kaizenro

I know. All my friends are just bewildered too! They thought I was a 'lock' for it given my credentials and that the window tint violation was such a ...as you say too...silly. IIRC, my counselor said that like 50 (+10 alternates) started in the last class and 25 graduated. The alternates begin the program and are used to fill in for those who drop for various reasons (financial, family issues, change of heart, etc.). I've been wanting to get into nursing for so long but spending many years just to get the remaining pre-reqs and getting on a waiting list just seemed sooooo long.

I did 9yrs in the Navy as a Corpsman, honorable discharge. I still work for the Navy in the medical field. I have my bachelors in bus. admin and many credits for my masters in HR. I applied and passed the SLE and did alright on the TEAS. I was contacted by my rep that I was selected but then disqualified from the program because I had 2 car window tint violations on my record. My counselor told me not to get discouraged but to get a lawyer to try and expunge the violations from my record and try again. I didn't want to spend so much time working on my pre-reqs (bio, chem 1+2, a+p 1+2, etc.) so that's why I was looking into this program. I was also told they have an agreement w/ UoP for a BSN.

"Hi, so...are you assigned to a hospital first? the big 3 is what I was told, and there for your whole first enlistment? Is the fleet platform in addition to the hospital assignment? I'm considering." The fleet platform IS potential additional duty that they train you for regardless. You could go out for 2 wks just for training purposes too. Not that bad, usually not far from the coast which is a tease! If a catastrophe(ex. Katrina)/mission(ex. Iraq) needs medical support, they could pull you if you are on a platform to go help out. Go bye bye for a few months. Life at the Balboa hospital goes on w/o you. I'm pretty sure you spend your first 4 yrs at your first command as a NC officer. I'd love to do that(if I was still in)!

Even though I was 'just a corpsman'(jk) at Balboa and Portsmouth, I must agree this info is authentic.

Fortunately I don't have to worry about that w/ 9 yrs of enlisted service but here's hoping those looking to go back in did a one month extension before their EAOS. Know anyone who got messed over on getting O-1E? That just sucks. Thanks for the info.

This program must be new because I've never heard of it. I have heard of MECP where as an active duty w/ your pre-reqs done, you go to school full-time to complete your BSN within 3yrs. with full pay. and you use your GI Bill. This one doesn't make any sense to me. I say do the Nurse Corps Program (NCP) when you're a junior. You'll get 2 payments of $10k I believe and a monthly stipend. The Navy is hurting for HMs out there in Iraq. I say get your degree done before joining because you may never have the oppurtunity to get it done again. Some of my old shipmates are still out there, having done 9 mos already. Good luck either way!

which ones have the minimal wait lists? thanks mucho in advance! i'm here in hampton.

As a Navy Corpsman, I worked side by side with the RNs. In the ER we did the 12s; Work: Fri, Sat, Sun/ Off: Mon, Tues/ Work: Wed, Thurs/ Off: Fri, Sat, Sun. By working 12s, we didn't have to stand duty like the clinic types: Mon-Fri: 6:45AM to 4PM. Duty could last up to 24hrs and have it usually every 3-40 days. But that's the hospital side only.

It's 50/50 Good/Bad Navy Nurse Corps types, don't get me wrong. There were also the veteran officers who would make cookies, cakes and such for the corpsmen and invite them to their homes for a 'unit party'(everyone in the unit has to be invited for it to be legal). As in society, there are those who are easily influenced (brain washed) by more senior types even though you can just feel their pure evil. Then there are those who can get the job done but also bring out the best in everyone while sticking to the military structure.

Navy has a $15k Sign on bonus.

I have met many types of Nurse Corps Officers as a Corpsman in my almost 9 yrs. Here are a few: 1. Prior Service- Laid Back and Approachable but driven to train all the time 2. Prior Service- Uptight and Distant and driven to work you all the time and will keep you even after turnover because he/she forgot about you and never secured you. 3. Newbie RN- Asks a lot of questions early on, especially "What time do we eat Roland?" "What is 1300?", then next thing is bossing you around once their orientation is done. 4. Newbie RN- Quiet as a mouse, then once orientation is done, is bossing your around still not having a clue what happens in your unit. There are some hardnosed supposed 'old school' types who will make new RN's treat HM's like slave labor and forbid any 'small talk' during work hours. You will always get a mixed bag wherever you go. If the HM staff can work together, they can overcome any Nurse Corps officer's wrath!

My advice is to talk to the Officer Recruiter. He or she can tell you about going to school full-time receiving E-3 pay. And your time in school counts as AD (active duty) time. Win-win IMO. Also, depending on where you are and/or if the ship/unit is small enough, you can be expected to do many more jobs. Pharmacy, X-Rays, Running/Reading Labs, Preventive med, etc.; even if you don't have the NEC (Navy Enlisted Classifier) under your name. If you really want a strong medical foundation, danger be damned, HM is the way to go. (and don't try to get stationed at a hospital too long, you're much more restricted on things you can do there/ hospital dr's and civilian nurses get jealous) If you want to become a dr ASAP, go to Medical School. Hope this helps.

I feel ya. I was senior HM and had to make things happy between the two types as well. If there is only one individual on each side starting trouble, take them aside one at a time and discuss. If it's basically everyone, call a meeting and set them straight. And if applicable, put the most senior nurse and most senior HM in charge of their people. They need to handle things at the lowest level and if things get crappy, they come to you. You handle the 'big picture', not micromanaging. Make your expectations clear and pass off the authority, not responsibility. In a military setting, you shouldn't have inmates running the asylum ever. Handle this sooner than later. Best of luck! And once you exhaust these options and still have problems, take it up the chain for support. You are never alone!!! Roland

I wasn't an officer but enlisted as a hospital corpsman. Treat the HMs right or they can make life hard for you. I know they'll make you do a hospital tour first thing to make sure you've got all the basics. But going to a ship such as a carrier, you will be like one of two Nurse Corps types at the most. You will be able to get your Surface Warfare Qualifications which really stand out when you go up for LCDR (O-4). O-3 is pretty much a given. Really prove yourself and they'll send you to school (and continue to pay you!) to get your masters and/or qualifications in other areas (anesthesia, PA, etc.). Make sure you get the Nurse Corps Sign on bonus first though! Best of luck!

You know by having 4 yrs prior service you'd come in as O-1E, that's almost equal to O-3 pay! Also, the Nursing Bonus is up from $10k to $15k! Go to Navy.com and look up the programs. It still says $10k but someone forwarded me the new instruction. I'm seriously considering going that route too. You using GI Bill too right? OT: You know the uniforms are going to be revamped right?