New Navy NCP Selectee Looking for others!

oaktown2 · Feb 13, 2012

You do need to pass the nclex before heading to ODS. The handbook says that you have 30-120 days. 120 seems like a really long time for them to give you, not sure what determines the length of time.

HM2Doc · Mar 13, 2012

I just submitted my kit at the end of last month and I'll hopefully find out by the end of this month if I got selected. My recruiter said that 16 people declined their seats last month, so that brings the number of available seats for 2013 up to 25ish. I hope I get a seat. I'd only have to serve a little over 12 years in order to retire!

littleluvbugnavy · Mar 13, 2012

Good luck HM2Doc!!

BruniMite · Mar 28, 2012

Good luck to you HM2Doc, I'm also hoping for one of those 25 spots and have completed my packet/interview's as of yesterday. I emailed my recruiter to see how long it would take to hear back and am waiting for a response. I guess we just have to have patience and hope we get in! :)

HM2Doc · Mar 28, 2012

Brunimite: Good luck to you, as well. The most recent board (the board my kit was sent to) convened last week, so results should hopefully come out by this Friday. I'm not sure how many people they selected, but I would guess that there were quite a few since it's pretty far into the selection process. Hopefully there will be at least one more board so that your kit will get seen, too. They were doing two boards a month, but they've moved toward only doing one a month now. Not sure if that will be the case for the next board. The last board was on the 22nd or 23rd of this month, so I would assume that the next board would be around the same time next month. After the board has finished selecting applicants it usually takes about 1-2 weeks for results to come out. So, for your kit, you could be looking at results anywhere from mid-April to the first half of May. But, that's just my guesstimate. :)

So, for your kit:

Did you go to a Naval Hospital to do your interviews? Any previous military experience? How long did it take you to complete your kit?

macerhok · Mar 29, 2012

I am in the process of choosing my first base. What is the best way to choose? I have been given multiple options.

RN ICU.

BruniMite · Mar 29, 2012

Doc: Thanks for the run down on the process you had to go through! I figured that a decision would reach me by the end of April or early May but thanks for clarifying. I went to the VA within the Great Lakes Naval Base and had both of my interviews at the same time. Usually there are two separate times set up but they were really efficient. I began talking to recruiters early in March yet I had to keep calling as they told me to apply after having experience. Since I didn't take "no" as an answer I kept pestering until I got in touch with "Chief" and then everything was smooth afterwards. I officially met with Chief March 6th and had my entire packet complete along with interviews as of yesterday March 27th. I really had to hustle!! I do not have any prior military service but can't wait to see if I have a career with the Navy!

So when would you go to ODS when you get accepted (keeping it positive :))?

BruniMite · Mar 29, 2012

Macer: I would go with the major hospitals such as the ones in California, Virginia or Maryland. I don't know much about which bases are good for new nurses vs. experienced but the ones I mentioned are teaching hospitals and great for gaining experience. I think that's a great question though! :)

macerhok · Mar 29, 2012

yeah I have been told that but others in the service are encouraging the medium hospital as well

HM2Doc · Mar 29, 2012

BruniMite: My recruiter said that I'd go to ODS after I graduate and pass the NCLEX (around Jun-Jul 2013). It's only like 6 weeks, and compared to regular bootcamp (which I went through), it shouldn't be that big of a deal. Of course, I've got to get the good news back from the recruiter first. By the way, I got an email from her today and she said the results of the last board were still not out and that they'd hopefully be out Friday. AND, she said that the recruiting headquarters sent out an email to the recruiters saying that seats were still available for FY 2013 and to send more kits to the boards. So, for you, that should be good news. That means that all the seats did not fill up and your kit will likely go to the board. Cool!

Macerhok: You say that they have given you multiple options? What did they give you? Bethesda, MD; Portsmouth, VA; and San Diego, CA? Those are the "Big Three" that new nurses (to the military) usually get sent to. They are the biggest hospitals the Navy has, and are considered the primary teaching hospitals...even though, technically, all Navy hospitals are teaching hospitals. I actually went to surgical tech school at Portsmouth Naval Hospital back in 2005. The hospital was nice, but the surrounding area was not my bag of tea. Traffic was HORRIBLE there, and there was always some shooting being discussed on the news. Personally, I wouldn't go back there unless I have to, and it will be my last choice when I go to select orders. I hear Bethesda is a decent duty station. That's the hospital the president and all the big wigs go to for treatment. I haven't heard too much about the traffic and crime around there, but I have heard that it can be expensive to live there...even with military compensation. San Diego is a popular choice, and a few of my friends have gotten stationed there. The major downside is that it is expensive and traffic sucks. I'm not sure what other options they have given you. I was a Corpsman in the Navy, so I'm familiar with quite a few of the hospitals. I see that you mentioned medium hospitals, as well. Is that something they offered you? Typically they do not send new Navy nurses to medium-sized hospitals unless they need your specialty or you were a prior Corpsman. Personally, I prefer medium-sized hospitals. I was stationed at Naval Hospital Pensacola and NH Guam (both medium) and they were awesome...especially Guam (outstanding SCUBA diving). However, I was also stationed at NH Jacksonville, FL and I hated it there, so it's kind of hit and miss. If you have a more specific idea of where you want to go just let me know and if I have any info on the place I'll pass it along. Good luck.

Purple_Demon_RN · Mar 29, 2012

A downside with Bethesda for new nurses coming in is their internship program. At the other hospitals, Portsmouth and San Diego, their orientation process only lasts about ten weeks and mainly consists of training on the unit you're assigned too. At Bethesda, the internship program is 25 weeks long and the first month doesn't count because you're usually not assigned to a unit. Also, you'll be doing reports and powerpoint presentations on things like EBP, nursing research, wound care, culture, ethics, etc. throughout the internship. I actually have a few friends that arrived in Bethesda in July and are still in the program because there was some type of holdup when the two hospitals merged in September.

BruniMite · Mar 29, 2012

Demon: I find that interesting about Bethesda that the program is 25 weeks. As a new graduate nurse, I wonder if that is better as more experience can't be too bad!

I would like to get the scoop on all the best hospitals for new nurses (aside from the big three) that have a decent base life associated with it (not sure if "base life" or "recreation" would be the right term). Does anyone have any comments on the camaraderie in the Navy? I am hoping to enter a supportive environment as a new grad as it will be my first time away from home.