Tell me the bad side about being a Navy nurse...

psalm, RN · Jan 2, 2008

First off, good for you checking into the military and getting all the info before the fact. Don't worry about your family, they care about you. My mil is upset because I work nights, duh!

Now, I am not a military nurse but I was a medic in the Army way before time. The negatives I see/saw for the nurse:

Transfers/duty stations may not be what you wanted.

You are government issue, and will be stationed wherever there is a need. This can be hard on family obligations as well as your personal life.

You are in the military and not a union; you will be working hours when you are needed, not necessarily an 8, 10, or 12 hour shift.

You may be over civilian nurses...and with budgets always on our minds, the civilian (spelling) will have some freedoms you won't have as far as mandated duty.

Lonliness...you may be stationed in a remote place with difficulty getting back home for visits. Stay positive and make friends fast in the military or you will be miserable. Find a church or synagogue or spiritual home wherever you are to connect with spiritual family.

The military way of life can be a great time or a disaster depending on what a person's expectations are. You travel, have some good benefits that may not reflect on your paycheck but they are there, and the nursing experiences are great! You will take on much responsibility that will enhance your skills and knowledge.

A friend once said the Army can make a man lazy (coasting) or dynamic (taking advantage of all the opportunities not as available in civilian life). God bless and let us know what you decide.

DanznRN, RN · Jan 2, 2008

Just going to piggyback a little on to what was said by Psalm cause it's pretty close, just a thing or two though. This question your asking is not really a black/ white, good/ bad answer. If you have read any of my other posts, I've included some negatives. Keep in mind there are negatives with EVERY job, you just have to look for them and with other jobs you can quit if not happy, can't do that in the military per se. As a Medic Psalm was enlisted, so they are treated slightly different than officers are. You have more responsibility as an officer and get a bit more say in some things, anyway, my response are piggybacked in bold.

Transfers/duty stations may not be what you wanted. In the Navy as a Nurse Corps officer you get to work with your detailer to pick a place you would like to go, normally 3 choices. However, there may not be a choice there that you really want, nonetheless you still have input. In the end, it may not be what you thought it would so, disappointment is always a possibility.

You are government issue, and will be stationed wherever there is a need. This can be hard on family obligations as well as your personal life. True, once you sign on the dotted line, they kind of have the reigns for the most part. I think this answer is mainly related to deployments, not really a choice.

You are in the military and not a union; you will be working hours when you are needed, not necessarily an 8, 10, or 12 hour shift. Couldn't be more true on this one. My wife is active duty as well, on her floor only the military nurses have to be on-call, not the civilians. There's only about 12 military so she's on-call quite a bit.

You may be over civilian nurses...and with budgets always on our minds, the civilian (spelling) will have some freedoms you won't have as far as mandated duty. See above.

Lonliness...you may be stationed in a remote place with difficulty getting back home for visits. Stay positive and make friends fast in the military or you will be miserable. Find a church or synagogue or spiritual home wherever you are to connect with spiritual family. Not sure what was meant by "remote." Generally in the Navy you are not remote like with a group of 10 or something. Generally in the field you are in a field hospital or on a ship and you'd wish for privacy, this is a deployment situation only. As for the making friends part, that's easy, remember everyone your with is in the same boat as you and you all want to get home when you can. We were stationed in Italy for 3 years, came home 3 times for weeks at a time. We spent more time traveling Europe. We never felt "alone." Heck some of the friends we made in Italy are stationed within and hour of us and we all stay in touch, it actually made us better friends.

The military way of life can be a great time or a disaster depending on what a person's expectations are. You travel, have some good benefits that may not reflect on your paycheck but they are there, and the nursing experiences are great! You will take on much responsibility that will enhance your skills and knowledge. Amen, the military is what YOU make of it. There are plenty of opportunities through the Navy, it's how you make it work for you that will make the difference.

As far as being a gun toting, ground-pounding soldier, not going to happen. Nurses are not allowed to take part in active combat because of the Geneva convention, you will carry a sidearm if deployed for self-defense only. Generally in wartime nurses are 5-20 miles behind the front lines, just depends on your specialty. that's how I see it and I've been in for 10+ now.

LCDR Dan

psalm, RN · Jan 2, 2008

Yes, to all of what LCDR Dan stated above. However, many of my friends were officers, and I would hear the stories they had to tell about how they landed in our little podunk duty station after being promised their one of three choices, lol! And the Navy docs who were stationed 13 miles down the road and worked the dispensary AND our hospital weren't too happy either.

As far as remote places, I was thinking in terms of Guam, Diego Garcia, Philippines...and some duty stations there is limited time off the base due to security. Granted, I am sure Guam is more of a hot spot now than it was 30 years ago...my dh was Navy there, if you weren't into the bar scene or beaches, there wasn't much to do offtime.

DanznRN, RN · Jan 2, 2008

Psalm, not sure when you were a medic, but things have changed. Diego Garcia is strictly a volunteer assignment, can't get there unless you ask for it. It's also 1 year orders, doable, not preferable mind you. Philippines, hasn't been a Navy base there in years, so it's not an issue. As far as Guam goes, it's basically been turned into a small slice of the USA. They have Pizza Hut, McDonald's, etc.,. thought I heard someone say they were trying to get a Wal-mart in there once. Anyway, it's a lot more family friendly and people requested to be extended there so much they increased the orders time from 2 to 3 years. Diving is great and you can travel all over. I'm not here to banter back and forth about stuff or make the Navy seem the greatest thing since sliced bread, it's not nor is any job civilian or military. That is what the Navy is another job, there are certain detractors just like with any job.

KDRUS22-

I've been in for 10+ and the prospect of being away from my family for 6-12 months doesn't sound great to me. However, that 's part of the job and it's what I get paid to do, when I have to do it. The bottom line is the Navy/ military is what you make of it. Everyone is going to have an opinion of what's good, what's bad. I was active duty for 5 years and thought the grass would be greener on the civy side, so I got out. I was out 11 months and hated it, scratched and clawed to get back in as fast as possible. There is a sense of community that you have in the Navy, won't find that anywhere else. No matter what you do, everyone is working towards the same goal in the Navy and that's what I missed. I'm not a chest pounding patriot by any means, so don't think I'm covering up something that's bad. if you like and want to discuss it more, give me a call: 304-433-1580, be happy to elaborate more. There's part of the message that's sometimes missed through the internet. Rest assured the Navy has it's bad points, no "wool-pulling" here.

LCDR Dan

psalm, RN · Jan 2, 2008

...I hear you loud and clear. I was in '71-74 and was a Navy wife '75-79. When I was in Hawaii 3 years as a Navy wife I got cabin fever. And couldn't afford to fly to MI or NY to see fam. Dh was in Guam before submerging for 70 days somewhere in an ocean. If a person is not a beach person, or is allergic to lots of plants, certain duty stations can be trying...one person's paradise is another person's ----, eh?

For the record, I mean no diss to the service, I wish I could say I was patriotic, but the military was my way out of a bad home situation and I don't regret it. As they say, Fun, Travel, Adventure! LOL! And I met my dh who was stationed in a Navy base 13 miles away. And as you say, the military community is strong, we have friends we met in service that we keep in touch with, they are all over the world. Our son was born at Tripler and he went there to visit on his honeymoon from MI. :lol2:

It has/had been my understanding that even if there isn't a Navy base on Philippines, Navy nurses were stationed there, another change? Tripler had nurses from all the branches...maybe LCDR Dan can give you current info. It is great to have someone who has done it to talk to...as said before the military community is awesome!

DanznRN, RN · Jan 2, 2008

Psalm-

You are correct, nurses from different services serve in each others facilities. We have Army nurses serving in Navy hospitals, as an FYI to all, the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda and Walter Reed Army Medical Center are combining to become the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. So the services are becoming even more condensed. Another FYI, is that the Philippines failed to renew the US's agreement to maintain any bases in their country in 1992. The US abandoned all military installations later that year. the amount of foreign US military installations is becoming smaller and smaller every year. So KDRUS22, being stationed overseas is becoming more and more rare. Lastly and no disrespect meant whatsoever, Psalm, lots has changed in the Navy/ military since the 70s, heck a lot has changed since I joined in '97.

LCDR Dan

KDRUS22 · Jan 4, 2008

Thank you both for your honest responses. Like I've said, I've been researching and speaking to a lot to navy/army nurses and I've heard a lot of the same "complaints" or difficult sides to navy nursing. The truth of it is that I have to roll with the punches and take it day by day, because at this point I have no idea where I would be or what I would be doing. I didn't even apply!

A medical recruiter is coming to my house tomorrow to talk to me about the facts (on paper). My family will be there and he is basically laying out the timeline etc. The most difficult thing about this process has been my family. My mother and grandmother in particular think I am absolutely crazy. They support me, but they are afraid. I have a very close family that gets together for every holiday, birthday and Sunday dinner. The idea of me being away and not making it to these occasions and just not being around upsets them. On top of it, my mom is very traditional and believes that I am 24 and should be focusing on getting married and having a family. She doesn't see how family life fits into what I want to do.

Despite the opinions of others (which do cloud my mind), I know this is something that my heart is calling me to. LCDR Dan, Ive been in the civilian "healthcare world" for 2 years now. The focus is on paychecks and billable minutes. Patients are being neglected, stage 4 wounds are "popping" up out of NO WHERE! I just feel like people come in and do their job and leave. I know I want more. I love what I do, but I'm not satisfied. I'm not fulfilled. I know I am not serving the population I want to serve. Everytime my friends leave for Iraq, my heart literally aches and my passion to serve our country and troops grow. At this point the only thing holding me back is fear. Fear of not knowing where I am going and who I am going with. Also, I am afraid of what deployment is going to be like. More importantly, I'm afraid of what our world will be like especially with some of the Presidential candidates. Keep me in your thoughts and prayers especially for my visit with the recruiter tomorrow. He actually seems like a nice guy. He is not trying to sell me. In fact, I wish he was a little more persistent. Hopefully his lack of follow-up does not mean I do not qualify. Talk to you all soon! LCDR I'd love to speak over the phone about everything.

psalm, RN · Jan 4, 2008

...wow, shows you how out of touch I am, LCDR Dan, lol! No disrespect taken, either.

KDRUS22, you seem to have a wonderful family who will prob. support you whatever you do. It is difficult to see a child, no matter how young or old, spread their wings and fly away...sometimes far away. I am 54 and my dad STILL worries about what I am doing and how I travel alone, etc. They will acclimate themselves to your chosen career moves eventually... and always invite them to your duty stations!

Let us know what ya decide to do. Hugs & prayers.

Lindz · Jan 4, 2008

About that recruiter . . . listen to what he has to say and then ask questions of friends in the military. Recruiters have been known to whisper sweet nothings in your ear. It probably won't be so bad since you're going in knowing you want to be a nurse. I know many people who enlisted and said I want to do xyz or go to this school and of course the recruiter promised them the moon and stars.

I come from a Navy family and my husband is an IDC (independent duty corpsman). It's a little different with my husband being stationed with the Marines and working gawd awful hours and deploying with them (the Army somehow managed to get their hands on him for a couple of months, but he got to come home since they had enough Corpsmen.) There are no nurses in combat, my husband turns all of the patients over to the nurses at a combat hospital so don't worry.

I tell everybody to take the Navy for a ride since they're going to take you for one. They are going get as much work out of you as they possibly can, you are going to have to work with and for people that you might not like and can't do much about it, you may not be able to take leave when you'd like just for the simple reason that the head honcho said no. But where else are you going to get a free pass to travel the world? Even if you don't get stationed overseas, the travel discounts are pretty good. Where else are you going to get help with school like the military? And the comraderie is amazing. You will have friends for life even if you just spend four years in the service. So, maybe you find out that you don't care for military service and opt to get out at the first chance, but the pro's make those years worth it.

DanznRN, RN · Jan 4, 2008

KD-

I'm available most days during the day. I don't go back to work until the 25th, so once you speak with the recruiter feel free to give me a call and we can discuss the info, make sure you're getting the right story. As for the traditional family, that's a tough one. If you guys are that close, getting together regularly and all, sounds like that's an uphill fight. To be honest, I'd tell them exactly what you said here, you are unfulfilled in what you're doing and actually want to make a difference. Let me know.

LCDR Dan

KDRUS22 · Jan 6, 2008

Hi everyone!

It went great with the medical recruiter. He spent about 3 hours at my house with me, my family and my fiance. He told us all the facts...how he became involved and how he likes it. We discussed all the good and bad things about being a Navy nurse and my impression was that he was honest. Everything he told me coincided with what I have read on this forum and what other navy nurses have told me. I've pretty much made up my mind on what I want to do. YOu know what I thought of though? He told me that basically one week you work 5 days (12 hour shifts) and then have 2 days off. THe next week you work 2 days (12 hour shifts) with 5 days off. How do you have children? What if I have children in the mix of this? What have all of you experienced with having and raising children while being a NAvy nurse. Above all of the information I have received this is one of my priorities. Also, what is the reality of taking vacation/holidays? On paper the policy doesn't look that bad, but tell me the reality of it? Is it very difficult to take leave? What if you or your child gets sick? Can you call in that morning and say you can't come in like in the civilian world?

Thanks for all of your help again!

LCDR Dan- whens a good time to call? Where are you located ....if there is a time difference I don't want to wake you up

KD-
I'm available most days during the day. I don't go back to work until the 25th, so once you speak with the recruiter feel free to give me a call and we can discuss the info, make sure you're getting the right story. As for the traditional family, that's a tough one. If you guys are that close, getting together regularly and all, sounds like that's an uphill fight. To be honest, I'd tell them exactly what you said here, you are unfulfilled in what you're doing and actually want to make a difference. Let me know.
LCDR Dan