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

[KDRUS22]

Hi everyone-

All of the posts about being a Navy nurse are very positive and upbeat. It's exciting and inspirational. I'm trying to gain as much information on this topic so I make an educated and smart decision for career... my life. Be honest with me. Tell me what you don't like? What do your friends not like about being in the Navy (nurse)? This may sound crazy, but I am getting some....I don't want to say resistance, but ....hesitation..from my family and friends. They think I am putting myself in danger. They think this is a death sentence because it is military related. I'm realistic, but I do want to hear the bad points of being a Navy Nurse. Thank you to everyone that could help!

[KDRUS22]

Lindz- Not to get too personal....but do you have children? If so, how do you deal with having to work (when they say) and having children?

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]

KD-

I live in West Virgina, so I'm Eastern time. I'm available mostly during the day from about 0830 (when I drop the kids off) until about 1545 (when I pick them up). As for kids we have 3, all boys. You may have also read that my wife and I are both active duty so if we can do it, anyone can. However, in your situation (your fiance is not active right?) the burden will be placed more so on him to stay at home with the kids when they are sick. It doesn't work the same as the civy world, if a kid's sick they want you to find a way around it and meet your military obligation. We don't have that in our family, so someone has to give and we take turns doing it when it's needed. As for vacation, one phrase, PLAN AHEAD!! On most floors they have a year's worth on empty schedules in the the back of the schedule book. Yo u put in your requests and it's normally a first come, first served deal. We've never had a problem working vacation out with the others on our floor. Keep in mind it's not a cake walk. Give me a call and we can talk somemore. One thing about the schedule. Working 12s you normally work 4 one week and then 3 the next, her's an example.

Work: Mon, Tues, Off: Wed, Thurs, Work: Fri, Sat, Sun.

Next week: Off: Mon, Tues, Work: Wed, Thurs, Off: Fri, Sat, Sun.

That's a typical schedule, not sure if they explained it like that. Give me a call, have the fiance there to ask questions too, it affects him as well.

LCDR Dan