Registered Nurse

Navy Nurse Corps Officer

Many nurses find the joy of serving others to be incredibly rewarding. This is especially true in the Navy Nurse Corps. When you work to improve the lives of others, you can vastly improve your own as well – both professionally and personally. As a Navy Nurse, you will serve your country by helping not only those in the military, but also their families and people in need around the globe.

Excellent scholarship opportunities mean you have the potential to graduate from nursing school debt‑free, and specialty training opportunities can give you a competitive edge in your field.

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Responsibilities

As an Officer in the Nurse Corps, you'll provide high‑quality nursing care wherever there's a need, from Navy medical facilities and ships to humanitarian aid missions overseas. You'll work closely with other health providers to carry out job responsibilities such as:

• Providing general nursing care for Sailors, Marines, other service members and their families at the best military nursing facilities on shore, at sea and in the field
• Collabor with Physicians, Surgeons, Cardiologists and other specialists to create and administer treatment plans
• Directing and instructing Hospital Corpsmen on how to provide quality patient care
• Applying leading‑edge medical advances at world‑class hospitals
• Utilizing some of the most advanced technology on the planet, such as Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), which can lead to less paperwork and more meaningful patient care
• Assisting with global relief efforts such as distributing vaccines or providing emergency care to victims of natural disasters

Work Environment

Nurse Corps Officers may serve at any one of more than 250 Navy and medical facilities around the globe, from Hawaii to Japan, Germany to Guam, and Washington, D.C., to Washington state. As a Navy Nurse, you may work at one of the highly acclaimed National Naval Medical Centers in Bethesda, MD, Portsmouth, VA, or San Diego, CA. You might even provide medical support aboard one of two dedicated hospital ships – the USNS Comfort and USNS Mercy.

Additional opportunities are available on surface ships, with aircraft squadrons, or even with the Fleet Marine Force.

Training & Advancement

Upon commissioning, Nurses who are new to the Navy are required to attend Officer Development School (ODS) in Newport, RI. ODS is a five‑week program designed to introduce you to Navy culture. Nurses commissioned through a school ROTC program may not need to attend ODS.

Officer training is complete, you will learn the ins and outs of life as a Navy Nurse before receiving your first posting. Promotion opportunities are regularly available but competitive and based on performance.

Specialization Fields Nurse Anesthetists

• Administer general and regional anesthesia, monitor patients receiving anesthesia, and assist in instructing medical trainees and other Officers

Primary Care Nurse Practitioners

• Provide comprehensive health care and health maintenance for service members and their families

Medical‑Surgical Nurses

• Assess, plan and implement direct nursing care of patients on an assigned unit, and assume charge nurse responsibilities

Perioperative Nurses

• Plan, implement and evaluate nursing care of surgery patients

Critical Care Nurses

• Provide highly skilled, specialized nursing care to critical patients, including en route care, and train personnel in critical care nursing procedures

Mental Health Nurses and Nurse Practitioners – Provide direct patient care in mental health services, and lead and train other military and civilian personnel

Military‑Specific Specializations

• Education and training, manpower systems analysis, and nursing research

Post‑Service Opportunities

Specialized training received and work experience gained in the course of service can lead to valuable credentialing and occupational opportunities in the medical field.

Education Opportunities

Wherever you are in your nursing career, the Navy can help ease your financial burdens and advance your career with generous financial assistance and continuing education programs. Available offers consist of scholarships,…