What's it like being a Navy Nurse?

[TopazLPN]

What's it like being a Navy Nurse?

How much control do you have over your work schedule? How many shifts a week/month do you work? 12 hour shifts only? Do you alternate between night and day shifts? Is your pay hourly or salary? Do you have to work overtime or on-call? How much down-time do you have as a Navy nurse?

How long are you stationed in one place/what is a typical length of tour/billet? When do you get to travel overseas? Does the work compare to civilian jobs or are you a vaccination machine?

What kind of opportunities to advance your career do you have?

Can you change units or specialties? How competitive is it to become a critical care Navy nurse? Will the Navy pay for you to get your Masters as an NP or a CRNA?

As a new nurse entering the Navy, what kind of additional support/mentoring/training will be available to me while I am still new and learning? Are new nurses welcomed by other navy nurses?

[GFzalez, BSN, RN]

Thanks for the info. Do you have any idea how many slots are open for NPs/competitiveness for these positions. I assume there are much fewer positions then there are for staff nurses and I know right now staff nurse positions are already very competitive. I just would like to know how that selection is brought about. Thank you so much!

[futurernjap]

Hey! I was hoping someone would renew this thread! I'm currently getting ready to start my ADN program this summer and was interested going the army/military/af/navy nurse route. I'm a 21 year old male and will be 23 when my program finishes so I know I'll qualify for te 20 year retirement requirement. Does they accept adn grads? I know the VA DOES (which is my eventual career goal to work at). Also does sexual orientation play into effect? I've heard of the army and other agencies not being to keen on gay people.

[USN.HM, RN]

Another great reason to become a Navy Nurse is receiving the chance to work with passionate Navy Hospital Corspman. These individuals are very hard working and eager to learn. You will never find a better team to work with than Navy medicine.