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Nursing Officer

Nursing Officer

You’ll use your extensive medical skills in a wide range of contexts, from an NHS hospital to some of the most challenging environments in the world.

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This role is classed as a RBP Healthcare and Medical Officer. As part of your application process, we’ll help you find the most suitable role based on your skills and experience.

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High interest role

This is a highly competitive role with potential long lead time to join. 

  • £35,800 - £125,000
  • Undergraduate Degree
  • Surface Fleet
  • Medical
  • Officer level
A colour image shows a Royal Navy nursing officer taking notes in a medical folder. He is wearing a blue Royal Navy work uniform and a stethoscope. In the background is a large and bright blue medical machine with a monitor and several buttons.

Role details

Life as a Nursing Officer offers extraordinary challenges and responsibilities, but comes with opportunities and rewards to match.

Wherever you go in the world and whatever you’re doing, you’ll play a key part in safeguarding our personnel and civilians alike. You could be in an NHS hospital caring for returning military personnel, or out in the field working in a conflict zone.

Whatever you do, you’ll encounter some of the most challenging environments imaginable, developing both personally and clinically as you experience a life few medical professionals can imagine.

  • Lead a team providing medical support to Royal Navy and Royal Marines personnel on shore and at sea, in the UK and around the world.
  • Develop and maintain your clinical skills in order to take those skills around the world on operations when required. During peacetime, you’ll be based within a Joint Hospital Group Unit in either Plymouth, Portsmouth or Birmingham.
  • Gain clinical and management experience and take responsibility for mentoring junior nurses and medical assistants.
  • Wider job opportunities as your career progresses in senior leadership positions, clinical governance, training, operations and deployed roles including as a Head of Department or Senior Nursing Officer. 
  • Be part of a world-class medical service that’s recognised far beyond the Armed Forces. You’ll represent our nation whatever you’re doing and wherever you are.
  • A salary that rises to at least £35,800 during basic military training
  • Excellent pay and promotion prospects as your career progresses
  • Sports and Adventurous Training opportunities
  • Forces Help to Buy house purchase scheme
  • Six weeks of paid holiday every year
  • Free medical and dental care
     

Qualifications you'll gain

  • An opportunity to study further at degree or masters level, to top up your professional portfolio
  • You’ll have the opportunity to carry out specialist courses funded by the Royal Navy, in areas such as Intensive Care, Emergency Medicine, Trauma and Orthopaedics and Primary Care. 
  • Civilian recognised leadership and management qualifications
     

Skills you'll develop

  • Unique nursing care, including assessment, treatment and management that can be utilised in a variety of environments all over the world
  • How to use your expertise and develop your leadership and management skills in a maritime environment
  • Become a Divisional Officer, responsible for the welfare and development of other junior clinical personnel. 
     
  • Aged 20 to 39 (You can start your application from 17 years old however you must be at least 20 years old on day of entry to basic training)
  • A degree in Adult Nursing is required - you can apply in the final year of completing your degree to be selected
  • Registered with the Nursing Midwifery Council (NMC) 
  • 5 grades A*-C (9-4) Including English Language and Maths
  • A National of the United Kingdom, a Commonwealth citizen or Dual National
  • A Body Mass Index (BMI) between 18 and 28 (between 17 and 27 if under 18)
  • A caring and compassionate nature
  • Decisive with strong independent thinking
  • Highly organised and able to remain cool under pressure
  • Approachable as a strong team leader
I have taken my nursing skills all over the world and worked within some amazing teams, providing care for patients on board ships or in land environments.

Leanne

Nursing Officer, Medical Branch

Career Progression

From responsibilities to pay, find out where this role can take you.

Day One

Complete your militarisation and marinisation training within 10 weeks at HMS Raliegh. This initial stage of development for young officers, designed to build the leadership, discipline, and core military skills required for naval service, before then moving onto Britannia Royal Naval College (BRNC) in Dartmouth for another 30 weeks to further develop these skills.  

Professional Training

Develop your chosen profession skills at your respective training establishment dependant on your profession. 

First Year

Learn management theory, develop your own style of leadership and experience your first time at sea practicing your role. 

First Promotion

Become a Sub – Lieutenant, advance you skills with further training, have an increased responsibility.

Second Promotion

Become a Lieutenant, lead a department and report directly into command. 

Joining Process

From picking your role to starting on your first day, these are the steps you'll take to join as a rating.

  • Register your interest
  • Complete your application
  • Defence Aptitude Assessment (DAA)
  • Interview
  • Student assessment board
  • Candidate Preparation Centres (CPC)
  • Start training

Register your interest

Find the right profession and entry level for you, make sure you meet the basic eligibility criteria, and register your interest online.

Once you’ve registered, you’ll receive an email with more details about your chosen profession, along with an invitation to speak with our friendly recruitment team about any questions or concerns you might have.

Start your application

Find your place in the Royal Navy. Make friends for life, learn new skills and experience the world.

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