
Prior civilian full-time RN experience is typically credited at 50%. With an MSN and no prior nursing experience or prior enlisted military experience would yield an O-2 pay grade with 0 years. Typically, an MSN and 4 years of civilian RN experience yields O-3 with 0 years of time in grade.
It's prior enlisted experience that gives people years of extra service time towards pay.
Prior civilian full-time RN experience is typically credited at 50%. With an MSN and no prior nursing experience or prior enlisted military experience would yield an O-2 pay grade with 0 years. Typically, an MSN and 4 years of civilian RN experience yields O-3 with 0 years of time in grade.
It's prior enlisted experience that gives people years of extra service time towards pay.
Thanks for the clarification, I guess coming from civilian the one that only affect my pay coming in as a commission is my rank. But my experience will count towards time towards promotion right? Thanks btw you always been helpful in this thread. Im on the process of going in, just waiting for my second interview to be scheduled.
Thanks for the clarification, I guess coming from civilian the one that only affect my pay coming in as a commission is my rank. But my experience will count towards time towards promotion right? Thanks btw you always been helpful in this thread. I'm on the process of going in, just waiting for my second interview to be scheduled.
After you get your civilian RN experience and advanced degrees credited towards a higher incoming rank, there is typically some amount of 'excess credit' that is not utilized. That excess credit will shorten the time you must wait before being eligible to promote to the next rank (known as required time in grade or 'TIG').
For example, I had no MSN and only 2 years of RN experience when I originally commissioned. I entered as an O-1 with 12 months on TIG. I promoted to 'O-2' 12 months after commissioning (typically takes 24 months in the Air Force). This does not guarantee you an early promotion; it simply makes you eligible earlier.
Congratulations! I get to go to ODS next year in January. I would love to hear about your experience and any reccomendations!
Hello!! Same to you—Be prepared for the cold! October/November wasn't too terrible in RI. Some cold mornings but that PT will warm you right up (or they may have you in the gym). There are many Reddit posts that have valuable advice. Lean on your shipmates, embrace the process. If you have specific questions feel free to ask!
floRNda
40 Posts
Considering DHA absorption does it mean inter service assignments will be more common, meaning getting assigned to any hospital within the military system? Have you seen changes during your AD time. Thanks