At a glance
Wherever you are in the world, you’ll play a key part in keeping our people fit and healthy. Expect unparalleled diversity, leadership opportunities, fast-tracked development – and a medical career like no other.
Job Role
Naval Nurse (Qualified)
You’ll be a key part of the nursing team in an MOD hospital unit, keeping our personnel fit and healthy.
- £18,500 - £57,000
- Undergraduate Degree
- Surface Fleet
- Medical
- Rating level
£38,000
The minimum amount you'll earn after training
£50,000
Earn over this amount as your progress
BSc/BA
In Adult Nursing needed
6 weeks
Of paid holiday every year
Free
Medical and dental care
Travel
All around the world
Working in different environments, from rehab and emergency care to hospital ships, makes nursing in the Royal Navy a challenge full of amazing opportunities that I wouldn't get anywhere else.
Role details
What you’ll do
On shore during peacetime where your patients are your friends. At the scene of a natural disaster providing essential primary care. Wherever you are in the world, as a Naval Nurse you’ll play a key part in keeping our people fit and healthy. It’s a role full of responsibility and alongside your clinical work, you’ll also supervise and mentor junior personnel.
Life as a Naval Nurse means unparalleled diversity, leadership opportunities, fast-track training and unrivalled experience.
Your role
- Join at a level that reflects your nursing experience
- Develop and maintain your clinical competencies and skills within a Joint Hospital Group Unit
- Complete preceptorship, if newly qualified
- 2-year foundation programme to rotate round a variety of clinical areas to develop skill set
- Deploy in challenging environments all over the world
- Take on leadership and management responsibilities as your career progresses
- Further opportunities to carry out specialist courses including: intensive care, emergency medicine, infection prevention control and primary care
Pay & benefits
- Earn at least £33,000 after initial training
- Excellent pay and promotion opportunities
- A non-contributory pension scheme
- Six weeks of paid holiday every year
- Free medical and dental care
- Sports and Adventurous training
Skills for life
Qualifications you'll gain
- Study for GCSEs, A-Levels, NVQs or even a degree, partially funded by us
- Gain specialist vocational qualifications as your career progresses at Level 6 or 7, all funded by us
- Civilian recognised Leadership and Management qualifications
- Standard and enhanced learning credits for personal and professional development
Skills you'll develop
- Continued training and development in challenging environments
- Ability to be adaptable and flexible to practice nursing anywhere around the world
- Team working and communication
- Leadership and management
Eligibility
- You must be aged 20 to 39
- BSc/MSc or BA Adult Nursing
- You need to be registered with the Nursing Midwifery Council (NMC)
- You must be a United Kingdom national, or Commonwealth citizen, or Dual National. Dual Nationality restrictions do apply
- A Body Mass Index (BMI) between 18 and 28 (between 17 and 27 if under 18)
- Pass the Naval Swimming Test
Skills & Interests
- An ambitious medical professional
- Quick thinking and calm under pressure
- A caring and compassionate nature
- A team player
- An adventurous spirit
Joining Process
From picking your role to starting on your first day, these are the steps you'll take to join as a rating.
Step 1
Submit an application
Once you’ve registered your interest and have satisfied the basic eligibility criteria, you will be sent an online application form
Step 2
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
Step 3
Interview
A formal interview to talk through your suitability for the role
Step 4
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.
Step 5
Candidate Preparation Course (CPC)
This four-day induction to life in the Royal Navy is a pass or fail course
Step 6
Start training
Once you’ve passed a Security Check, you’ll be offered a place at HMS Raleigh
Career Progression
From responsibilities to pay, find out where this role can take you.
Day one
Start Initial Naval Training at HMS Raleigh
Year one
Start your first draft at a Joint Hospital Group Unit
First promotion
Promote to Leading Naval Nurse on completion of HMS Raleigh
Second promotion
Based on merit, if you work hard you can be promoted to Petty Officer
Got a question?
Our virtual recruiter is available to answer your questions 24 hours a day