Need Help from some Navy Nurses, PLEASE!!!!

Ok, I just signed up with this website. I have been googling questions regarding the Navy and these threads popped up. I just joined, so bare with me please. I didn't actually find this forum - I followed it through a different post, how do you actually get here???

To give a little background, I am a female, married with 4 children. I have my ADN and have been practicing for 4 years (med/surg tele, hospice and currently surgery (pre, post and OR). I am enrolled in a BSN program, just started 2 months ago, will hopefully graduate mid year 2011. I want to join the Navy as an officer after I graduate. I finally spoke with a recruiter and the answers he didn't have, he gave me phone numbers to other people in Chicago that deal specifically with the medical program who would better answer my questions. I can be impatient at times, and would like answers sooner. I have called and left messages.

The questions that I have are as follows:

How soon after I complete OIS training will I be assigned and how long after I get there will my family be able to join me?

Do I know my 1st assignment before I even go to OIS training?

My goal is to continue my education, get my MSN as a Nurse Anesthetist. I have read somewhere that the NNAP is ranked among the top 5 Nurse Anesthetist schools in the US. I also came across an article that stated the NNAP was voluntarily closing. Does anyone know anything about that?, it also stated that they may merge with the USU????

Whatever that case may be, does anyone know how long after I complete OIS, would I be able to start to apply for graduate school?? (anesthesia school)

What is OIS really like?

We also have a small-med sized dog, do they allow dogs in base housing? What is base housing like? would I be better off living off-base? Is it hard to find housing? (I am assuming that I would be in Bethesda, Portsmouth or San Diego at least at first).

What is living on base for the spouses and children (girls 14,12,12,10)?

Are there any special resources for our youngest, she has Downs? How are the schools? on or off base?

The Air Force allows you to apply at the earliest, 1 year before your graduation date (BSN), When can I apply to the Navy? It seems to be a long process, from what I have seen posted before.

WOW, I have a lot of questions. Thank you to all of you in advance for taking your time to read my post, any information would be greatly appreciated. :bow:

I am AF stationed at a Navy hospital and currently finishing up my nurse anesthesia program at USUHS/USU. I can answer some of your questions.

When you finish your officer training course you go immediately to your new duty station (minus travel days), and your family will be allowed to join you as soon as you get done with officer training. You will know your duty assignment before you ever goto officer training. I don't have any personal information on OIS.

The Navy Nurse Corps program is closing/closed (the class that graduates with me will be the last class). What really happened is that USUHS expanded and the Navy program completely integrated under the USUHS curriculum. You still have the same clinical sites and a lot of the same instructors, but there is no more Navy students going through Georgetown didatic program. By the time you are ready for the USUHS program it will have become DNP program not an MSN. Anticipated start date for the DNP at USUHS is 2013 and will make the program a 36mo program instead of the current 30mo program.

I think you have to do one assignment before you can apply to graduate school with the Navy (2-3yrs).

You can forget about base housing at Bethesda. There is none close to base. Dogs are allowed on base. With your family size I would recommend off base housing. Base housing quality varies greatly from base to base, and it all usually has a waiting list. You would have to check with the individual base's housing office to see what was available and how long the waiting list was to get into base housing.

The military is a great place for special needs children! I have one special needs daughter and the services are great. It is sometimes difficult starting out, but I think you will be very happy with services on and off base for your children.

That is all I can help you with....maybe one of the Navy nurses pipe in and answer the rest of your questions.