Can I serve in the Air Force and get my BSN?

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I just graduated high school on May21st I will be leaving for Air Force basic training July 28th. I was wondering if I could get my BSN while serving in the Air Force active duty, my job is munitions systems.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

Welcome! Your thread has been moved to the Military Nursing forum with the hope that our more knowledgeable members will come along and answer your question.

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Specializes in Adult Critical Care.

The answer is 'possibly' if you are patient enough (at least 5-6 years down the road). There is a very competitive program called the Nurse Enlisted Commissioning Program (NECP) that sends enlisted personnel to school full time while on active duty. You pretty much can't get it until you hit E5 or so, since you won't have the bullets to be competitive as an airmen against all the NCOs that apply.

You should be able to knock out some of the pre-reqs for nursing school with tuition assistance in the meantime. There is no way you'll be able to fit hundreds of clinical hours into your regular active duty schedule.

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It's possible. I'm active duty navy and in both an ADN program and a BSN program right now. It's tough but it's possible.

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Specializes in Adult Critical Care.

Certainly it isn't impossible, but I hope you didn't plan on commissioning the second you get that BSN. You still will have to complete your enlistment before applying to a direct commissioning program (which is also extremely competitive by the way). Those that I am aware of that have completed a BSN on active duty often got some credit for clinical hours they completed as an enlisted medic. Since your job isn't healthcare related, I imagine you will have a much harder time.

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