Want to be a navy nurse, but why my recruiter wants me to enlist?

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please help. I am currently working as a registered Nurse in a hospital while at the same time going to school to pursue my Bachelors Degree in Nursing. I went to Navy recruiter becaouse I want to be a Navy Nurse Officer, but he said I need to enlist. My ASVAB score was 72.

What I intend is to join as a NAvy Nurse Officer but since I only have my associate's; Navy will allow me to finish my school in a year or two whil paying for my tuition and then hire me as a NAVY nurse once I graduate!!

But How come My recruiter keeps mentioning me to enlist, I have physical on tuesady and will meet with navy counselor, but If I can get any suggestions from you guys on what to expect on the navy counselor and what to ask, will be appreciated! thank you guys

More than likely the recruiter simply wants you to enlist because he is looking to meet his quota. He needs to recruit people to enlist and apparently is not interested in passing you to the officer recruiter. He wants credit for you coming in and does not care if it is in your best interests to become an officer or an enlisted person. Your best bet is to finish your degree and then go in as an officer. Why would you want to spend time working as a hospital corpsman when you can work as a nurse? The same difference as working as a CNA versus working as an RN. You have to do what is best for you. Don't let this recruiter twist your arm.

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ok guys thanks to all your advices. Now I just spoke to the recruiter and told him evrything but he told me this:

iM NOT QUALIFIED AS AN OFFICER AS OF YET, I DONT HAVE MY CITIZENSHIP AND BESIDES NAVY OFFICER MAY NOT PROCESS MY APPLICATION SINCE THEY PREFER THOSE NROTC!!

SO THEY WANT ME TO WORK AS NAVY RESERVE HOSPITAL CORPSMEN WHCIH WILL DEFINITELY WORK FOR ME, SINCE i ONLY HAVE TO REPORT ONCE A MONTH AND 2 WEEKS A YEAR IN A BASE CLOSE TO WHERE I LIVE, THUS I CAN STILL WORK FULL TIME IN A HOSPITAL WHERE I CURRENTLY WORKING FULL TIME. NAVY COUNSELOR WHO WAS THERE IN THE OFFICE STATED THAT THEY WILL PROCESS MY OFFICER APPLICATION EVERY 6 MONTHS AND WILL BE BETTER SINCE BY THAT TIME COMES I ALREADY HAVE SOME TRAINING!!!

GUYS, WHAT DO YOU THINK!!!

MY QUESTION IS, ARE THEY REALLY GOONA WORK ON MY OFFICER QUALIFICATION AND DO I HAVE TO FINISH MY TERM IN THE RESERVE BEFORE I CAN BE AN OFFICER?????

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Specializes in Anesthesia.
ok guys thanks to all your advices. Now I just spoke to the recruiter and told him evrything but he told me this:

iM NOT QUALIFIED AS AN OFFICER AS OF YET, I DONT HAVE MY CITIZENSHIP AND BESIDES NAVY OFFICER MAY NOT PROCESS MY APPLICATION SINCE THEY PREFER THOSE NROTC!!

SO THEY WANT ME TO WORK AS NAVY RESERVE HOSPITAL CORPSMEN WHCIH WILL DEFINITELY WORK FOR ME, SINCE i ONLY HAVE TO REPORT ONCE A MONTH AND 2 WEEKS A YEAR IN A BASE CLOSE TO WHERE I LIVE, THUS I CAN STILL WORK FULL TIME IN A HOSPITAL WHERE I CURRENTLY WORKING FULL TIME. NAVY COUNSELOR WHO WAS THERE IN THE OFFICE STATED THAT THEY WILL PROCESS MY OFFICER APPLICATION EVERY 6 MONTHS AND WILL BE BETTER SINCE BY THAT TIME COMES I ALREADY HAVE SOME TRAINING!!!

GUYS, WHAT DO YOU THINK!!!

MY QUESTION IS, ARE THEY REALLY GOONA WORK ON MY OFFICER QUALIFICATION AND DO I HAVE TO FINISH MY TERM IN THE RESERVE BEFORE I CAN BE AN OFFICER?????

You have to be a US citizen to be a military commissioned officer. I think the recruiter is basically FOS on the rest, but I am not in the Navy. You will still initially be on active duty until you finish basic training and corpmen school.

No, they are not going to work on your officer qualification. No one is going to initiate anything like that in the military for you. You will have to get your US citizenship to become a military officer. Technically it is supposed to work to your advantage being in the military and getting your citizenship.

You should read through the other threads on here there is Ensign trying to switch to AD right now that is having trouble and will probably have to serve out their reserve time before they can make the switch.

Are you working on your US Citizenship right now?

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Specializes in OB, Cardiac.
ok guys thanks to all your advices. Now I just spoke to the recruiter and told him evrything but he told me this:

iM NOT QUALIFIED AS AN OFFICER AS OF YET, I DONT HAVE MY CITIZENSHIP AND BESIDES NAVY OFFICER MAY NOT PROCESS MY APPLICATION SINCE THEY PREFER THOSE NROTC!!

SO THEY WANT ME TO WORK AS NAVY RESERVE HOSPITAL CORPSMEN WHCIH WILL DEFINITELY WORK FOR ME, SINCE i ONLY HAVE TO REPORT ONCE A MONTH AND 2 WEEKS A YEAR IN A BASE CLOSE TO WHERE I LIVE, THUS I CAN STILL WORK FULL TIME IN A HOSPITAL WHERE I CURRENTLY WORKING FULL TIME. NAVY COUNSELOR WHO WAS THERE IN THE OFFICE STATED THAT THEY WILL PROCESS MY OFFICER APPLICATION EVERY 6 MONTHS AND WILL BE BETTER SINCE BY THAT TIME COMES I ALREADY HAVE SOME TRAINING!!!

GUYS, WHAT DO YOU THINK!!!

MY QUESTION IS, ARE THEY REALLY GOONA WORK ON MY OFFICER QUALIFICATION AND DO I HAVE TO FINISH MY TERM IN THE RESERVE BEFORE I CAN BE AN OFFICER?????

I would still talk to an medical officer recruiter first! If you start off in the reserves you can be working towards your bsn & get activated...which will prolong your nursing efforts. Personally, I'd much rather be a nurse than a corpsman in Iraq. It won't be much fun being "demoted" to an HM while in the desert when you are already a nurse. Odds are you'll have people younger than you telling you what to do. Also, you won't be able to utilize your nursing skills (personally that would kill me, if i could help out more but am limited b/c of my position). Oh ya, & don't listen to the recruiter when they say you will hardly be deployed. HMs are HIGHLY deployable in the reserves (I saw plenty get activated). And, you're not guaranteed when your package will go through after you do complete your bsn. Just don't make another move with them until you talk to a medical officer recruiter.

I have nothing against being enlisted....I was enlisted & LOVED it (now trying to go in the nurse corps).

Honestly, the SMARTEST thing to do is go in AFTER you get your bsn. Remember it is their job to sweet talk you!!! Whatever they tell you will sound great!!! That's their job & it sounds like they're doing a good job w/ you. And you know what, their intentions may even be good but they're not trained in knowing all about recruiting medical officers so whatever they tell you is based on their limited knowledge. They can, however, tell you all about HM. Essentially, they don't know the other side & the other side is where you want to be. So,talk to someone who KNOWS about the nurse corps. I'll PM you my recruiters #. She's fabulous & can give you the # to a recruiter close to you (She's out of STL).

It sounds like you're really excited & very anxious to get in. Sure, the fastest way to get in may be through enlisted. But, if you want to serve as a nurse then the smartest & best way is to finish your bsn first. Don't let you excitement about joining overwhelm you & force you to make a rash decision. If you go enlisted you're constantly going to be jumping through hoops to b/co a nurse officer. Take it from me, jumping through hoops, doing tons of paper work & waiting IS NOT WORTH IT!!!!!!!!!!!!! Once your in you're at their mercy. You're going to be waiting on them, they're not going to be waiting on you (like they are now). "Hurry up & wait" is a very popular term in the navy for a reason.

Joining the military is definitely worth the fight. I miss it terribly which is why I'm fighting like crazy to get back in. But, you have to fight smartly or else you might get screwed. And believe me a lot of ppl do! None of us here want to see that happen to you. Good Luck!

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yes in fact i have interview on wednesday for my citizenship! Listen guys I will call medical recruiter office on monday, or if you gusy have any number I can speak to tomorrow sunday (so that I can cancel that MPES on tuesaday) please lemme know asap!!! thank youv ery much guys this website is so informative and very helpful!

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Specializes in ICU- adults, Flight RN peds/neo.

You want to be an officer correct? Then listen to these people who are trying to help you and SLOW DOWN. Take a breathe and relax.

1. Cancel Meps

2. Take care of your citizenship issues

3. Finish your BSN

4. Then apply. and Ask for Student loan repayment and signon bonus.

Best of luck,

cb :)

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Hello maybe somebody can help how to start to become a navy nurse? But I have big problem, I know that one of their requirement is being a US citizen and I have other citizenship. Is there any other way I could join this area. Thanks.

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