We want to comment on the June 2006 editorial, Welcoming New Graduates: Some Lessons Learned (2006:11). As Navy nurses with more than 65 years of combined Navy experience, we realize how far Navy nursing has come and we are very proud of Navy nursing’s rich heritage. As we approach the 100th anniversary celebration of the Navy Nurse Corps in May 2008, we are proud to share with readers how the Navy Nurse Corps now prepares new nurses. The personal experience described by Dr Alspach in the editorial is certainly not in keeping with how we currently nurture our new graduate Navy nurses.

The Navy Nurse Corps has formal orientation programs in place that support new graduates while fostering mentorship, leadership, collegiality, and personal growth. The Navy’s 3 largest medical centers located in Portsmouth, Va; San Diego, Calif; and Bethesda, Md each have a 12- to 16-week nurse internship program. The...

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