Naval Nurse (Qualified)

Once you’ve confirmed your eligibility, the joining process is as follows:

• Submit an application

  Once you’ve registered your interest and have satisfied the basic eligibility criteria, you will be sent an online application form

• Defence Aptitude Assessment (DAA)

  You’ll be tested on general reasoning, verbal ability, numeracy and mechanical comprehension

• Interview

  A formal interview to talk through your suitability for the role 

• Naval Nurse Assessment Board

  A 1-day specialist interview in Portsmouth that consists of a 10 minute clinical presentation, a team task and a competency-based interview with the Nurse Education Advisor and Specialist Medical Recruitment Team. These take place anytime throughout the year, subject to requirement.

• Candidate Preparation Course (CPC)

  This is a four-day induction to life in the Royal Navy, which is a pass or fail course. This will include:  
  
  - Pre-Joining fitness test  
  - Swimming test  
  - Medical test  

• Start training

  Once you’ve passed a Security Check, you’ll be offered a place at HMS Raleigh

Your Royal Navy career begins with 10 weeks’ basic training at HMS Raleigh, a shore base in Torpoint, Cornwall. The discipline, teamwork, organisational, firefighting and weapon handling skills you learn here will stay with you right through your career.

Aim to get yourself as fit as possible before you arrive. You’ll be doing a lot of physical exercise, and you’ll find it much easier if you’re already in shape.

There's also a swimming test, so if you can't swim, make sure you learn by the time you join us.

After you’ve passed out from HMS Raleigh, you’ll complete a Transition to Military Practice course at DMS Whittington before joining one of the Joint Hospital Group Units in Plymouth, Portsmouth or Birmingham.

You’ll complete your preceptorship programme, start signing off your Defence Operational Nursing Competencies and start the 2 year foundation programme. This will give you the opportunity to rotate between acute medical and surgical wards as well as gaining experience in specialist areas including Critical Care, the emergency department or burns and plastics.