Physical requirements to be a Navy nurse

Specialties Government

Published

I just read something on the requirements for a recruit who joins the military as far as the physical requirements go. I was wondering what they are for nurses because I'm not sure if the requirements for the soldiers are the same for the nurses in the Navy. If the requirements are different (I read the soldiers have to do a tredmill test and I hope that doesn't have to be for Navy nurses), please tell me. Thank you!

Specializes in Ortho, Med surg and L&D.
Hello Navynurse,

I can appreciate that I will not be "made" to wear sweat pants yet, I have "large" tattoos and may choose to cover them so myself. When in a skirt I do not think my tattoo will fit the image of an officer so may decide to wear pants anyhow.

While I am surprised that you were not required to fill out a waiver I imagine that your recruiter filled out the request for you, (if he/she was aware of the tattoo, which Meps may or may not have mentioned). Yet, it is certainly NOT a mole hill. Tattoos are a potential reason for diqualifying.

Thanks for the realization that if they are waived, then they will not be required to cover.

Gen

edit to add links:

- Joining the Military - Military.com

Navy Tattoo, and Body Art Policy

from the second link: "Tattoos/body art/brands will not be visible through uniform clothing" man if I ever have to wear whites then underclothes are in order! :) The tattoos were a concern for me, I didn't want to be d'qd for them due to the amount of skin area that is covered.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in 66H.

well for the army as long as the tattoo is covered in your class A uniform (slacks, not skirt) you are ok (of course you need to meet the other requirements listed in AR 670-1 to include things like not being gang related or sexist or racist...the list is actually very long). but if they are covered in class A then it does not matter if they show in any other uniform...like the pt uniform of shorts and t-shirt.

to address gennaver....you might not have the option of covering up while in pt's with sweat pants. if you are in formation, everyone has to be in the same uniform.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in 66H.

i sort of misstated the army reg. actually it is (from the most current AR 670-1)

tattoos or brands anywhere on the head, face and neck above the class A uniform collar are prohibited. (the rest of the reg is about content of the tat not location).

so if you are in the class A uniform, basically the only skin visible is your neck, head and hands. I have seen many people in the military with tats on their hands.

you dont really need to be concerned about how big the tat is. i have seen guys and girls a like with tats on their entire backs, down their legs, etc. I think this where navynurse might be coming from. most people do not have to worry about location. it is the tats that the military does not allow regardless of location that you need to worry about disqualifying you or even getting you kicked out if not removed.

sorry that i can not contribute more info specific to the navy.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Ortho, Med surg and L&D.
i sort of misstated the army reg. actually it is (from the most current AR 670-1)

...

sorry that i can not contribute more info specific to the navy.

Thank you for posting.

Okay, so I will be mentally prepared to bare in PT!

Thankfully the content, size and location were all waived so I will have clear conscience if I need to wear the pt shorts. :)

One of mine is a wrap around serpent that starts at my navel and wraps around my waist and down and around my right side to underneath my knee. I do think that shorts and the shirt of the pt uniform ought to cover most so, it may not be anywear as near as what I was worrying.

It was waived and that was all that was required. Phew.

Gen

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I had a thought about hair... I like getting high lights once in a while (nothing radical, of course). Is that allowed?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Ortho, Med surg and L&D.
I had a thought about hair... I like getting high lights once in a while (nothing radical, of course). Is that allowed?

Hi,

I found this "Women

Keep hair clean, neatly shaped and arranged in an attractive and professional style. Hairstyles with a maximum of two braids may be worn. Faddish and exaggerated styles are prohibited. Ponytails and pigtails are not permitted. When in uniform, hair on back of head may touch but not fall below the lower edge of the collar.

When wearing jumper uniforms, hair can extend a maximum of 1-1/2 inches below the top of the collar. Long hair, including braids, must be neatly and inconspicuously fastened, pinned or secured to the head presenting an attractive hairstyle and my not dangle free under front of the brim of the combination hat, garrison cap or command ball cap.

Afro, natural, bouffant and other similar hairstyles, which do not interfere with proper wearing of headgear, are permitted. Bulk is defined as the distance that the mass of the hair protrudes from the scalp. Hair coloring must look natural. Faddish and outrageous multicolored hair is not authorized. Visible hair nets may be worn only if authorized for specific duties such as hospitals or galleys.

from http://www.navyreserve.com/faq/

It makes sense that if your highlights are not faddish then they ought to be fine, right?

Gen

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER,ICU and Progressive Care Unit,Peds.

Sorry I haven't been on in a while...but to address Gen...my tat isn't attached to any type of waiver. My recrutier knew nothing about it! The doctor saw it at meps when we were stripped down to our undies, but he just documented the type and location. But I don't believe that is considered a waiver. But I have been wrong once or twice in my life!

And the molehill statement....you all get all in a tissy on this website about stuff that isn't even that big of an issue. (Ie if you get a waiver for something then you aren't dq for addmission into the service...so your good to go...)

Just chill right now guys...all this stuff will come easy to you guys when you get in. Focus on school and enjoy it. Its good that you all are preparing or trying to be prepared. But just enjoy school right now...if that's possible.

ENS PM

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Ortho, Med surg and L&D.
...you all get all in a tissy on this website about stuff that isn't even that big of an issue. (Ie if you get a waiver for something then you aren't dq for addmission into the service...so your good to go...)

Just chill right now guys...all this stuff will come easy to you guys when you get in. Focus on school and enjoy it. Its good that you all are preparing or trying to be prepared. But just enjoy school right now...if that's possible.

ENS PM

Hi Navynurse,

Since there is no tonality in our posts or yours, (can't be, its the written word) I do not know what "tissy" you are discussing or what needs to "chill"?

Cheers,

Gen

p.s. oh yeah, and the docs at meps didn't even make any notes at all about my two tattoos, (my recruiter said that it made him have to do extra work but, no worry!)

edit to add: I just noted your age! WOW, congrats on graduating early and progressing through the BSN so fast! BSN for a year and a half already and at 22! Go Girl! There is one young lady in my class who will be turning 22 before our MS commencement, I am impressed, (yet, at 40 years old I am rarely in need of being told to "chill")

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER,ICU and Progressive Care Unit,Peds.

I don't mean in in an offensive way. So don't take it that way....you seem to have done a great deal of research on the rules/regs of military service...so you shouldn't really have nothing to worry about. Before I was in the navy I studied the regs constanlty worring about this and that...but once I got here I realized that you aren't scrutinized very much on such things like uniform regs etc. And all that stress really wasn't worth it. Of course, we work in scrubs on my floor so that could be why uniforms aren't such a big deal for me, but any other areas that do wear their uniforms this isn't a major issue (unless you are in some major uniform violation). Also, the atmoshepre of the hosptial I work at is a little more laid back then some.

But don't take offense to when I say "chill" and just enjoy school right now. All of you are going to do just fine when you get in the service; all this stuff will come to you.

I don't mind answering all of your questions at all; that's why I come to this board. So don't think that.

ENS PM

Ps Also thanks on the congrats. I took college classes while I was in high school so I could finish college early. I then finished my BSN in 3 1/2 yrs, so thats how I've gotten to where I am at my age. I hope to go back and finish FNP school after my 2nd tour, so that would make me 30 when I graduated from FNP school (I hope!).

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Ortho, Med surg and L&D.

Ps Also thanks on the congrats. I took college classes while I was in high school so I could finish college early. I then finished my BSN in 3 1/2 yrs, so thats how I've gotten to where I am at my age. I hope to go back and finish FNP school after my 2nd tour, so that would make me 30 when I graduated from FNP school (I hope!).

Hello again and congratulations!

I am hoping that my neices will also have the opportunity to go to University while they are still young too. :)

Gen

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I've been thinking about vaccinations lately (since I just went to the doctor and thankfully I don't need blood drawn for the fifth time nor do I need to have a shot... needles aren't my thing)... What kind of vaccinations are necessary to enter the Navy?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Ortho, Med surg and L&D.
I've been thinking about vaccinations lately (since I just went to the doctor and thankfully I don't need blood drawn for the fifth time nor do I need to have a shot... needles aren't my thing)... What kind of vaccinations are necessary to enter the Navy?

Hello again NavyCheer,

While I know nothing about Navy I have read that unless you have documetation of recent bloodwork showing titers that you may end up having to get re-inoculated.

What I have, (blood titer proof or date of immunization) are:

Hep A

Hep B

Chicken Pox

Tetorifice (with Diptheria)

MMR

Someone recently told me that their son had to get both Smallpox and Anthrax. I do not know though if those are required.

Good luck!

Gen

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment