Military Nursing ????

JenKatt · Jan 22, 2003

Here's the answers as best as I can do... I'm active duty Air Force

1. Yes, if you have a BSN you are commissioned. Depending on the amount of experience you have, will determine your rank. You get 6 months for every year you have been a civilian nurse.

2. I like the Air Force. A bunch of nurses I have worked with have switched from other branches to the AIr Force. I haven't seen any go the other way.

3. You can do tours, especially if you are in flight nursing. It depends on where you are stationed and what you do.

4. Yes you have to complete a form of training. In the Air Force it's called COT. It's not bad at all. You live in a hotel during the training, that should tell you something.

Hope this helps

Jen

sjoe · Jan 22, 2003

There is a forum on this BB called "Government Employed Nursing" where you will find nurses in the military to give you there opinions.

Hands down, the USAF is the #1 choice, followed by the Navy, IMHO.

ucandoit · Jan 23, 2003

I have already been there and there are some great topics but they don't really answere my specific questions.

JJFROG · Jan 23, 2003

I had a great time in the Army. Any particular reason you are only leaning between AF an Navy?

Beetlejuice · Jan 23, 2003

I've been an Air Force nurse for over 14 years. Prior to that I nursed in the Detroit area for three years.

I was in the fence between the Air Force and the Navy too. I chose Air Force because I didn't want to be stationed on a Navy ship for long periods of time.

In my 14 years, I have never been deployed, although I would like to sometime. Seems like the reserve nurses deploy more than the active duty ones do.

The training you get upon entering the Air Force is geared toward becomming an officer. It's nothing like basic training you may be familier with where people yell at you etc.

As for which is best for nurses I can't tell. All the services are pretty close and offer similar opportunities.

BTW Did you know that federal law requires your civilian employer to hold a position for you for the length of your first term of enlistment (4 years)?

hope this is helpful.

JenKatt · Jan 23, 2003

I beg to differ about not getting yelled at during COT. Depending on your class and it's instructors you may or may not get yelled at. I did, but a few of my co-workers didn't

jen

ucandoit · Jan 24, 2003

Hey, thanks guys!And, jen, that was interesting! I didn't know that they have to hold your position! jjfrog, I didn't consider the army because THEY SCARE ME!!!