Questions about being A Navy Nurse with Civilian Husband

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Hi, my name is Dani and I have been very interested in the Navy to pursue my nursing career. However, I have some questions. My boyfriend and I have made it clear to each other that we intend on getting married. He is an architectural engineer who likes to focus in construction management. That being said, he is very concerned about finding a job wherever I would be stationed. I am aware that you are expected to move around every 2-3 years and that the Navy always comes first as a Navy Nurse but I am nervous for my future husband. He doesn't know if he would be able to get a job with a company that would be "okay" with the fact that moving in a couple years is very possible but he doesn't want to not work. Does anyone know if areas around military bases are really accepting or accommodating of military families and their spouses working for them?

Also, when do you find out where you will first be stationed? My recruiter said you are able to pick three locations you prefer and they either pick from that or elsewhere depending on where the Navy wants you so when does that process take place?

Thanks for all your help!

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Keep in mind that you may end up overseas. If he doesn't speak the language and doesn't meet the requirements for the position in that country, it's not happening. There are some civilian employment opportunities on military bases, but I'm uncertain about his specific line of work. Civilian jobs are also very competitive. I knew a girl who was on a two year waiting list to get a job bagging groceries for tips (only). Insane.

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Specializes in ER/Tele, Med-Surg, Faculty, Urgent Care.

You might get better responses if you post under the Government/Military forum. Go to yellow tool bar under specialties.

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

Moved to the Government/Military forum

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Specializes in Adult Critical Care.

What sort of nursing do you do? That would help determine where you could go. The more specialized you are, the fewer locations that you could end up. You submit your preference on a form that gets sent with your app. You find out your location when you get an acceptance letter...right before you sign.

By far the most common 3 locations for Navy nurses are San Diego, Portsmouth RI, and D.C.

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Specializes in Cardiology.

I think you mean Portsmouth, VA.

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Specializes in ER/Tele, Med-Surg, Faculty, Urgent Care.
I think you mean Portsmouth, VA.

Correct. But Newport, Rhode Island is where ODS (used to be OIS for officer indoctrination school) is located. This is where new Navy nurses, lawyers, physicians, pharmacists, dietitians & other allied health go to learn how to Naval Officers.

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Specializes in Adult Critical Care.

Yeah I combined the two. RI for officer basic and VA for the hospital.

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Specializes in Float Pool - A Little Bit of Everything.

Hi I am a Navy Vet and after I got out I was a Navy wife for 5 years. All the bases I worked on or lived near were very helpful and accommodating to military spouses. Most especially when I was in Hampton Roads, VA. The Navy Marine Corps Relief Society and Fleet and Family Services hold many events through the year aimed at military spouses. But I am not going to lie to you, the military comes first and you could end up in Guam with the only civilian job option being banana picker for $7 an hour. You guys want to work out expectations and what each is willing to give up with career endeavors before signing the dotted line. There is no stressor to a marriage or relationship like the military.

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Specializes in ER, ICU.

He should be concerned. He is in a specialized field. Each location will have its own challenges, and overseas will be worse. Perhaps he can find a job that contracts with military bases? You might want to prepare for living apart at times, or he may have to have gaps in his career. Another option is the Reserve. You could serve but you wouldn't have to move around all the time.

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Thank you for your replies!

I want to do pediatrics but I know that when you first join the Navy Nurse Corps, you must do med-surg for 1. yrs.

However, my new question is, if my future hubby joins the Navy civil engineer corps, which he is qualified for, how likely is co-location? I know that when both members are in the same field (i.e. health care) it is more likely. However, being in completely different professions, I am curious as to how likely it is. Also, can you be co-located directly out of ODS?

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,

Dani

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Specializes in Adult Critical Care.

The military in general doesn't do much with pediatrics. Unless you're a pediatric NP or CNS there's not really a career available in pediatrics. I don't know about the Navy, but the Air Force has no pediatric nursing designation (there are PNPs and peds CNS's as I said). We do have a NICU designation.

It doesn't really make sense, since in a deployed setting a significant number of your patients are kids. They just have un-specialized med-surg nurses and un-specialized med-surg floors house inpatient peds.

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