Navy Nursing Questions

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I'm interested in becoming a nurse in the Navy but I have some questions and concerns. I've been a nurse for 13 years with most of my experience in Rehabilitation. In the last year I've changed my specialty to Psychiatric Nursing. I absolutely LOVE it!!! I can't imagine doing another type of nursing the rest of my career. My ultimate goal is to obtain my Family Psychiatric Nurse Practioner.

Through my job experience, I've taken care of many veterans suffering from PTSD and substance abuse. I feel like that now it is my calling to serve my country and help our soldiers and their families coming back from the battlefield. But, there is one major problem. I'm terrified of flying. This is a a phobia I've tried to overcome for many years but can't get over. So, I felt that the Navy would be the best option for me since you would be on a ship. Therefore, I talked with a Navy recruiter and he informed me that you would be deployed by ship and or by plane. I don't want to miss out on the opportunity to serve my country and our soldiers because I have a fear of flying. Is there anything I can do? My recruiter told me there is a very high demand for psych nurses at this time. Is there any way I can negotiate to only be deployed by boat?

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Specializes in Critical Care (SICU/Trauma).

I don't know if you can avoid flying in any branch of the service...whether it be sending you to training, etc. Especially if you're going between CONUS and OCONUS, you have to fly.

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Specializes in EMT, ER, Homehealth, OR.

No you can not only be deployed by boat because you are at the need of the Navy. Only a few nurses get assigned to ships. Even if you get assigned the Marines you will have fly to training and overseas. There is times you deployed by ship ie Mercy/Comfort, Marine MEU etc.

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Thanks for responding. Well, it looks as if I'll have to find another way to serve. Maybe I can look into working @ a VA Hospital. Thanks.

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I figured that it would be a long shot. Just wanted to see if it was possible. I know the needs of the Navy come first and not my requests. I was just hoping that since there is such a demand for psych nurses that they would deploy me only on the Mercy or Comfort. But, I see that only includes a small number of nurses. Thanks for responding.

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Specializes in Critical Care (SICU/Trauma).

From what I understand, the Mercy and Comfort are manned with Critical Care nurses. I wouldn't think there'd be a huge need for psych nurses to triage patients on a ship.

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Specializes in EMT, ER, Homehealth, OR.

and for the most part there is a skeleton crew on the Mercy/Comfort and only manned with medical folks when they deploy.

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More than anything I was just hoping for a ride on the Mercy or Comfort to where I would be deployed. I know that would probably not make much sense financially.

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Specializes in EMT, ER, Homehealth, OR.

When you deploy on one of those ships, that is the mission

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