Navy Nursing Duty Stations

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Let me first say, "Thank you for your service and all the help you've provided!" to all the active and retired military Nurses who have posted here. I've learned a lot just by reading old threads.

So I've been in the Navy for a minute as a Corpsman but the only contact I've had with the Nurse Corps has been at clinics and Hospitals with the Nurse Corps Officers usually in the upper leadership (my last CO was a NC Officer in Groton) or NPs running a specialty department.

Where are junior RNs generally stationed? I know ENSs go to one of the Big Three out of OIS but where do they typically go after? Do they follow the normal Sea Shore rotation, going to Carriers or larger Amphibs or with the Marines in a Med Battalion? Do Navy Nurses have the option to cross over to Army or Air Force Hospitals (I'd kill for Germany)?

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

I think there are a few tri-service locations ... Walter Reed comes to mind. Maybe Ft. Belvoir? Not sure about Landstuhl being tri-service ... I think it was, but then maybe the Navy left? I can't remember!

Did you do NECP for nursing? I precepted a guy in my ED that was finished his BSN courtesy of the Navy, he was a Corpsman. Sharp dude. :)

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Specializes in Adult Critical Care.

Right up front, I'll tell you that I'm Air Force and not Navy. My current job puts me in contact with Navy nurses. From talking to them it seems like all new grads go to the San Diego, Porstmouth, or Walter Reed. All of their other MTFs are much smaller. Most of the other bases are a lot of outpatient clinics. It seems like most nurses in the Navy don't serve on ships, except for a handful of positions. There are also a couple of Mercy ships that do use a lot of nurses. It is my understanding that independent duty corpsmen fill the bulk of the marine and ship roles.

I know in the AF we have quite a few roles at Army only and Navy only facilities. I would imagine the Navy has them too. You'll need to get your hands on a 'Designator Matrix' (we call it an Air Force specialty code, or AFSC, matrix). It will tell you what positions are available at each base.

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Pixie. I'm applying to MECP this fall. Started applying to Nursing schools and taking the ACTs next week and the HESI A2 soon. I think if I blow those out of the water I'll be sitting pretty to start Nursing school next fall.

Jfratian, I think you mean the Mercy and the Comfort. As I understand it those are more humanitarian deployment situations than an actual duty station. The ships are actually run by civilians.

That's kind of poop though, no sea duty. Not that I'm a fan of ships, I was on the Tortuga for a week hitching a ride while I was with the Marines and I was laid up in sick Bay the entire way. Ha ha

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Specializes in ICU, Military.

Hey DocMattEB

I'm currently a Navy Nurse. Yes out of ODS you will go to a big three to "learn the basics", i.e. work med-surg. As a JO you will NOT follow a Sea Shore rotation. If you want to go on a ship you have to apply for it. Right now the only ships with RN's who are Ship's Company are Carriers. I'm currently the Ship's Nurse on one and I had to submit a package with references, etc AND you have to be a 1960 (ICU nurse). ED nurses are not authorized carriers, they want ICU nurses cause we can manage vents long-term (no respiratory therapy corpsman on a carrier). There are FSTs (Fleet Surgical Teams) and you are basically stationed on shore but go out with a surgeon and CRNA to specific small-boys and do whats needed there then come home. You are not Ship's Company on an FST.

ED Nurses are typically sent with Marines. There are several opportunities for those billets, again, you have to apply for them, they are not just handed out and would come after a few years of ED experience.

There are a few joint hospital commands, as Pixie mentioned Walter Reed and Ft Belvoir, among others. Landstuhl is not an option however there is an operational billet for Navy there that you have to apply for (only ONE) and you basically coordinate medevacs between Landstuhl and downrange. You don't actually fly any of these missions tho.

Okinawa and Guam are possibilities for new RNs, but be prepared to work you a** off.

If you have any other questions send me a PM! I coordinate our ship's MECP program so if you want to bounce anything off me let me know.

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Specializes in ER/Tele, Med-Surg, Faculty, Urgent Care.
Jfratian, I think you mean the Mercy and the Comfort. As I understand it those are more humanitarian deployment situations than an actual duty station. The ships are actually run by civilians./QUOTE]

MSC (Military Sealift Command) are civilians and they are in charge of ship operations, they used to be called Merchant Marines. MSC operate all ships that are USNS (vs USS) but all medical is Navy personnel. Flight Ops are all Navy. I was deployed on USNS Comfort T-AH-20 during Gulf War. My friend that I met on the ship is Nurse Corps reserve and was recalled to Gitmo during the Haitian refugee crisis on Comfort, did a 6 month humanitarian cruise on Mercy to Indonesia and also went on Comfort during the earthquake in Haiti. She picked up Captain (0-6) a couple years ago. If you get a chance to take a tour of either hospital ship, do it.

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Hi anchorRN. I was wondering if you could help me. I know this post was from awhile ago. I applied for direct accession to be a naval officer. I have been a nurse for almost three years and I am credentialed in med-surg. my application was supposed to be reviewed September 15 so I am waiting to hear back from them. do you know how long it takes for the board to give an answer and how long I wait for orders ect. is there a way to see what duty stations need RNs. its been a long process and I'm just anxious for some answers.

thanks you

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