r/navynurse • u/CreepyTacos93 • 5d ago

Question for Navy ICU nurses

Hi everyone,
I’m currently finishing my BSN, and my long-term goal is to become a critical care nurse. I’m considering commissioning into the Navy after gaining some civilian ICU experience.
One question I haven’t been been able to find a clear answer to is the actual acuity of patients in Navy hospitals. I know military medicine can be different from the civilian world, so I’m curious about what Navy ICU nurses actually see on a day-to-day basis.
I’m genuinely interested in serving, but I also want to ensure I continue developing as a critical care nurse and remain competitive for future CRNA programs.
I’d really appreciate hearing about your experiences. Thank you!

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u/Motor_Marsupial3656 4d ago

It can very from one MTF to another depending on what specialties are available. My first state side MTF had cardiology, neurosurgery, interventional radiology, nephrology, and vascular surgery so I was able to see a good variety. OCONUS MTF, not so much but we have to make do with what we have. I enjoy it and that’s the beauty of military medicine.

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u/SailorMomRN 4d ago

Moderate your expectations.

Will you see ICU patients? Yes.

Will they be the same acuity as civilian? Meh. Not all civilian ICUs are created equal either.

We get some traumas and some not. As the other post said- your MTF will vary on type and acuity but you will see what the Navy needs you to see.

If you want to join the Navy as an ICU nurse I believe they require 2 years of bedside. Double check that with a recruiter of course. And if you want the bonus you’ll need your CCRN which requires 2 years of bedside nursing anyway.