Hi all,
I'm an ER RN, BSN with two years of experience in the ER (Level 3 with more medical critical care patients than trauma...although we can get some trauma). I have a 3.3 nursing GPA, and have all of my certs except for CEN which I'm working on right now. I've been in touch with a Navy recruiter and have sent in my paperwork for MEPS.
Ive been doing a lot of research on day to day life as a nurse in the military and unfortunately there's not a lot about it. All of my friends are in the military but not on the medical side. Are there any Navy nurses out there that can give me the pros and cons? I want the real details. I understand that it won't be like my civilian job (just 36 hours a week), but I already put in 48/week there. I also understand I will have more officer duties and the needs of the Navy come before anything else. My main questions are, am I competitive to get in DA? do you like it? Would you do it again? Do the benefits outweigh the cons? Which bases are the best/worst? What's the worst thing about it? What leadership qualities would you look for in an officer? Can you still have a social life/dating life/work-life balance with family? What are deployments like and how long are they typically? As an ER nurse, how likely is deployment with an FST or is that mainly Corpsman? How long would I live on a ship?
Thanks in advance!
