Post Bac Looking to become a Nurse

RunBabyRN · May 6, 2014

Hospital corpsmen are very different than nurses, and you wouldn't have any sort of licensure once you get out, unless you actively pursue something. Also, enlisting, even as a corpsman, does not guarantee you can commission to be a nurse. You would likely not have the time to attend a program, unless you managed to get into a commissioning program for nurses (I can't remember the current one, as it's different than it was when I was a corpsman), which is increasingly difficult.

I am grateful for my HM experience; however, it is BY NO MEANS a fast track to nursing. If you want to join the Navy and be a corpsman, by all means. It was awesome having the independence and freedom I had and doing things that are no longer within my scope of practice (minor surgeries, writing orders, etc), but it's not for everyone. They are two very different paths. If you want to look at nursing and test the waters first, consider getting your CNA certification and working in a hospital, or even shadowing a nurse if possible for a few days.

Feel free to ask if you have any questions. I know there are a few of us former HMs on here, and we have varied backgrounds (mine was in an outpatient clinic, another was an FMF corpsman, and there are others).

elkpark · May 6, 2014

^^ What RunBabyRun said. People go into nursing without any prior healthcare experience all the time. There is no need to become a Corpsman in order to do so.

NurseGirl525, ASN, RN · May 6, 2014

Going from law into nursing is a huge change may I ask why you want to do it? Have you researched nursing and understand what all it entails? The reason I ask is because there are tons of people who come in here and have basically flushed a degree down the toilet thinking they have this huge compassionate desire to become a nurse without actually know what goes into it. Then they either realize in nursing school it is much harder than they realize or when they become a nurse they hate it. Now they have flushed 2 degrees down the toilet. For some people it works out great, for others not so much. Before even thinking of enlisting in the Navy do your own research and maybe talk to some people in the field. Shadow a nurse. A Navy recruiter is just that, a recruiter. They paint a very rosy picture of what enlisting is. A hospital corpsman is much different that a nurse. I have seen several people on this site who have had a hard time adjusting to that fact. They thought their valuable knowledge they learned in the Navy would transfer into civilian life and it does not unfortunately. I guess it has to do with the training and scope of practice. Just make very sure what you want before doing it.

Kite23 · May 7, 2014

Another reason for joining is using the Loan Repayment Program to pay back my loans. I owe $50,000 for my bachelors. I cant secure any more loans for another bachelor's degree. The thing that troubles me is the recruiter told me to do a line test but I suspect I'm heading to MEPS. Isnt that where the swearing in and confirmation of the MOS is done? I'm 23 right now turning 24 in October. After four years active I'll be 28. After two years nursing I'll be 30 with a BSN. Is that okay to be that old?

la_chica_suerte85, BSN, RN · May 7, 2014

After two years nursing I'll be 30 with a BSN. Is that okay to be that old?

WHAT?!?@#$#$^#%$Y

Ugh...

You think 30 is old now but wait until you get closer and closer. You'll realize how many limits your 23-yo brain is placing on you. I'm going to be 30 when I merely graduate with my BSN and there are others in my cohort who will be closer to 40. We don't care. You won't care either.

RunBabyRN · May 7, 2014

At MEPS, you'll get the straight talk about what your enlistment would entail. You swear in twice, and the first one is not legally binding. You'll learn about how the money all works. Ask questions, and don't sign a thing until you are 100% clear, because the recruiters will feed you BS sometimes. Make sure they explain to you how the loan repayment works, because I assure you they're not going to hand you $50K, no strings attached. Also, be prepared to have to enlist for more than 4 years to get HM. I had to enlist for 6 when I went to MEPS. If you don't like what you hear at MEPS, LEAVE. You can always go back, but you can't renegotiate once you sign.

I was 23 when I went in, too. I'm 34 and graduating from my program. I have a few classmates in the over 45 range. You'll be fine. Most nursing programs aren't filled with 21 year olds (a few are, but they're way less common).

Don't let money be your driving force for going into the Navy. Remember that if you do enlist, you are GOVERNMENT PROPERTY. You will be reminded of this frequently, and will be treated as such. You really need to look at your long term plan and really think about if this is going to work how you expect, because I suspect there's a lot you haven't been told by your recruiter. Do your own research. Look into the loan repayment and the stipulations. Look at what's going on with corpsmen right now, advancement rates, etc. it's a very slow to advance NEC, just a heads up, meaning your pay will very slowly increase. Remember the risk you're taking when you're looking at money as your driving force. If your reasons go deeper, by all means. I would really urge you to consider CNA and saving your money everywhere you can. Make sure that nursing is truly the direction you want before you end up with a second degree that it turns out you don't want.