What's the best way to join the Navy nursing program????

nkslats79 · Dec 27, 2008

I appreciate all the information. The Navy's Recruit Training Center (boot camp) and schooling is in North Chicago. I was hoping to get stationed there one day since my family lives there now. But I will definitely have to look into the Air Force if there repayment plans are so much more.

FroEJ25 · Dec 27, 2008

Whoops- yeah, forgot about that base (http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/facility/great-lakes.htm). Still, according to that link they only have 403 civilian and 198 military personnel (which seems awfully low for having 15,000 recruits on base at a time; maybe the hospital staff is separate?). I would be curious regarding how many of the nursing duties are handled by civilian nurses. I would also suspect that a lot of the nurses are assigned duties like administering vaccinations and handling clinic-type stuff, but I really don't know (that may be handled by corpsmen?); perhaps someone who has been there would have a better idea. I see in Google that there is a Naval Hospital and VA Center co-located with the base; maybe they do have full facilities. I also see that this is the base they train corpsman at, maybe the nurses have a role there too... On the plus side, it looks like the base's future is pretty secure, so if you did eventually get stationed there you could probably plan on retiring from it, not having to move during a base realignment.

Huh- may be more there than I thought (http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/news/2003/04/mil-030404-nns01.htm), (http://www.globalsecurity.org/security/library/news/2005/09/sec-050905-nns02.htm), (http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/news/2008/02/mil-080229-nns04.htm). But it also sounds like they are consolidating some elements to other bases. Interesting...

sassysoldier · Dec 29, 2008

I really hadn't looked at the Army programs (my dad and brother were both Marines, so I was planning on Navy if anything), but if you have a lot of school loan debt they may be the way to go. Up to $114,000 they claim- seems like a lot to me, compared to the Navy maxing out at $34,000 (plus a $20,000 sign on bonus, maybe?)- but if accurate, wow... Of course, it sounds like the loan repayment is taxed as income which could be problematic; the most it could pay off is around 3/4 of your loans. Still substantial, but not as great as it would seem. I also would like to know exactly what constitutes "qualified loans", presumably that is anything taken out through the school, not other debt such as credit card debt etc. My concern would be that they would only pay off debt directly for school, i.e. tuition, books, fees etc., and not debt that was gained while in school but not directly for school (i.e., room and board). Always read the fine print...
If you want to stay in the Great Lakes area, you may be better off in a service other than the Navy. To the best of my knowledge, there are no major Navy facilities on any of the Great Lakes- most of our security is handled by the Coast Guard, which doesn't have the same infrastructure demands of the Navy. Army or Air Force are more likely to keep you in this vicinity (Upper Midwest); other things I have read on this forum seem to indicate Navy service will begin in Portsmouth (Virginia), Bethedsa (Maryland), or some west coast hospital whose name escapes me at the moment.

The navy is paying more thatn 35,000 back in student loans. Believe me I have researched that because I have more than that in loans. They are up to $120,000 for health care professionals. http://www.navy.com/careers/healthcare/physicians/

ginnieann · Dec 29, 2008

I am 30 year old married, mother of three. I have been working as a CNA for a year now, and would like to go to school to get into ob/gyn nursing. I am thinking of the Navy because the retirement benefits are great, housing/healthcare is good, and I'd have a career path. Also, I live near Great Lakes and would like to one day be stationed there one day. But I have some questions as to the route to take.
#1- Do I have to get my BSN first (I haven't attended college before) or get a 2 year Rn license or is there another option?
#2- If I have to wait until I graduate at 35, would that be too late to join as an officer?
#3- Is there any option now for me so I can get help with costs? Tuition is expensive and having three kids is kind of impossible to pay for college (I was denied fafsa because of my credit)?
Thank you for all your help. I have called recruiters, but have not heard anything back yet, and the information they sent me in the mail is going enlisted which I don't want to do.
:icon_roll

Hey there, I am also 30, and a CNA, starting an ADN program Jan 5 09. So we are kind of in the same boat. I have researched this subject a lot, so here is my two cents on your questions.

1. You must have a BSN to get into the Navy (active and reserve) as a nurse. Army and Air reserves, I think will take you with and ADN, but you max out at O2 or O3, until you get the BSN. (don't quote me on that though, I havent researched anything but NAvy)

2. The Navy will take you up until 42 without a waiver. But, you have to remain 42 until you finish the 5 week training in Rhode Island.

3. Are you applying for student loans at a private university? I know for fact, by looking at my credit report and by a financial aid workshop at my school, that FAFSA loans (stafford) do not check your credit. My guess is that they are looking at private loans for you, with that thought, I will say that I am almost 100% certain that loan forgiveness offered by the federal government (for military, critical need teaching etc) will not forgive private loans, only the Stafford or any other that are guaranteed by the government. I might be wrong, but I don't think so.

IF you are looking at a private school for your ADN, please reconsider public universities or community college. I chose the ADN program here at a CC, because they turn out better clinically trained nurses. Our two BSn programs focus more on the theory of nursing. My nurse manager told me that, she hires almost exclusively from the ADN program, and I work for a major hospital with a worldwide reputation, think Johns Hopkins or Cleveland Clinic or Mayo. We have other programs here from private universities, but they are so expensive compared to public universities. My total tuition and books for 4 semesters at the CC here will be around $4500. Stafford loans more than cover that, since you can borrow about 10k each year. BUT, a good thing about reputable private schools is that they will find "free" money for you. I have a bachelors in another area from Jacksonville University. All I had to do was show up for class, they found everything for me, and all I did was take out $5500 in stafford loans. THats it. And no, I didn't have the best GPA, from being a partying transfer student. If you go to a private university that is a university, as opposed to a diploma mill (a university would be one that functions as a college, has sports teams, dorms, greek life, clubs etc.) you will probably find that they will do more for you to attend with little to no out of pocket, as opposed to someone who just wants a body in their classes)

My plan for my BSN is to take online classes (rn to BSN) at FSU. Jacksonville University (www.ju.edu) also offers an online program, once you finish your RN.( I mention that one because you are not a FLoridian, so FSU would be just as expensive as JU) There are a lot of public universities that offer that online RN to BSN option.

Next, call your recruiter and ask to speak to a medical officer recruiter only. Don't even bother talking to an enlisted recruiter, they will talk you into becoming a corpsman first. Don't Do it.

I hate to be a downer, but I am pretty sure the Navy takes into consideration, your credit, especially for becoming an officer. My grandfather was a master chief (E9) and he always had to be on his guys about their bill payment. That's why finance places are usually happy to give the military loans, they know all they have to do is call their chief, and hte bill will get paid.

I woudl think that the hospitals at the training facilities at Great Lakes, would have little to no need for OB GYN Nursing. I found a site not too long ago that listed the 8 facilities that you would have to chose from for your first assignment. The large ones being in Bethesda, Norfolk, and San Diego. The medium ones were NAS Jacksonville FL, Camp Le Jeune NC, and NAS Pensacola FL. The rest I don't remember.

just_cause, BSN, RN · Dec 30, 2008

alibi to previous poster - Army reserve is the only military entrance for those holding an ADN....

v/r

sassysoldier · Dec 30, 2008

i don't remember anything about checking my credit for the navy. They have my social but I don't remember consenting or providing information for that. I have average credit. ????? You do have to do that long security clearance.

nkslats79 · Dec 30, 2008

I have only heard that the Navy checks your credit from people online. My husband doesn't remember the Navy checking his credit ten years when he went in, but that was so long ago maybe things have changed. Either way, I figure I can start cleaning up my credit slowly and by the time I graduate it should be all clear.

Secondly, After I finish the ADN program, can I take the NCLEX and start working as an RN part time while hopefully in NCS? Remember I still have a family of 5 to support.

Thanks for all the information. It's been so helpful, and I love that everyone has similar interests on here as opposed to some of the recruiters that have finally called me back.

Nora

just_cause, BSN, RN · Dec 30, 2008

The comment about 'credit' is related to the security clearance packet which you submit. The key point is to ensure someone isn't a candidate likely to need money so bad to do wrong - etc. I wouldn't worry about having a less then ideal credit score or loans etc unless it were rather extreme circumstances compared to the rest of 'normal' people.v/r

sassysoldier · Dec 31, 2008

The comment about 'credit' is related to the security clearance packet which you submit. The key point is to ensure someone isn't a candidate likely to need money so bad to do wrong - etc. I wouldn't worry about having a less then ideal credit score or loans etc unless it were rather extreme circumstances compared to the rest of 'normal' people.v/r

I didn't even realize they were looking at my credit when I did the security clearance. Wow:nono: . Well I guess that is over with because I passed the security clearance. Hmm. :rolleyes:

forchunet, BSN · Jan 3, 2009

If considering the Nurse Candidate Program make sure you realize that you will be taxed for whatever money you receive. Currently I am making about $940 a month and my supposedly $10k bonus will only be $7K once Im taxed at the 28% bracket.

Maybe I'll get some back during income tax time though.

Just a heads up. I budgeted to have $10k and Im a little short now after receiving my bonus.

just_cause, BSN, RN · Jan 3, 2009

I'm not sure why everyone is surprised that you are taxed on income....

hot chocolate · Jan 4, 2009

It's suprising that you're taxed on the bonus because they present it as an allowance, not as an enlistment bonus as it actually is.