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From what I understand, it's just for active duty military nurses. Here's their website. It may explain it a little better. http://www.nursingworld.org/FedNA/

I started this thread a longggg time ago, but I wanted to add an update. Just recently I was invited to go to a special luncheon with the President of ANA and FedNA at Walter Reed Medical Center. That provided me so much information. FedNA is a part of the ANA. We (as military nurses) can be part of both. Boy, the opportunities the military provides are just endless.

I started working as a navy nurse in October '06 and deployments have been popping up left and right. I haven't quite jumped on any yet, because I feel like I need to prepare a little more and have a few months worth of nursing experience before I decide to go overseas on a deployment. I asked my dept head to set me up for C4 training later this year or early '08 and I'm trying to get into an ACLS class. Is there anything else I can do to try and prepare myself for deployments? I would like to volunteer for some after C4, but again, I'd like to be confident in my skills when I go. Thank you! p.s. I used to get on an ask questions prior to finishing school, so this is my first post since I actually became an RN and joined the Navy Nurse Corps. I'm so glad I did it and I love it! Thank you to everyone who answered all my questions before I signed!

Thank you! Would you know also if I would say yes when asked if I am active duty? I'm not quite yet active until I graduate...but I'm just not sure what they want me to answer. I've been trying to ask people from my school, the nurse director through the navy that I spoke with (he's out of the office), and I have not heard back. This makes my anxiety go down a lot. Now I can go ahead and apply here in Texas like I have planned.

I'm about to graduate and I'm in the Navy's NCP. Can I apply for licensure through my state, or should I do it through the state that will be my first duty station? Thanks!

Thanks! That is helpful. It's good to know that I can still do professional organizations like that!

I've been getting more involved with the Texas Nursing Student's Association this year, and I have really enjoyed it. Do nurses in the military fall into ANA or state associations? Do they have their own? You can still be involved in professional organizations like ACCN, right? I believe it is very important that I try and stay up with these, because this is how nurses get their voice heard. We also need them as a profession. I think they're great, and I was just curious what I can get involved in through the military. Thank you!

Lt Dan, I found out I will be going to Bethesda! My OIS is from Sept 18-Oct 20th. Do you know how soon after OIS I will report to the hospital? I'm very excited, and even more so that I know someone who will be there. Is your wife also a nurse? I saw that you said she went to OIS as well. How hard is it to get assignments together?

Thank you! I used to be in pretty good shape, it's just a matter of finding time to get some work out time in. I put Pensacola, San Diego, D.C. as my top three choices. I was very impressed with Pensacola mostly for the fact that they have a whole area of their website dedicated to the Navy Nurses and also that they were voted #1 for customer service in all the medium sized dod hospitals. That led me to believe that they really worked well as a team and took care of their nurses. I know my chances of going there are slim because they want me at the big hospitals. It really is hard to put my choices in order, because I would love to go to any of them. Bethesda would be an amazing experience. I should find out soon! I'm excited either way and thank you for you encouragement and advice. Candice

Yes, most likely I will be going in September. I should find out for sure this week. I was surprised that there were the medium sized hospitals listed on the sheet the director gave me. I'm happy with any of them, really. I have the attitude that wherever they need me, I will love. If that means Iraq, then I'll be ready. Thank you for your help!

Thank you both so much! That really helps!

I'm in the NCP and I'm going to be graduating in August. I need to request my top 3 choices assignment. I was just wondering if anyone could tell me if there is a difference in working at a camp vs. a naval base. Would it increase my chances of being deployed? Also, I have not heard too much about Bremerton. Has anyone been stationed there? I would just appreciate any information on this location. I would like at some point to get experience on one of the hospital ships, but I was curious if I would have a better chance at a particular base? Thank you for any advice on assignment. Candice Kumpunen

hi all, i am a senior nursing student in the navy's nurse candidate program. i am becoming very interested in the flight nursing program. i understand there is not a large amount of them, and that it is very difficult to get into, but i would like to know more about it. how would i apply for the area? what would be some things that might help me before i apply? how much time do you need to be in the navy before you can apply? basically, i've tried searching for information online and have come up short, so if anyone knows anything about it, please pass it on. thank you so much in advance!!! candice

I can tell you have not had that many good encounters with nurses on the floor. It is sad to hear that the "newbie rn's" have that kind of reputation. I am looking forward to working with corpsmen and not just bossing them around. I do not like the separation between disciplines in the hospital. I know that if everyone can work together that it will improve the overall work environment and improve patient care. Thank you for your comments. It can help me in working towards a positive relationship with my future corpsmen.

Thank you so much for the information! That is very helpful and it gives me an idea of what to expect once I'm in. I've heard that corpsmen are really great and everyone gets along with them. I did have a conversation with one at MEPS though and he just said that since I'm going to be a nurse that I'm going to "make the corspmen lives hell" and started talking down to me and to remember the conversation. It dissapointed me, because I do not want to be one to get power hungry and one of the reasons I'm looking into the navy is because I felt like the health care team maybe worked together closer. I'm sure this particular person just had a bad experience with a nurse. Thank you again