Navy Nursing with Some Experience or Right After School

[Goldenmoose]

I have a couple of questions about becoming a nurse in the Navy.

I spent 5 years in the Navy as a Petty Officer Second Class. Now that I am out, I have a year left in a BSN program in Florida. I am very interested in getting back into the Navy as a nurse.

I've seen a couple of flyers around school talking about joining the Navy immediately after graduating. I've also read on Allnurses that some people recommend getting a year or two of experience and then trying to get a commission. I also remember reading that you have more options in the Air Force if you get some experience first.

Does anyone have any advice on this subject? I know it takes a while to get a packet together. Just wanted to know if I should call a recruiter and get the process started now or get some experience first

Thanks in advance!

[jfratian, DNP, RN, CRNA]

The good thing about the Navy is that they do on the job training for nursing specialties. Navy nurses I've talked to who start in med-surg as new grads have commonly reported the ability to transfer to ER or ICU, etc. after a year or two of experience. The Navy values jacks-of-all-trades from my experience, and it's not extremely difficult to try new things.

The AF requires formal, centralized training programs for most nursing specialties. That means you have to apply to a specialty school, move to another state, and complete a program that can last up to a year (ICU or ER). That means you really are locked in, but it allows you to really focus on things you like to do.

I would weigh what's more important to you. Do you want to do a certain specialty (ICU, ER) more than you want to join the military? You'll have to wait a year or two on one of them.

[nurse2033, MSN, RN]

You can join the reserves or guard and keep your civilian job, and control over where you work. The best way, is to apply directly to the unit you want to work for, then they get you through recruitment and training. In the guard or reserve you can rise in rank at the same rate, but don't have to move. You would deploy at whatever rate your unit deploys. I work in Air Evac and my unit deploys every 20 months. I deploy every other cycle or about every 3 years. This works great for my family and civilian career. I've risen to Major in 7 years with no prior military. Since it can take 12-16 months to actually get you in, you can apply early and by the time you commission you will have a few years of experience. You can only apply. If they don't take you, apply in another year. Good luck.