MCHnurse

Hi Gen, I've been busy with school and haven't visited the board much lately. I'm so sorry about all of this you're having to go through!!!! It sounds like your recruiter is a little shady...good thing you have the initiative to follow-up with someone else. The Army is really making you work for that job aren't they!? Hang in there. I'll be sending you good-luck vibes.

Gen's probably right; if they "lost" it for awhile, it will probably make the next board. I was in your situation back in December. My packet was submitted in November and I did'nt hear until January. It was a painful wait! Apparently this new system they have is troublesome, because my packet was also lost in space for awhile (thus taking so long to hear the board's decision). I wouldn't worry too much yet. Give them a few more weeks and see what happens. If your situation ends up like mine, you'll be receiving good news! Hang in there.

I remember when I was pregnant I got those HAs too. It was so torturous that my MD told me to continue with one cup per day to save myself the pain. Weaning is good! Thanks NavyNurse06! The "deal" I was looking for was about the Marine DIs (because I didn't believe my husband--thought he was just trying to mess with me). I guess I'll be wise to keep my eyes (and ears) out for SSG Kirby. My husband would LOVE to be there when I get my head taken off.

I am soooo in trouble. I guess I should start cutting back now in anticipation of leaving in July. What's the deal with Drill Instructors at OIS (if that's even what they are called)? My husband, a former Marine, said that they are all Marines. Is that true? He really wants me to be yelled at by Marines.

Well it sounds like us girls are all in good company. I too have debt that exceeds $100K. That includes student loans, credit cards, and cars. YIKES! I'm a penny-pincher and I'm already devising a very aggressive payback plan. Certainly my sign-on bonus and loan repayment from the Navy will help. It sounds like I need to be really proactive if I'm ever stationed overseas. I can't believe that the credit card company did that to you LCDR Dan!! Even scarier is that Big Brother knew just as much about your situation as you did...perhaps even more than you did!

Hi Allemse, I just wanted to put in my 2 cents on this. I am currently in nursing school and have emassed a HUGE amount of debt (my husband was also finishing his degree as I entered school so two of us were full-time students with no income and 2 kids). I was very worried about my debt when I applied to the Navy, but apparently it wasn't a big deal. They accepted me, debt and all. Hopefully that puts your mind at ease. Jennifer

Congrats to you! Best of luck!

That is crazy! Well we know where she could request to go if she wants to work NICU. Apparently the detailer I spoke to was *not* talking about Germany. Thanks for sharing...that means good opportunities for me too.

I certainly won't disagree here since I'm not yet in the military and I have no first-hand knowledge. I think the point my detailer was trying to get across is that there are many overseas sites that have only 5-10 births per month. This in contrast to 350-400 per month at the hospital where I will be stationed. He said that while OB and neonatal nurses are needed, they are stationed overseas in small numbers and they often work in areas other than their specialty because the census is too low.

I'm no expert on this but ironically I had a conversation with my detailer today and we talked about this exact subject. As navynurse06 said, the Navy does have NICUs and they do utilize Navy nurses. My detailer also said that there are several smaller hospitals that have Navy NICU nurses but rarely more than just one or two. Most of the NICU nurses in those hospitals are contract. He also said that NICU nurses are rarely stationed overseas (again this is Navy) because there are so few births overseas. As for deployment, I cannot speak to that since I am not yet active duty, but I would assume that any nurse in the military would be deployed at some time regardless of their specialty. The active duty nurses who frequent this message board could enlighten you more on this I'm sure.

I feel your anxiety! I too just had an application go in front of the board and it felt like forever before I got a response. My application was reviewed the first week in December and I didn't get official word that I was selected until a week and a half ago. It was torture and I'm sure that was the longest month of my life. Nonetheless, the holidays probably played a part in the delay. I agree with LCDR Dan that you should hold out for a week before checking in with your recruiter. My recruiter was the one to notify me so I'm not sure about them posting results on the web. GOOD LUCK!

Thanks to everyone for listening to me whine about the lengthy application process. I finally got a call from my recruiter today to tell me that I've been selected for the Navy! Now I just have to wait until my graduation in May to find out where I'll be going. YEAH!

It's funny that you say that because that's what I thought when I was asked to submit over 15 pictures of myself in different poses wearing a t-shirt, a scrub top, and a dress shirt. If they had started asking for naked pictures I was totally out of there! Maybe my recruiter is just uptight. Then again, my friends had similar experiences.

Wow, I wonder why they gave me such a hard time with them! I didn't have to write anything but they made me take tons of pictures. In the first set of pictures my face had to be showing and I had to clearly show all angles of the tattoos up close (except for in the pciture of the tattoo that covers my back). I then had to take a picture in my scrubs. I also had to take pictures in a dress shirt (short sleeve). I'm guessing they wanted to see how much the tattoos would show when I'm in uniform. In my civillian nursing job I *always* wear a long sleeve shirt under my scrubs so that my patients can't see any tattoos. Maybe they were concerned because I have so many? I'm certaily not affiliated with any gangs, but I'm sure they just have to be really careful. I have several friends who are fully sleeved and are in the military and they too had to jump through hoops. Navynurse06, do they allow you to cover tattoos that show by wearing a long-sleeve t-shirt under scrubs? For that matter, do you even wear scrubs? I went to interview at Portsmouth and some nurses wore scrubs and some had on uniforms. I wasn't sure if those wearing scrubs were civilian nurses or not.

Visuals are something I can relate to. Wery well explained. Now I got it! Thanks.

Okay, you are going to have to pardon my stupid question here. I was looking at a calendar trying to figure this out, and if what I'm doing is correct, then there are weeks that you might work 5 12s but then the next week you might work 2 12s. Does that sound right? I obviously have too much time on my hands now that school is out for the break. If I don't hear from my recruiter soon I may explode.

NavyCheerGirl, Another physical thing that you didn't mention but I thought of when you mentioned piercings is tattoos. I have quite a few on my arms, some of which will be visible when in uniform. I had to take lots of pictures and will be applying with a waiver. Soooo, if you are even *thinking* about a tattoo, get it somewhere it can't be seen in uniform. The picture taking was time consuming and I'm still not sure if it will affect my application.

Wow, these are all really great suggestions! Definitely things I wouldn't have thought to ask on my own. I'm starting a list. Thanks everyone!

Thanks everyone! Waiting is no fun, but I'm hoping that it will pay off. I hope to have good news soon. Until then, have a safe New Year!

Hi Steven, Gen makes a very good point about the monetary aspects of going in as a student versus commissioning after graduation. I never looked into going in as a student, but if Gen's figure is correct, you'd be *much* better off applying to commission after graduation. I am in the process of applying to the Navy and am currently awaiting word on my application. We submitted my application with bonuses very similar to Gen's: $15K sign-on and $30K loan repayment. My commitment is for 5 years. Since your program is accelerated it is unlikely that you will incur $45K worth of debt related to school. You would probably make out best money-wise if you take the sign-on bonuses versus enrolling in the in-school nurse corps. I would suggest that you speak to a recruiter now and start working on the application as soon as you begin school in May. As Gen mentioned, the process can take awhile and if you want a guaranteed job upon graduation you need to start early. I began the process in September, finished my packet in November, and it went before the board in December. I'm still waiting to hear back (probably because the holidays slowed things down). Best of luck in school!

Just a bit of venting so that I can release some stress... My application went before the board the first Wednesday of December. I still have not heard anything and I'm completely stressed! My brother-in-law told me that the military pretty much shuts down after December 1st until after the New Year. This being the case, I *still* feel worried that I haven't heard anything. Any words of wisdom for a worried hopeful Navy nurse? Happy New Year!!!!!

Hi armyOBnurse, I realize that this post is a little old and I'm not sure if you found what you are looking for, but I thought I'd chime in. I am in a MCH master's program at the University of Texas at Austin (http://www.utexas.edu/nursing/). I will warn you though, a master's in this area will not allow you to sit for national certification and therefore you cannot be qualified as a "CNS" in most states. It is unfortunate that there is not a certification exam for this area. As another member posted, you might be better off going with a program that either focuses on maternal or child health. By your screen name I would assume that OB would be better suited to your interests. The fact that you are in the military (or at least I assume you still are) may not affect the certification issue but I think that it is worth mentioning. I know for a fact that several military nurses have graduated from our program and are now in great leadership postiions. I would be happy to elaborate on my school and program in a private email.

SInce you are older it is really not possible that it will spontaneously correct. Sometimes, in younger kids wearing glasses or a patch might make it better, but unfortunately you've passed that window of opportunity. As for getting laser surgery, I wouldn't get it done before getting in. My recruiter told me that once I join, I'll be able to get the surgery for free. You might want to double check that statement, but if it's true, that will save you some cash! Jennfer

Thanks Gen! I've been following your journey and it seems that a little persistence and patience does pay off! My application went up for review almost three weeks ago and still no word. My recruiter told me to "relax" but I am beginning to get worried. My brother-in-law who was an Army Ranger informed me that after December 1st, the military comes to a standstill until after the New Year. I'm hoping that's why it's taking so long. Again, thanks for your support. I hope to have good news to share soon! Jennifer

I have astigmatism in both eyes AND failed the eye exam miserably. I went to the doctor, had my prescription updated and now have almost 20/20 when I'm wearing my glasses/contacts. My recruiter said that people are really only denied if their vision is not correctable to 20/20. It sounds like you'll be fine since wearing glasses fixes your vision. My application is currently being reviewed so if I get denied for vision, I'll be sure to pass the (bad) news along!