Mursey

It is different in the Navy. Navy and Air Force are completely different in so many aspects that it doesn't surprise me. I spent some time at Walter Reed so I have seen how Army, Navy, and Air Force can all differ. Ultimately, I was I had gone back into the Air Force instead. It would have saved me so much more grief in the end. I know that I would still have to do some patient care, but it would just be for "sustainment" purposes.

Just saw this and am curious as to what you found out. I'm currently in the Navy and trying to see if that is something I can even get into. Thank you!

I'm curious about this myself. What exactly does an informatics nurse do?!?! I feel like people are really shady about this...

I'm currently in my third year of nursing. Along the way there have been moments in which you describe where I feel burnt out. I usually push on or make a change. I'm now looking to quit nursing. This is my second career so I'm currently weighing my options so that I can possibly do something that is not at the bedside, but none of the work has been worth the meager pay. And if you find yourself in a position where you make a lot of pay (like travel nursing) then it's generally not worth it because it's a lot of bedside nursing and patient care suffers. I see it now first hand all of the time. Nursing informatics is something that I think I now have enough experience to achieve, but this is really the one thing that I truly wish I could take back and do all over again. I had zero experience with healthcare when I got into it. You already have three years experience and have a solid understanding of what it's like. It's not likely to get better. You see it in the news everyday and how we have "nursing shortages." I've also met other CNA's who have flat out told me that they will never be nurses and that actively worked towards something else. Stick with it if you want, but believe in yourself if you already know what you know. Best of luck!

I honestly don't. I think military medicine in general fails on many fronts. I worked as a civilian at a multiservice military hospital. They just don't really know how to respond to just about anything in a way that you would see at a good medical facility. That includes dealing with people (workers, patients, and family members) or even with management. The acuity was much, much lower in the ICU there, but I was grateful for that since the pandemic had already been going on for awhile and I saw it as a much needed break. I would say that if you really want to join, but would like the opportunity to "stick your foot in the water" then consider the reserves. That would offer more opportunity for you to fulfill the role in which you seek. They have a later join date and they offer some really good benefits in return, as well. Best of luck!

Hello! I'm in the Navy Nurse Corps. Yes, you can join until you're 42. No, you're probably not likely to be allowed to start your package without at least 6 months experience. My recruiter told me 1 year experience. Regardless of all of that, I would highly recommend you not join. I was in the Air Force prior to joining, and I would go back in a heartbeat if I could. This was the biggest mistake of my life and there isn't a day that goes by in which I don't regret it. If you join the Nurse Corps, you will have no say in what you do. I joined with three years ICU experience and was told that I was needed for my ICU experience. They immediately tried to stick me in MedSurg because they feel like I have to earn my ICU position. They have done that will all of the new nurses that have come with prior experience. What a waste of my own experience. Luckily, I was able to use my priory military experience to push into the Pediatric ICU, but because it's still the Navy it's one big joke. Don't do it. Really, for your own sake.