Naval Nurse (Student)

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: Verbal Reasoning, Numerical Reasoning, Work Rate, Spatial Reasoning, Electrical Comprehension and Mechanical Comprehension.
  To prepare, you can practise the DAA

• Interview

  A formal interview to talk through your suitability for the role

• Medical and eye tests

  These are quite comprehensive and must be completed by one of our Ministry of Defence-approved doctors

• Pre-Joining Fitness Test (PJFT)

  This involves completing a 2.4km run on a treadmill within a certain time, at a fitness centre near you

• Student Nurse Selection Board

  This is a 1 day board held every February in Portsmouth where you will deliver a 10-minute presentation on a clinical subject, take part in a team working exercise and sit a 30-40 minute interview with the Nurse Education Advisor and Specialist Medical Recruitment Team. 

• Royal Navy Acquaint Course (RNAC)

  This four-day induction to life in the Royal Navy is a pass or fail course

• Start training

  Once you’ve passed a Security Check, you’ll be offered a place at HMS Raleigh. University intakes are either September or January, depending on when you get your A-level results. You’ll start at HMS Raleigh 12-14 weeks before you’re due to join BCU.

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 done your Basic Training, you’ll study for your degree at Birmingham City University, and receive extra military training alongside your university requirements. Once you’re qualified as a Naval Nurse, 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.