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Military Registered Nurses

Military Career

General Information

Description

Registered nurses are licensed professionals who provide medical care to service members and their families. The work of a registered nurse in the Military may range from providing routine medical care to caring for the wounded or assisting in disaster relief.

Explore this career outside the military

Work Environment

Registered nurses work in hospitals and clinics. Some work in sick bays aboard ships or in mobile field hospitals. Others work in airplanes that transfer patients to medical centers.

Workplace at a Glance

What you can expect to experience while on the job

  • Responsibility
  • Exposure to job hazards
  • Physical activity
  • Decision making
  • Repetitiveness
  • Level of competition
  • Time pressure

Comparable Industries

  • Health Science

Related Military Careers

No Information for this section

Military Outlook

Service Branches

Jobs in this career field may be available in other service branches. Call or email a particular branch for more info.

Military Status

  • Officer
    • Managerial/professional
    • College degree required

Military Workforce

Registered Nurses in the Military

23,391

No Information for this section

Salary

Average Salary

$63,767

What makes up a military salary?

Military salaries include a lot more than just base pay.

They also offer:

  • Housing allowances
  • Subsistence allowances
  • Special and incentive pays
  • Cost-of-living allowances
  • Hazardous-duty pay
  • Bonuses

Learn more about what goes into a salary with the compensation estimator

Learn more about military insurance and retirement benefits

No Information for this section

Education

Most Common Education Levels

People in this career achieve this level of education.

  • Bachelor's degree 55%
  • Post-secondary certificate 22%
  • Associate's degree 19%
  • Master's degree 1%
  • High school 0%
  • Some college 0%
  • Doctoral degree 0%
  • Post baccalaureate 0%
  • Less than high school 0%
  • Post-doctoral training 0%
  • Post-master's certificate 0%
  • First professional degree 0%

Military training

Officers typically enter the Military after they have completed a four-year college degree; enlisted service members can transition to officer positions through a variety of pathways and earn a degree while serving. Job training for registered nurses primarily consists of classroom instruction, conferences, demonstrations, and on-the-job learning in various training environments. Training length varies depending on specialty. Like other officers working in healthcare, they complete a comprehensive training program covering responsibilities, orientation to military structure, healthcare and etiquette, traditions, and leadership development. Job-specific training content may include: Practices and principles of military nursingCare of emotionally-disturbed patientsHealthcare for childrenNursing techniquesAnesthesia, respiratory therapy, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation

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Military training

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Officers typically enter the Military after they have completed a four-year college degree; enlisted service members can transition to officer positions through a variety of pathways and earn a degree while serving. Job training for registered nurses primarily consists of classroom instruction, conferences, demonstrations, and on-the-job learning in various training environments. Training length varies depending on specialty. Like other officers working in healthcare, they complete a comprehensive training program covering responsibilities, orientation to military structure, healthcare and etiquette, traditions, and leadership development. Job-specific training content may include:

  • Practices and principles of military nursing
  • Care of emotionally-disturbed patients
  • Healthcare for children
  • Nursing techniques
  • Anesthesia, respiratory therapy, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation

Related College Majors

Select major to see colleges that offer it

Knowledge

  • Psychology
  • Customer and Personal Service
  • Medicine and Dentistry
  • Administrative
  • English Language

Skills at a Glance

Skills helpful in this career

  • Verbal skills
  • Critical thinking & problem solving
  • Equipment operation & maintenance
  • Math & science skills
  • Technology design & control
  • Leadership
No Information for this section

Data supplied by Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Center of Education Statistics, Defense Manpower Data Center (View our update schedule). Contact any business, college or military service branch to answer additional questions.