elisabethm

I just realized I forgot to answer some of your actual questions. Day-to-day you would most likely be working at a hospital, probably stateside. My previously-civilian friends say that one of the biggest adjustments is being on salary, meaning no ov...

I’ve been a Navy nurse for almost five years now and can offer some perspective. My first duty station was a large joint command as a new grad, working alongside plenty of Army and a few Air Force nurses, so I know a bit about how the branches differ...

Hello! I worked at Bethesda as my first duty station, so I thought I would weigh in as well. Much like at Portsmouth, almost all new grad RNs will initially be placed on med/surg (a few will do peds or postpartum initially, but definitely not ICU rig...

Hi abbyley, I am actually a Navy RN who joined through the NCP. It's a great program, however, it sounds like NROTC may be a better fit for your needs. With the NCP, your first step would be to speak with a healthcare recruiter. (DO NOT speak with ...

Hi, I am currently in the Navy Nurse Corps. If your goal is to become a CRNA as quickly as possible, the military is not the way to go. I entered the Navy as an inexperienced new grad through the NCP. The Navy does NOT place new grads in the ICU. You...

I don't think any of us who are currently in can really comment on how competitive it is because it changes from year to year. I joined trough the NCP and graduated in May 2014. I was told that my recruiting district had 27 applicants for my program,...

Regarding specialties, try to find what you are passionate about. What is in demand will change over time, but our high burn out rate probably wont. If you love what you're doing, you'll be happier and more fulfilled. In the military you will most li...

ROTC is a ton of work, but it seems to be a good learning experience and will set you up to succeed as a military officer. I did Army ROTC for a semester before quitting for the same cons you listed (large time commitment, less time to study/work, ac...

Yeah, getting ahold of a medical recruiter cam be tough. I actually couldn't find the Navy medical recruiter online and ended up getting their info through a friend (...after going to the Army recruiter first and doing Army ROTC for a semester). If y...

The way this question is worded sounds hella sketchy! Don't lie on your physical. They will ask a lot of questions and may ask for documentation. This is going to be the group that will provide all of your healthcare for the next 4 to 20+ years (or ...

Thinking about it, I don't think I did a real PT test that actually counted until I got to my command. You do a couple at ODS, but I think they were just for practice. (This was almost two years ago though, so i could be rememberimg incorrectly.) Eve...

I'm not gonna lie, I was so unmotivated with working out when I was in school. I really didn't exercise enough. I only made sure I was able to pass the PT test right before going to ODS. When you apply to NCP, they dont do the whole test with push up...

I just noticed your comments about the scholarships. With today's military, I would say it is unrealistic to expect a scholarship through any branch. ROTC is the only program I know of that will straight-up pay your tuition, and, as you have already ...

Hi Dani182, I actually did the same thing you're doing now. I was originally in Army ROTC but wanted more time to focus on nursing, so I switched to the Navy Nurse Candidate Program. I am now serving active duty at a large joint facility (Army & ...

Also, don't be discourged by the lengthy application process. I first went to the recruiter in March, was turned away because I wasn't competitive enough (at the time, I thought I was about to receive 2 B's that semester....I ended up pulling my grad...

Hello! I am a nurse serving active duty in the Navy, and I actually came in through the NCP. My recommendation to you is to contact a healthcare recruiter as soon as you have your acceptance letter from a BSN program. (ADN's are not accepted by the m...

Hey guys! I am going to ODS next month and am headed to Bethesda/WRNMMC shortly after. (So excited! :) ) I have kind of a random question for any Navy nurses who might be able to answer. I am replacing my old cheapo nursing school stethoscope, and I ...

The person who sent me my dream sheet said that we would begin contacting our detailer sometime after the holidays. I haven't gotten any feedback on my dream sheet other than an initial confirmation email saying that it was received.

Hi Ashdx21. I was accepted into the NCP last spring. I think it would be a good idea to mention your family's military service. A lot of people in my family have served in the military (all Army), and my recruiter encouraged me to include them.

I haven't served active duty yet (currently in the Navy Nurse Candidate Program and will be an Ensign in the Nurse Corps once I graduate in May 2014 and pass the NCLEX), but I can tell you that getting accepted right now is very competitive. Getting ...

I'm hoping for Bethesda, too! I won't hear back for awhile though. (Graduating in May.) Hopefully if I do go there, we'll see each other there! :)

Just got my "dream sheet" emailed to me today! I am so excited!

A lot of students at my school volunteer at our local hospitals. If you check out your local hospital's web page, you can probably find some ways to get involved. One of my friends spent a few years volunteering with a wound care nurse. (Shadowing th...

Thanks for sharing your experience with us, donteyeballme! I was also curious about this topic.

Thanks for your response, Sweetpea! I'm in Peds and OB now, and, even though they're both fascinating, I don't think they're right for me. I'm actually looking forward to working med/surg for at least a couple years. I'm open to pretty much anything ...