Nurse Deployments

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In this episode I talk about types of deployments for nurses in the Navy. There are a plethora of types of deployments nurses can be a part of. Here, I discuss the most common.
Sorry for the wind in the background! I was exploring and found a beach and castle ruins.
Created with Wondershare Filmora
Filmed at Gushikawa Castle, Okinawa
Thank you for watching and supporting me!

[@sallysherwood2201]

Thank you so much for these super informative videos!

[@sandyyang870]

I’ve been watching your videos and finally contacted the recruiter yesterday. I’ll be meeting with her soon and work on the application process!

[@nathanmikewinchesterchevri370]

Hey I was it? Are u in the navy now?

[@SoFlaChile]

My recruiter shared with me that the Navy is accepting new grads! I finish school in December, I can't wait to join! The only issue is I don't know how to tell my mom I plan to join the military. I'm her youngest son she's very overprotective of me.

[@itsestelarojas4713]

SoFlaChile6493 Congratulations! My mother did not want me to join either. However, she saw all of the opportunities and awesome experiences the military gave me and she is proud of me now.

[@AC-xb2nq]

What if we don’t want to deploy or at least don’t want to deploy that often? Would we have any choice in that or no? As in, if we are just interested in working as a nurse on a hospital ship or something like that

[@itsestelarojas4713]

A C You will primarily be working in a hospital or clinic. You will always be “at risk” of deploying because you would be in the military. You will not deploy often as a nurse unless you actively seek out operational billets.

[@emullen93]

Do you have any experience with or know anyone who has gotten the opportunity to deploy as a reservist into one of the combat support medical billets? I have ED/Trauma/CTICU experience and should be commissioning into the reserves this year and would love he opportunity to go lead a fleet surgical team or deploy into Afghanistan

[@kimk780]

If we go through the NCP will they be choosing our nursing job like OR nurse or ICU? This would be coming fresh out of a BSN without actual nursing experience.

[@itsestelarojas4713]

Kim Kane Yiu will mostly likely start in a med-surg unit if you don’t have nursing experience. Specialties like the OR and ICU require more training and experience.

[@lucastsanotelis361]

Do you know how likely it is to get deployed overseas/to combat area as an icu nurse in the navy reserves? I am in the process of applying to ODS as a civilian nurse and understand there is the chance of this happening but if I wanted to stay stateside for mobilization do I have say over that? Also, do you know the typical length of deployment for a nurse in the reserves?

[@itsestelarojas4713]

Lucas Tsanotelis It is very likely you can get deployed as an ICU nurse in the reserves. You do have a say to a certain extent. It is all dependent on your situation. Overall though, if you join the military, just expect to deploy because that is part of our mission. Deployments are usually 7-9 months.

[@Chararzard]

Hello, I am an Emergency Room Nurse with a BSN here in Michigan with 4 years of experience and I am interested in the military. I am adrenaline junkie and was wondering if I would enjoy deploying/ get to see and take care of a good amount of trauma cases? Thank you!

[@itsestelarojas4713]

Ahmad Charara You sound like you are perfect for the military! As far as deployments, just let your chain of command know you are interested in deploying so when opportunities arise, everyone is aware of your desire to deploy. As far as trauma in the naval hospitals, it is hit or miss. I will say you are probably not going to get a lot of gun shot wounds and blast injuries while you’re stationed at the naval hospitals because the acuity tends to be lower than our civilian counterparts.

[@kylefitzgerald8277]

Do you get to decide your specialty as a nurse in the navy? I am entering my junior year of nursing school and want to be a navy nurse. I work as an EMT and love emergency medicine. Can I request to be an ER nurse? If so how do they decide who gets what specialty?

[@itsestelarojas4713]

Kyle Fitzgerald You can decide your specialty but you may have to wait depending on what billets/positions are open at the time. If you already have ER experience as an RN before you get in the Navy, it is highly likely you will be billeted as an ER nurse to start with. If you join without any nursing experience, you may have to do MedSurg first before transferring to the ER.

[@AustinFroob]

What does your husband do? My girlfriend is thinking about joining the Navy as a nurse and I wanted to travel with her. Any info about non-married couples traveling together when one is in the Navy?

[@itsestelarojas4713]

Hello and great question! My husband works for MCCS-Marine Corps Community Services. It can be difficult with non-married couples in the Navy. Your girlfriend will not get paid dependent pay (higher pay for family members) if you are not married. It can be difficult for you to find a job every time you guys have to move. If you stay in the U.S. it is a little easier. Moving overseas is a lot more difficult. Many places require you to be married for you to even be eligible for a job.

[@emstan4225]

Do you get to pick your assignment/where you go in the world and your job after ODS? Or is it assigned to you?

[@itsestelarojas4713]

Em Stan You get to pick to a certain extent. You can pick from what is available at the time you graduate from ODS depending on where in the world the Navy needs you.

[@furanjipani2418]

@@itsestelarojas4713 So we don't pick out top picks during the application process? That's after ODS? Also, is there a list available where we can know what bases nurses can go to (stateside and overseas) based on specialities?

[@itsestelarojas4713]

Furan Jipani You will most likely know where you are going to get stationed before you graduate ODS. Your orders to wherever you are going are made based on where the Navy needs nurses at the time of your graduation from ODS.

[@gilbertvinzon3017]

Can NP’s get attached with marine unit?

[@itsestelarojas4713]

At this point, NP's do not get attached to Marine units, only MD's and PA's do. However, every update that I have listened to regarding the NP community this year has talked about making billets within marine corps units open to NP's. I would not be surprised if NP's serve with marine units in the future.

[@mattdekelaita6212]

Can you pick to stay stateside or overseas?

[@itsestelarojas4713]

Yes, but it is dependent on what duty stations are available at the time you are negotiating for orders. I will say, the detailers try to work with you based on the needs of the Navy, your career aspirations, where you want to go, and what is best for you and your family.

[@mattdekelaita6212]

Thanks so much. What kind of missions would you go on if you are attached to a marine Unit?

[@itsestelarojas4713]

@@mattdekelaita6212 Some examples are: deployments to Afgahnistan or other war-torn countries where you will work in a hospital or battalion aid station, humanitarian aid missions, and you could also be attached to a Marine Expeditionary Unit where you will spend time on a ship and help out with the medical unit.

[@RayBoomBoomRoom]

What is the likely hood of you deploy within the first year to your 3rd year?

[@itsestelarojas4713]

Nurse Brandon Very likely if you are a critical care nurse. Less likely if you’re not.