KDRUS22

To all of you women who are a nurse, wife, and mother- How do you do it? In the civilian world, you take off 6 weeks, 6 months, 1 year, 2 years...whatever you can afford and handle. I know in the military it is not that flexible. Who takes care of the children? Do you have another option besides daycare (i.e. nannies?) Does it require a lot of extra help from the husband? What if his job is demanding and can't be home? Do you find that you have enough time to be at home with your family? What are you experiences? Do you suggest not joining the Navy Nurse Corp if I am about to get married and ...I'm sure...children on the way shortly after that (1-2 years)? Thank you for any input you can provide.:)

Lindz- Not to get too personal....but do you have children? If so, how do you deal with having to work (when they say) and having children?

Hi everyone! It went great with the medical recruiter. He spent about 3 hours at my house with me, my family and my fiance. He told us all the facts...how he became involved and how he likes it. We discussed all the good and bad things about being a Navy nurse and my impression was that he was honest. Everything he told me coincided with what I have read on this forum and what other navy nurses have told me. I've pretty much made up my mind on what I want to do. YOu know what I thought of though? He told me that basically one week you work 5 days (12 hour shifts) and then have 2 days off. THe next week you work 2 days (12 hour shifts) with 5 days off. How do you have children? What if I have children in the mix of this? What have all of you experienced with having and raising children while being a NAvy nurse. Above all of the information I have received this is one of my priorities. Also, what is the reality of taking vacation/holidays? On paper the policy doesn't look that bad, but tell me the reality of it? Is it very difficult to take leave? What if you or your child gets sick? Can you call in that morning and say you can't come in like in the civilian world? Thanks for all of your help again! LCDR Dan- whens a good time to call? Where are you located ....if there is a time difference I don't want to wake you up

Thank you both for your honest responses. Like I've said, I've been researching and speaking to a lot to navy/army nurses and I've heard a lot of the same "complaints" or difficult sides to navy nursing. The truth of it is that I have to roll with the punches and take it day by day, because at this point I have no idea where I would be or what I would be doing. I didn't even apply! A medical recruiter is coming to my house tomorrow to talk to me about the facts (on paper). My family will be there and he is basically laying out the timeline etc. The most difficult thing about this process has been my family. My mother and grandmother in particular think I am absolutely crazy. They support me, but they are afraid. I have a very close family that gets together for every holiday, birthday and Sunday dinner. The idea of me being away and not making it to these occasions and just not being around upsets them. On top of it, my mom is very traditional and believes that I am 24 and should be focusing on getting married and having a family. She doesn't see how family life fits into what I want to do. Despite the opinions of others (which do cloud my mind), I know this is something that my heart is calling me to. LCDR Dan, Ive been in the civilian "healthcare world" for 2 years now. The focus is on paychecks and billable minutes. Patients are being neglected, stage 4 wounds are "popping" up out of NO WHERE! I just feel like people come in and do their job and leave. I know I want more. I love what I do, but I'm not satisfied. I'm not fulfilled. I know I am not serving the population I want to serve. Everytime my friends leave for Iraq, my heart literally aches and my passion to serve our country and troops grow. At this point the only thing holding me back is fear. Fear of not knowing where I am going and who I am going with. Also, I am afraid of what deployment is going to be like. More importantly, I'm afraid of what our world will be like especially with some of the Presidential candidates. Keep me in your thoughts and prayers especially for my visit with the recruiter tomorrow. He actually seems like a nice guy. He is not trying to sell me. In fact, I wish he was a little more persistent. Hopefully his lack of follow-up does not mean I do not qualify. Talk to you all soon! LCDR I'd love to speak over the phone about everything.

Hi everyone- All of the posts about being a Navy nurse are very positive and upbeat. It's exciting and inspirational. I'm trying to gain as much information on this topic so I make an educated and smart decision for career... my life. Be honest with me. Tell me what you don't like? What do your friends not like about being in the Navy (nurse)? This may sound crazy, but I am getting some....I don't want to say resistance, but ....hesitation..from my family and friends. They think I am putting myself in danger. They think this is a death sentence because it is military related. I'm realistic, but I do want to hear the bad points of being a Navy Nurse. Thank you to everyone that could help!

That is separate from the NCP right? that bonus applies if you are already an RN and interested in signing?

thank you all for your help. i did speak to a medical recruiter and what he is telling me coincides with what you are telling me,,..either i go to school and get my bsn and then sign (with a sign on bonus of 25k)...or the navy assists me with school (stipend of $1000 per month). to clarify...i went to college and earned a masters degree in occupational therapy. i want to become a nurse now (several different personal/professional reasons). so, i am finishing up 2 prerequisite classes, then i will apply to an accelerated bsn program. when i apply to the bsn program i am planning on applying to the nurse candidate program as well. i'm still confused about one thing. given that i am accepted...i thought that the navy helps you pay for school while giving you an additional stipend (housing/living). i thought this is why some navy nurses loved it...they didn't have to work part time while in school. it helped them pay their bills? this is a long process phew!

LCDR Dan- You said that in nursing school the Navy paid for your tuition, plus gave you a salary. I have heard the same from many other Navy nurses. I have been in touch with an officer recruiter and when I asked him about this he said he had no idea what I was talking about. He continued that they do not PAY for school. When I apply to the NCP (if I am accepted) they give me an initial 10k sign on and then $1000 per month to put TOWARDS school. So this means that wherever I go to school ( I'm looking into the accelerated BSN programs) I have to pay rent, pay for whatever costs of school that aren't covered, PLUS pay for my undergraduate loans monthly. Is this true? I felt like a benefit of the Navy was that they help you financially, not make you go into more debt? Should I be more demanding in what I want? I was SO passionate about Navy nursing and I'm afraid the financial situation is discouraging me, which I DO NOT want to happen.

i have spoken to my local recruiter who forwarded me to a local medical recruiter. my local recruiter told me several things. among them were: $25k sign on bonus, the navy will pay for college while giving me a monthly stipend for housing/food plus a salary. the loans that i have now (from my masters in occupational therapy) will be deferred until i am out of the navy. the medical recruiter told me this: they do not pay for my nursing education..they give me a monthly allowance of $1000 to put towards school...he has heard nothing about a 25k sign on (he said it's $10k before taxes), he has also heard nothing about the housing allowance etc during school. i have been in contact with several nurses in the nurse corp and they told me everything that my local recruiter (not medical) told me. what is going on here? who should i believe? he is calling me back within 24 hrs to see what he can offer me. what should i expect to be offered and what should i try to negotiate? thanks for any help you can offer!

Hi everyone! I am an OTR and have been so for about 2 years. I graduated with my Masters. I absolutely LOVE OT. There are a lot ofpeople who are not sure what OT is, so many deter people away from OT. I know someone asked if it's hard to find a job and I say..NO way! I get mailings literally everyday from different rehab facilities that are looking for OTs. Where I live specifically, there is a shortage of OTs, so places are offering great sign on bonuses and very competitive pay. I make well over 50k. When I graduated college, I worked at a large acute rehabilitation facility. I was on the brain trauma unit and rehabilitation unit. So basically I rehabilitated a lot of younger patients after strokes, spinal cord injuries, gun shot wounds to the head, and many other closed head injuries (motorcycle accidents etc.). On the side I worked on the orthopedic floor where I treated pts after hip and knee surgery etc. I recently have transferred to a subacute rehab facility where I deal mostly with cardiac and neuro patients. So, I love my job. It's exciting and always changing/challenging. While I love my job, it is different than nursing. I don't feel as though I have as many options to move around like I would like to. For instance, with nursing you can work in the ICU, ER, OR, med surg, school system. This is where OT limits you. I myself, am looking into a career in nursing. I think a nursing degree would augment the knowledge I already have and add a unique component to my career. Down the road I'd like to work as a nurse full time with rehab (prob hand therapy on the side). My real desire is to work with the troops and I think nursing is perfect for this. However, anyone looking into OT, I think OT is great. It's an amazing career. It is extremely rewarding. While OT doesn't medically SAVE lives, I feel like OTs GIVE back lives. We help people regain independence. We help people to walk again, bathe/dress themselves again...we assist people to regain their confidence after an injury. My opinion is no matter what you do in healthcare, you are helping people, which is extremely rewarding. I hope this helps some of you out there :)

How do you like Tripler? I was thinking of applying there.

I have been calling several numbers, talking to about 15 different people. I have been told not to talk to my local recruiter about navy nursing; I should talk to a medical recruiter. I can't find one though. Is anyone out there a medical recruiter from the NJ/NY area or does anyone know how I can get in touch with one? Thank you so much!

If you are a navy nurse is there a good possibility you will "see" Iraq?

Hi everyone. I am considering joining the navy as a nurse as soon as I finish nursing school. I have another degree which I have obviously paid for. I know that the military will pay for your nursing education, but if I have previous loans do they reimburse you for that as well? It is a medical degree so it is relevant.

sorry everyone ...i just signed up on this forum and i'm still learning how to use it. Can anyone tell me what it is like to be married as a navy nurse? I am most likely going to be engaged soon and what makes me nervous about following through with my dream (navy nurse) is...what is i get pregnant? Will I be with my husband where I am stationed etc?