ICU nurse wants to join the air force but...

[hollyhockstorm, RN]

I have been toying about the idea of joining the air force. I have been reading a lot of posts about it. There are a lot of people who have been helpful answering some threads and I got a lot of info just by reading said threads.

I tried the AF website-chatted with an advisor but then, dreams were crushed, said my BSN from another country doesn't qualify me. Is it true? I have been working as nurse for 9 years and 5 years of that is in critical care here in the US. I was just wondering if there's still any chance for me to work in the air force as a nurse with an ICU identifier?

[hollyhockstorm, RN]

"Shall be a graduate from an accredited baccalaureate degree program in nursing (BSN) acceptable to the U.S. Air Force Surgeon General"----

Can somebody further explain this?

I went through CGFNS- a non-profit, internationally recognized authority on credentials evaluation and verification pertaining to the education, registration and licensure of nurses and health care professionals worldwide. Isn't this enough?

[Lunah, MSN, RN]

I believe that the school has to be accredited by a U.S. accreditation body.

[shapely]

I thought in order to be licensed in the states you had to graduate from an accredited program. I'd check with a health professions recruiter.

[Lunah, MSN, RN]

Good point -- not sure if the people with whom you chat online are health professions recruiters, or just the regular variety. But boards of nursing will allow people to obtain licensure by examination using the CGFNS credential evaluation service to be eligible to take the NCLEX. It's not that the program isn't accredited, but it has to be accredited by a U.S. entity (e.g., NLNAC) for the purpose of joining the military. That's how I understood it, at any rate. I could be wrong -- it happens.

[athena55, BSN, RN]

hello kind people:

Here is my two cents:

Do you have your transcripts from your college translated into English, using an accredited translation service? I seem to remember this came up when I was preparing my packet and I asked my health care recruiter "What if"? That way the branch you are interested in can make sure the course work equals the U.S. standards.

Don't give up yet!

athena

[jeckrn, BSN, RN]

State boards will accept some accreditations that the military will not. The only way to find out if they will accept your degree is to speak with a health care recruiter as previous posters have stated.

[hollyhockstorm, RN]

thanks guys for giving the time to answer/comment...

@ athena-my transcript of record is in English...i guess, i still have that evaluated by WES or is there any evaluating body that is accredited that you know of?

We have a different grading system...the opposite for US GPA (our 1 is 4 (A) in the US-the exact opposite).

@ lunah, I like your "caffeinated" thing...:)

okay, i guess i have to make that call now....i'm in houston, recruiter's in san antonio....crossing fingers....xxxx

[Lunah, MSN, RN]

Let us know what you find out! Hope it's good news for you. :)

[hollyhockstorm, RN]

my heart's broken...but i still feel there's still something i can do....i just can't figure how...for now

i called....but they really want a US-acquired BSN. My only chance is to take up MSN then they'll accept me. I browsed the net...yes, there are online courses but it will take me 2 years to have a masteral degree...is there a fast-track masteral course? and to do MSN...i need to take the GRE....are there any masteral course out there that doesn't need one? i'm not getting any younger...

...and if i take MSN...which one of the MSN courses would you suggest that's marketable in the AF? I really need some enlightening here. thanks for all you do.

[Lunah, MSN, RN]

Most of the MSN programs I've seen are two years. Don't give up! The sooner you get started, the sooner you'll be done.

[hollyhockstorm, RN]

thanks, lunah :)