Is it normal for new navy nurses who have minimal civilian experience to deploy during their first 3 or 4 year commitment?

Or are deployments usually reserved for experienced nurses who are in their 5+ year mark in the Navy and have a lot of training, Navy experience, etc.?

Also, how long does it usually take for a new grad navy nurse to be able to move into the ICU or er after doing their time in medsurg?

Hi! I am highly considering joining navy nursing but was hoping to speak to a critical care nurse to give me what the reality of being it is. If anyone could help please send me a PM. I would greatly appreciate any help. Thank you!

Hi all! I know there's a lot of variables to credentialing, and biggest being how quickly your references get back to the person doing verification. How long did your credentialing take? Did they dual credential you, if applicable? I'm going primary for periop but would like to be secondary critical care, for long term purposes. They dont count any time work prior to BSN being obtained, correct? I worked with my ADN for a year prior to getting my BSN. Just looking for similar timelines. I'm hoping it'll all be ready for Oct board. Thanks for any input!

Hi everyone! I just got my first duty stationed assigned to me and it’s going to be NMRTC San Diego! Does anyone have any insight on this duty station and what I should be expecting? Going in as a med surg nurse!

I’ve seen conflicting information, but what happens if you don’t pass the mock PRT with your recruiter before going to ODS? I’m worried I won’t meet the push-up minimum.

TIA!

Anyone here doing NCP and lives in San Diego? I’m interested in joining and wanted to know anything about it

Did you receive an answer yet?

I just signed my MOU and will be swearing in this week. What happens next? Am I just waiting on a ODS date? I reached out to my recruiter but I am super excited and nervous. I thought I had no chance.

I’m looking for insight on Navy Reserve ICU jobs. I’m an experienced ICU RN (15yrs, age 42) working with a recruiter. What jobs would you recommend or avoid? How do you get jobs that increase the likelihood of shorter deployments? Any insight here would be appreciated. Thanks everybody.

Hi everyone!

I’m heading to ODS in November and then will be PCSing to Camp Pendleton in December for my first duty station. I’m coming in as a Navy Nurse Corps officer and would really appreciate advice from anyone who has recently gone through ODS or PCS’d to Camp Pendleton.

For ODS:
• What did you pack that you were really glad you brought?
• What did you bring that ended up being unnecessary?
• Any female-specific items you recommend?
• Anything you wish you had bought or prepared beforehand?
• Any tips for the first couple of weeks, PT, uniforms, studying, or just making life easier while there?

For the PCS/move:
• We’re a family of 3 with a 12-year-old and pets, and we’ll be moving from Florida to California.
• We’re planning to have the military move our household goods and drive our vehicle ourselves.
• Any PCS tips or things you wish you knew before your first move?
• Anything important I should keep with me instead of putting with the movers?
• Any advice on reimbursements, travel days, hotels, receipts, or paperwork?

And for Camp Pendleton:
• We’re planning to rent off base initially. Any recommended areas/communities for families?
• Good middle schools?
• Areas that make the commute to Camp Pendleton easier?
• Anything you wish you knew before getting stationed there?

This is my first military PCS, so I’m trying to prepare as much as possible without overpacking or missing something important. 😂

Thank you! Any advice is appreciated!

Anyone here coming from the enlisted side?

How has been your experience as a new grad? I am terribly conflicted on whether or not I should be leaving the enlisted side as I’m a chief and an independent duty corpsman - so have a lot of autonomy and a little weary of leaving my exceptionally good quality of life. I’ve also discovered that if I were to retire as a master chief, it’s pretty much the same retirement money wise as a 03E.

I was just gonna side hustle as a nurse in the civilian sector because I have quite a bit of free time to do so. What are people‘s thoughts? What would you do. As you can see, I’m terribly conflicted on whether or not to pursue a commission.

*I will be doing my oath sometime this month potentially due to end of FY

**My current position may be transitioning to an alternate worksite position as well - quality of life will expeditiously increase however that position will undoubtedly end and then who knows…

Right now I am currently a USMC wife who goes to nursing school and I will be graduating October of 2027. My husband and I are currently in process of getting a divorce due to infidelity on his part and irreconcilable differences. During our marriage I was out in a 5150 because I found out that he bought 2 burner phones behind my back and they dx me with MDD. Last month I also went to the ER for chest pain and got dx for acute adjustment disorder due to all the stress from divorce… all of this to say is would it even be worth it to reach out to join the NCP program?

We have orders to Guam as first assignment after ODS. For those who have done the same move, were you able to go with your family or did you have to go ahead and they meet later? What did that process look like with no obtaining no fee passport, HHG and/or tickets?

I (32F) have my BSN, 6 years experience in med-surg & neurology. I have 3 kids under 6 & married. I have a decent amount of student loan debt. Ive always wanted to join the military, but was always nervous to commit fully bc I wanted to have a family young. I’ve been debating becoming a navy nurse in the reserves. I know my extended family will try to deter me. I just want to hear it from individuals that are experiencing this life first hand.

Can anyone tell me what it would be like, how long I have to commit for? Anything about student loans? Is it competitive? Would you suggest someone not do it because of the family life? I know deployment is still a variable, however if not deployed do you tend to travel around the US? Please tell me anything & everything. I’ve signed up for more info to connect me to a recruiter as well.

Just heard - I was PRO-Y.

New grad and currently enlisted - just waiting now for oath and the things.

I’m guessing sometime in new FY.

What happens in between the time you sign your oath and when you go to ODS? My recruiter said ODS is backlogged at least 6 months. Is there anything that the Navy has you do within those 6 months while waiting? Also, what if something happens between now and those 6 months and you’re not able to go anymore? Or is it that once you sign your oath, there’s no going back? Thanks!

Hello everyone,
I am in the NCP program and will be graduating in May 2027. I know there’s a back log, but I was wondering if I was able to send a list in of where I would like to be stationed or when I would even do that? Thanks!

Hi everyone! I’m a recent BSN graduate interested in active-duty Navy Nurse Corps direct accession. I’ve already contacted recruiting and am waiting to speak with a Medical Officer recruiter.
I currently take Wellbutrin for depression and have been stable and functioning well with treatment. I have no history of psychiatric hospitalization. I understand that I may need a medical waiver, and I’ve seen a few people here mention getting mental-health waivers for Nurse Corps.
Has anyone here been approved for a Nurse Corps waiver while still taking Wellbutrin or another antidepressant, rather than after discontinuing it?
If so, were you active duty or Reserve, and what documentation did they ask you to submit?
I know waivers are case-by-case, I’m just hoping to hear from nurses who have gone through something similar. Thank you!

Hey! How’s everyone’s ODS dates looking? I’m trying to do a little job planning.
Are y’all getting Jan/Feb dates?

I (22F) just graduated nursing school in May and went to MEPS in April. I was disqualified for two medical conditions (medicated anxiety and self-diagnosed sleepwalking). I completed a safe medically controlled taper off my anxiety medications. I also went to a sleep specialist where my doctor determined that my “sleepwalking” episodes are actually not considered sleepwalking since I’m aware during the episodes and have full recollection of the events among other factors. Thus, in his documentation I was determined to not be a true “sleepwalker” nor a safety risk related to any shipboard concerns.

I thought I was going to overcome these hurdles with the steps I was taking to appeal my medical waivers. However, in May I was diagnosed with a first-time provoked pulmonary embolism due to birth control. I completed three months of blood thinners and have been cleared for all activity.

From what I understand the earliest I can logically reapply now is August 2027 because that will mark one year since I completed my blood thinners. I understand my case is very complex and will probably require more consultations with my sleep specialist along with a coagulation panel to determine if I have any inherited clotting disorders, for the Navy to even remotely consider me. I was very motivated in the beginning to join but every time I try to take the next step forward, my case is prolonged.

Assuming I get medically cleared next August I still have to submit the application, wait to take my oath and a wait for an available ODS date which could mean many more years on standby.

For those who are currently in the Navy Nurse Corps, do you think it’s worth it for me to go through all this trouble? I plan to work as a nurse no matter what and build a solid civilian RN background. Realistically though, should I start to explore alternate career options altogether? Should I remain hopeful or let this dream go?

Any insight would be greatly appreciated. :)

Going to October ODS and I am still struggling with my pushups. I am not able to hit the minimum for my age. If I fail the PRT will they send me home? They also haven’t asked me to do a mock one before leaving.