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

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

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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

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

8. 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

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

10. 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

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

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

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

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

21. Further Navy info LCDR Derrick LeBeau (224) 280-2490

22. VA/federal jobs