New BSN grad

Itshamrtym · Jul 6, 2008

WELCOME TO ALL NURSES..... :yeah: :yeah: :yeah: :yeah:Sorry I can't help you... but someone will come along and do so.... tAke care...

allnurses Guide · Jul 6, 2008

Considering Navy vs Air Force
I seem to be getting more info and better response from navy recruiter.
For incoming rank do they consider time as RN or only time with BSN?
What are usual choices for 1st assignment station? Any to avoid? AF and Navy?
Is there limited number of spaces for candidates? Both in AF and Navy?
What if you have never worked the hospital floor or night shift?
This is a big decision and I have been reading a lot of the posts. Can someone detail the process a little, for getting in and what to expect, interview etc.
Thanks

Constructive credit is for all RN work, but I don't think the Navy does constructive credit. All nurses in the Navy start out as O-1, but it is something the Navy recruiter could answer better than me.

AF the field is wide open as far as duty stations, although it is fairly unusual to get an overseas assignment right off the bat. The AF will try to match you with your prefrence list, speciality, and AF openings at that time.

Yes, there are limited number of openings for both AF and Navy, if you are an experienced nurse there is little chance of being turned downed based on vacancies alone.

Semper Gumbi----always flexible....if you can't be flexible then you probably shouldn't consider joining the military. The military is really good about orientation at least as far as I have seen.

The process of getting into the military is long and filled with paperwork. The best thing to do is read through the old posts on here. You should expect it to take 6+ months to get into the military after initiating your paperwork. It all depends on you, if you need waivers, nursing specialty, time of the year etc.

JDCitizen · Jul 6, 2008

Constructive credit is for all RN work, but I don't think the Navy does constructive credit. All nurses in the Navy start out as O-1, but it is something the Navy recruiter could answer better than me.
AF the field is wide open as far as duty stations, although it is fairly unusual to get an overseas assignment right off the bat. The AF will try to match you with prefrence list, speciality, and AF openings at that time.
Yes, there are limited number of openings for both AF and Navy, if you are an experienced nurse there is little chance of being turned downed based vacancies alone.
Semper Gumbi----always flexible....if you can't be flexible then you probably shouldn't consider joining the military. The military is really good about orientation at least as far as I have seen.
The process of getting into the military is long and filled with paperwork. The best thing to do is read through the old posts on here. You should expect it to take 6+ months to get into the military after initiating your paperwork. It all depends on you, if you need waivers, nursing specialty, time of the year etc.

oh yea!!

Can't help with the Navy side but on the Air Force side I may:

1) Told the bonus program was dried up until October (don't really know if this is for every flavor of nurse or not).

2) Do get credit for years as BSN.. I was given credit for most of my medical career but most came from the BSN and MSN time.

3) Told Duty station list = Dream list... You list what you want and sometimes your dream comes true:clown:

4) Oh did I mention the process is slowwwww. Especially if any problems pop up.

Read up and ask questions: Nothing asked nothing gained! Plus there are many more More experienced people here who are experienced in mechanics of the military...

Best wishes and please share your experiences...

DanznRN, RN · Jul 7, 2008

I generally use people's posts to answer all the questions:

Considering Navy vs Air Force
I seem to be getting more info and better response from navy recruiter.
For incoming rank do they consider time as RN or only time with BSN?
Only going to consider time as a BSN. My wife is active and had her ADN for 4 years, but they didn't credit her for that. Have some nurses that work for me that were BSNs for years and they got credit. Thing you have to know is that when you are given a higher rank coming in based only on your nursing experience you will be at a disadvantage to nurses that came through the ranks normally. With higher rank comes more responsibility both as a nurse and as an officer. So starting at the bottom is not always a bad thing.
What are usual choices for 1st assignment station? Any to avoid? AF and Navy?
In the Navy your first duty station willbe one of the "Big 3," either Bethesda, MD, Porstmouth, VA, or San Diego, CA. I'd avoid Bethesda as a first choice, just too much brass walking around and it is kind of it's own animal. Certain things happen at Bethesda that wouldn't happen anywhere else, trust me.
Is there limited number of spaces for candidates? Both in AF and Navy?
Not sure what the status os the NCP program is right now, but I know the Nurse Corps in general is down about 192 nurses for the year, so we still need some.
What if you have never worked the hospital floor or night shift?
Really wouldn't matter, rest assured you will if you come into the Navy. What kind of nursing have you been doing?
This is a big decision and I have been reading a lot of the posts. Can someone detail the process a little, for getting in and what to expect, interview etc.
Thanks

Keep the questions coming and good luck.

LCDR Dan

wanttobeanavynurse · Jul 7, 2008

My application is in and my recruiter said the slots for nurses are full for this year, which ends September 30. The new fiscal year starts October 1. But people drop out of the application process, so new slots should open up.

wumpus · Jul 12, 2008

Good luck with the application process! I am always impressed that even during wartime there are still people in this country willing to serve.

I am also looking at one of the NCPs. I was in the Army before returning to school for nursing (21B); but I am leaning towards the Navy at this time. LCDR Dan -- Have you ever been stationed at Yokosuka are anywhere else in Japan for that matter?

Thanks

"One-half of knowing what you want is knowing what you must give up before you get it."

navynurse808 · Aug 5, 2008

I generally use people's posts to answer all the questions:
Keep the questions coming and good luck.
LCDR Dan

LCDR Dan,

I am VERY new to this site...just joined not 15 minutes ago! But I have been reading different threads all morning since 0630 this morning (it's now 0915), and I've noticed you are a popular person on most of these threads. You seem like a fountain of knowledge so I have a few questions for you if you don't mind. I'll give you some background on myself first >>>>I'm in going into my 4th semester of nursing school this Fall and will graduate in Dec 09. I am married and my husband is an O3 in the USCG. He and I have been throwing around the idea of Navy nursing after my graduation. We decided together that Navy would be the best as far as the military being able to co-locate us (although I know they have NO obligation to do so). And the CG doesn't have any nursing jobs. That's pretty much my background so here's my questions:

1) What do you know about the military co-locating members from different services? According to my hubby, the Navy is pretty much near everywhere the CG is. We thought this might be easier as far as getting duty stations near each other.

2) I have lived in Hawaii my whole entire 28 years of life. I've visited the mainland several times but other than that my permanent address has been in HI. I know that I can handle living on the mainland, but what are deployments like? Where have you and your wife deployed to, and are your work responsibilities the same as at home?

3) What is OIS like? I noticed that you called it a "knife and fork" something or other. Sorry if this is a stupid question, but what does that mean?

4) I've seen different programs out there. One is the NCP program, and the other I think is the Accession program. Do you know which one might suit my situation better?

I think that's all the questions I have for now. I appreciate your reply.

Aloha,

MD

Itshamrtym · Aug 9, 2008

welcome to allnurses!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!