How to Become a Navy Nurse

Stepping into the role of a Navy nurse means joining an elite team of healthcare professionals who deliver care on ships, in military hospitals, and on humanitarian missions around the world. You’ll gain access to advanced training, cutting-edge medical technology, and opportunities to specialize in areas ranging from critical care to trauma nursing — all while developing leadership skills unmatched in the civilian world. Whether you’re drawn by the mission, the adventure, or the growth opportunities, a career in the Navy offers a path unlike any other.

Thinking about joining the United States Navy Nurse Corps? This article will guide you through everything you need to know — from completing the necessary education and meeting commissioning requirements to navigating the application process and preparing for life as a Navy officer.

What Is a Navy Nurse?

A Navy nurse is a registered nurse (RN) commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Navy. These specialists work alongside physicians, corpsmen, and other medical personnel to provide care to service members and their families — in peacetime, during deployments, or in humanitarian and disaster‑relief operations worldwide.

The U.S. Navy Nurse Corps is part of Navy Medicine, which is a specialized branch of the U.S. Navy dedicated to providing comprehensive medical care to service members, their families, and retirees. Together, Navy medical professionals preserve the naval force’s medical readiness, ensuring that service members remain fit, healthy, and able to perform their duties.

Where Do Navy Nurses Serve?

These nurses serve in some of the most diverse and dynamic healthcare environments in the world. Here are some examples:

• Shore‑based military hospitals and clinics
• Ships at sea, including aircraft carriers and surface ships
• Forward‑deployed bases
• Combat zones
• Field hospitals
• Hospital ships

They may also work closely with other military services, such as the Army and Air Force, and support those services during joint operations.

Interesting fact: As a naval nurse, you’ll play a key role in keeping the pilots who operate from aircraft carriers (Naval Aviators) and service members in the Marine Corps (also part of the Navy) healthy and ready for their demanding missions.

Navy Nursing: Types and Specialties

When you join the Navy, you become a Nurse Corps Officer (290X). Officers get the chance to specialize in areas where their skills are most needed. Specialty designations include:

• Nurse anesthetists
• Primary care nurse practitioners
• Medical-surgical nurses
• Perioperative nurses
• Critical care nurses
• Mental health nurses and nurse practitioners
• Military-specific specializations, including nursing research, training, and manpower systems analysis

How to Become a Nurse in the Navy

If you’re wondering how to join the Navy as a nurse, the path includes several key steps including schooling, licensing, and commissioning as an officer. The following guide breaks down each step so you know exactly what to expect.

1. Review Navy Nurse Requirements

The first step is to familiarize yourself with the basic requirements for serving in the Navy. These foundational qualifications must be met before you can move forward with your application:

• Age: 18–41 years old (age waivers may apply in certain cases)
• Citizenship: U.S. citizen (required for commissioning)
• Education: Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from an accredited college or university
• Licensure: Currently licensed and practicing as a nurse in the U.S. (new graduates must obtain a license within one year of beginning Active Duty)
• Time commitment: Willingness to serve for a minimum period, typically 3 years Active Duty
• Physical fitness: Must be in good physical condition and able to pass a full medical examination

General qualifications can differ depending on your military background — whether you have previously served or have never served in the armed forces.

2. Get a Nursing Degree

The next step in your journey is earning a BSN degree from an accredited institution. This four-year program combines classroom instruction — covering fundamentals such as medical pharmacology, health assessment, and pathophysiology — with hands-on clinical rotations in hospitals. Many programs also provide practical experience in simulation labs. A BSN is the minimum educational requirement to qualify for joining the U.S. Navy.

Tip: If you’re a licensed practical nurse (LPN) or an RN with an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN), consider enrolling in bridge programs such as LPN-to-RN or RN-to-BSN to meet the Navy’s educational requirements.

3. Obtain Nursing Licensure

Once you’ve earned your BSN, the next essential step is to obtain your RN license. This requires successfully passing the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) and submitting an application for initial licensure with your state board of nursing.

Interesting fact: You might be wondering if Navy nurses need a compact license. Federal law allows them to provide care anywhere in the U.S. with an active RN license in any state. This rule applies only to federal service. When working in civilian hospitals or clinics, nurses must meet the licensing requirements of that specific state.

4. Gain Nursing Experience in Relevant Specialty

Gaining experience in relevant nursing specialties can help you prepare for the fast-paced, dynamic environment of military nursing. This experience can also increase your chances of being assigned to a specific specialty, though Navy assignments are primarily based on operational needs rather than personal preference.

Some specialties that can help you build relevant skills include:

• Critical care
• Emergency room
• Flight nursing
• ICU nursing
• Medical-surgical nursing
• Perioperative nursing
• Psychiatric nursing
• Trauma nursing

5. Submit Your Application

Your next move is to speak with a recruiter from the Navy, who will guide you through the application process. This includes submitting personal and professional documentation, such as transcripts, proof of licensure, and any prior military records. You will also complete background checks, interviews, and medical evaluations at a Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) to assess your suitability for service.

Interesting fact: In the U.S. Navy, nurses are commissioned as officers (typically Ensign, O-1, for new graduates), just like physicians and other healthcare professionals in Navy Medicine. This structure promotes professionalism and teamwork within medical units, as nurses, physicians, and other healthcare personnel work together as peers in leadership and clinical roles.

6. Attend Training School

Once your application is approved, you’ll be commissioned as an officer and attend Officer Development School (ODS). This training program provides an introduction to Navy life, leadership principles, military customs, and officer responsibilities.

You’ll complete your training at Naval Station Newport, in Rhode Island, in a rigorous five-week course designed to equip you for the dual responsibilities of being a nurse and a commissioned officer in the Navy.

Here’s the core curriculum of the academic training you’ll receive:

• Naval leadership
• Naval administration and organization
• Sea power and naval warfare
• Military law and indoctrination

Here’s a glimpse at a military training portion of ODS you’ll go through:

• Physical training
• Room and personnel inspections
• Drill
• Navy third class swimmer qualification
• Shipboard damage control

To graduate from ODS, you are required to:

• Complete the intensive 5-week ODS program
• Meet Navy physical fitness standards
• Pass the Navy third class swimmer qualification
• Successfully perform wet trainer and firefighting damage control exercises
• Pass the Navy Officership exam

After ODS, many new Navy nurses begin with a Nurse Residency Program — a transitional training/mentorship phase in a hospital setting.

How Much Do Nurses in the Navy Make?

Your Navy nurse salary depends on your rank and years of service. Most nurses begin their careers as Ensign (O-1), earning a base pay of approximately $49,944 per year. By the fifth year, base pay can grow to $95,004, with higher ranks offering even greater pay.

In addition to base salary, nurses in the Navy enjoy comprehensive benefits, which include:

• Education and tuition assistance programs
• Health and life insurance
• Retirement benefits
• Housing and food allowances
• Travel opportunities
• Access to career-bossing training opportunities

Keep in mind that your salary will also vary greatly whether you serve in an active duty or reserve position.

Navy Nursing: FAQ

What is the Navy nurse candidate program (NCP)?

The NCP offers full-time BSN students a monthly stipend which may also include an initial grant ($16,000 for a one-year agreement or $20,000 for two years), with $1,000 per month for up to 24 months. After earning their degree, students commission as Navy officers.

Where are Navy nurses typically stationed?

Navy Officers can serve at more than 250 Navy and medical facilities worldwide, including Hawaii, Guam, Germany, and Japan.

Possible assignments include:

• National Naval Medical Centers in Bethesda, MD; Portsmouth, VA; and San Diego, CA
• Hospital ships, including the USNS Comfort and USNS Mercy
• Shore-based clinics and hospitals across the U.S. and overseas
• Surface ships with aircraft squadrons
• Fleet Marine Force

Prepare for Your Navy Nurse Journey

Looking to gain real-world nursing experience before joining the Navy? IntelyCare helps you find quality nursing jobs tailored to your unique goals — and sends you alerts when the opportunities you’re seeking become available.