Military and VA nursing opportunities Wayne Overly Lieutenant Commander, Nurse Corps U.S. Navy (ret.) Clinical Nurse Specialist, Emergency Dept. VA San Diego Hospital

Military services with nurses Army Air Force Navy Coast Guard served by PHS (reserves, guard covered separately)

Average new grad RN salary in San Diego is $69,000

Benefits of military nursing Job security All nursing specialties Regular promotions, career progression to leadership Up to $15,000 annually for specialty certification pay Free medical and dental benefits for member/dependents Retirement VA benefits On-base shopping (exchange, commissary), gyms Military discounts (on and off base) Travel opportunities (moves paid for) Promotions at 2 and 4 years My health insurance for family of 4 costs $8K and dental another $1K, deductibles for every office visit and hospitalization

Benefits (cont’d) Housing assistance (provided or pay) VA home loan Continuing education (full pay and tuition) 30 days paid vacation annually 10 federal holidays annually Not a democracy

Pay rates $34,860 first year ($60,500 with extras) $62,000 ($91,000at 4 years) Sea pay, imminent danger pays $1893 San Diego monthly housing first year, $2163 at 4 years $246 substinence pay

Requirements U.S. citizen Age 20-34 (up to 47 for reserves) Pass physical fitness requirements

Navy Hospitals & clinics California - San Diego - Cp. Pendleton - 29 Palms - Lemoore Florida - Jacksonville - Pensacola Hawaii (clinic) Illinois (N. Chicago) Maryland - Walter Reed - Annapolis, Patuxent River clinics N. Carolina - Cp. Lejune - Cherry Point Rhode Island (clinic) S. Carolina - Beaufort - Charleston Texas (clinic Corpus Christi) Virginia Washington - Bremerton - Oak Harbor

Overseas Navy facilities Cuba Guam Japan, Okinawa Italy (Naples, Sigonella) Spain

Non-traditional assignments Teach at Hospital Corps school, FMSS, fleet hospital Shipboard (carrier, LHA/LHD, hospital ship) Fleet Marines Recruiting Corps school – dozen slots. 10 carriers, 2 LHA, 4 LHD: 1 OR, 1 ICU RN. FMF – half dozen

Drawbacks of military nursing Frequent moves May be called into harm’s way

Drawbacks of military nursing 84 hour work every 2 weeks No charge, overtime or holiday pay Cannot quit Big bureaucracy Not a democracy

VA careers Largest healthcare system in the U.S. 152 medical centers 1400 clinics, including Philippines, Guam, Samoa, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands Makes moving easier as good chance you will move to an area where you can continue VA employment

VA benefits Pay - $66,783, promotions every 2 years usually - Nurse 2, step 2 makes $90,702 - Double time for holidays, 1.5 for overtime - 10% extra for PM/nights, 25% for weekends - critical care pay, award pay Locality pay to maintain competitive pay

VA benefits medical, dental, life, TSP retirement (can buy back military service) 5 weeks leave, 104 hours sick leave annually loan repayment, NNEI veteran hiring preference

VA drawbacks No pediatrics Very little OB Must be citizen Bigger bureaucracy Veteran hiring preference No charge RN pay 80 hour work week

Further Navy info LCDR Derrick LeBeau (224) 280-2490 derrick.j.lebeau@navy.mil

VA/federal jobs www.usajobs.org