nursing student thinking about joining Navy

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just wondering about a couple things...

first off, i'm in an accelerated 2nd degree program and will be getting my BSN next year.

second, my husband is in the navy (8 yrs. enlisted, submariner, trying to get into OCS).

should i join the navy after getting my degree and be a nurse officer? also, i would love to be a crna, will that be possible to do if i join? will i have to be away from my husband? i haven't talked to a recruiter yet, but i plan to next week.

thanks for the advice :)

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just wondering about a couple things...

first off, i'm in an accelerated 2nd degree program and will be getting my BSN next year.

second, my husband is in the navy (8 yrs. enlisted, submariner, trying to get into OCS).

should i join the navy after getting my degree and be a nurse officer? also, i would love to be a crna, will that be possible to do if i join? will i have to be away from my husband? i haven't talked to a recruiter yet, but i plan to next week.

thanks for the advice :)

Congratulations for thinking ahead on your life goals. My father was in the Navy and with a little sister who had medical problems we spent alot of time in the dispensary. I used to see the efficient Navy nurses and developed my original desire to be a nurse because of them. I always had a desire to be a Navy nurse and when I was in my late 30's the age was raised and I had the opportunity to become a Navy nurse in the Reserves. I was so excited - until I spoke to the Navy recruiter. The Navy recruiter wisely reminded me that as a Naval officer I would be a Naval officer first and a nurse second. I was already a seasoned nurse so I knew what it would mean to have to override my own decisions if the officer within me disagreed with the inner nurse or if, as an officer, I was given an order from a higher ranking officer. For me, there was no contest. If a decision were to arise where my inner nurse disagreed with my inner officer, I did not want to be in the position of not obeying my inner nurse, so I didn't move forward with the decision to become a Navy Nurse. I think since you are making the decision before you are fully vested as a nurse, it is the ideal time to make the decision. With your husband in the Navy it sounds perfect, as long as you can be stationed together. Talk to the recruiter to see what the current situation is and GOOD LUCK!

My mother was at Bethesda Naval Hospital when she died and I had the opportunity to see how a hospital functions within the military world. Frankly, it works alot better than a civilian hospital because of rank. Go for it if you can!

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Specializes in PP, Pediatrics, Home Health.

I was actually looking into becoming a nurse in the army as well, this gives me some good information!Thank you!

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thanks so much for your advice nylady! :)

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Specializes in School, FNP.

While I think that the Navy can be a great career (my husband has been in over 17 years). They are not so great about stationing married couples together (although they do try) and you WILL deploy at some point. Don't let a recruiter tell you otherwise, once you have signed on the dotted line, you become the property of the Navy and they will send you where they need you to go. My husband was gone 1 1/2 years of the last two, extremely hard on our kids (not to mention me). Can you imagine if I deployed as well? I know couples who spent 2 months of two years together because of opposite deployment schedules. If I were young and not married and not wanting kids in the near future, I would go for it, how amazing the nursing and experience must be!!! Good luck deciding.

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thanks for the advice calibean, it really helps to hear someone else's point of view. :)

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Don't do it, your husband is already in so you have 100% health insurance coverage. He gets tuition assistance so you can use his GI bill. My wife is a CRNA and she makes more than a Admiral even if he/she received BAH for San Francisco. I'm in the Coast Guard and once I get accepted into the nursing program it's Peace Out! The military has build me a great foundation but when i visit my wife at the hospital it's clearly a better quality of life

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

Moved to the Government and Military Nursing forum

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