Navy Nursing School advice and questions:)

jfratian, DNP, RN, CRNA · Jan 19, 2014

The numbers ($, years, number of slots) that you're asking for change with each new application cycle; only a healthcare recruiter would know them.

This article was written by one of the admins of this site, a current Army Nurse.

https://allnurses.com/government-military-nursing/military-nursing-885815.html

As someone who was turned down twice before finally being accepted in October, I can tell you that it's extremely competitive. It's even more so now with the current troop shaping/downsizing. I would strongly recommend applying to multiple branches (the reality is you'll be doing a lot of same thing in any branch...many hospitals are joint operations anyway) and also having a civilian backup plan. Take a civilian job and drop it after 6 months if you have to. Even if you have certs, CNA experience, and great grades (like I did), you still might get beat. There are all kinds of super qualified people with multiple degrees, enlisted experience, etc that apply too.

SL2014 · Jan 19, 2014

Agree with the above. You need to call a recruiter. The military is not bringing on people like crazy like everyone thinks. It is hugely competitive. People with enlisted experience will get the first positions.

To qualify you need your BSN, to pass a physical, no medical issues whatsoever, no criminal history (even speeding tickets are frowned upon), you need to pass the fitness stuff (sit ups, push ups, running).

You are usually agreeing to 4 years, the amounts of reimbursement and assistance change every fiscal year.

You will usually be away from home if you are active duty. You can fill out a dream sheet but you probs won't get your first pick because there are people with 20 years experience who get priority.

Entering the military is a big process. You will have to go to MEPS, some form of boot camp, then officer school, then possibly an AIT... It will take around a year. You will be away from home for all of the training, unless you happen to live close to a place where they do part of your training.

Faith247 · Jun 8, 2014

I'm considering the NCP program and I just started my BSN program. I graduate in 2 yrs. My husband is in the Marine Reserves for a minimum of 2 years and his duty station is in NY. We currently live in MD. I am trying to see what are the chances that I will be stationed close to MD upon graduating. Being in the Marines for 11 years my husband understands that I do not get to choose where I will be stationed however, I do not want to be too far away from him. It's hard for me not to be selfish and consider his career and time he has put into serving our country. I'm just wondering is there a balance to it. Any help will be appreciated. I really have to decide what I will do to pay for school. I have 36k in federal loans and still will need about a significant amount to pay for the ABSN program. Thank you all

jfratian, DNP, RN, CRNA · Jun 8, 2014

Yeah, that's a tough situation. They do really try to consider mil to mil when assigning people. However, new nurses generally must work in either inpatient obstetrics or inpatient med/surg. That severely reduces the number of bases available to you for your first duty station, because you have to work at a large hospital. Clinics (which are the only game in town at most bases) won't be an option. I'm not specifically familiar with Navy bases, but I would imagine you can google it.

You will get separation pay if they can't work it out. I currently work with someone whose husband is stationed 2000mi apart. They couldn't reconcile their two career fields. She is a new nurse and he is a new pilot, and there are limited bases that support both their training needs.