Joining the military with BSN

NicuGal, MSN, RN · Apr 29, 2015

There is no guarentee you won't deploy.

Sam_walsh17 · Apr 29, 2015

Is it common? I read that they ask volunteers first. Is it better to join with your BSN already completed? Will I have to go to boot camp first? Are the steps the same as joining to go into combat? I've read the websites -and threads but there's a lot of conflicting information.

zzbxdo · Apr 30, 2015

If you're questioning if it would be convenient for you, you should probably stop looking into it. You're owned by the government. There are no guarantees in anything, especially war time. The risks allow the perks, no one is completely free of the responsibilities you've signed up for. You'll be an officer, your physical requirements will be far lesser than that of ensign/combatant or equal, but you'll still need to meet the minimal requirements.

If it's too risky, maybe consider reserve corps to see what the culture entails. And see your medical recruiter. The military forum would also be far more helpful than here, you won't be sticking around California permanently.

anichka · Apr 30, 2015

What is meant by "reserve corps"? If that term means simply the reserve, you're likely to deploy in any of the services as you are going active duty.

If you're not willing to deploy, don't join. Period. You would be letting down your fellow service members if you are not. Find another way to pay for school.

Sam_walsh17 · Apr 30, 2015

Thank you for your insight. A lot of great information. I don't mind relocating. I understand that is inevitable. I just want to make sure my family is with me and how often I might have to deploy and leave them behind and for how long. I will talk to a recruiter. I want to get doe insight on personal experience from you guys that have been through it.

Sam_walsh17 · Apr 30, 2015

Anichka. Thank you for your post. Just to clarify, I don't need help paying for school. I receive grants. I'm not looking for a quick way to repay loans as I don't have any pending. I'm actually very interested in the opportunity to be apart of something great. I don't mind deploying, I just don't want to be away from my babies for an extended amount of time I.e years.

Sam_walsh17 · Apr 30, 2015

Please if someone with experience as a military nurse can give me an example of daily life (with family- husband/wife kids) pros and cons, would you do it again? Do you live on base? Off base, do you have a choice in that? Overall process of joining, do you work at a hospital near or on base where you are stationed? No judgements here. Please don't assume I have alterior motives, as in I'm using the government some how to push me through school because that's not the case. I'm extremely interested. I just really want to hear it from those who have been there done that :) thanks everyone!

blessedNhopeful · May 1, 2015

Please if someone with experience as a military nurse can give me an example of daily life (with family- husband/wife kids) pros and cons, would you do it again? Do you live on base? Off base, do you have a choice in that? Overall process of joining, do you work at a hospital near or on base where you are stationed? No judgements here. Please don't assume I have alterior motives, as in I'm using the government some how to push me through school because that's not the case. I'm extremely interested. I just really want to hear it from those who have been there done that :) thanks everyone!

I can't give you experience as a military nurse but I can give you experience from being IN the military and now being a military spouse and also working alongside my fav corpsmen. Like the others have stated, you can never really know whether you will deploy or not. Do they ask for volunteers first? Of course. But think about it. How many people do they need out there compared to how many people actually say "Hey pick me!". As far as how long you would be away from family, again, that depends as well. I served 7 months in Iraq. My husband did 7 months in Afghanistan. We know people that have done a year long deployment. You get breaks..Meaning, 2 weeks of vacation after like 6 months. What joy. Of course being deployed has a few perks. The pay is great if you're in a "combat zone" and alot of times you're no where near the "bad stuff". You may not even get deployed somewhere out there. You and your family could get stationed in Germany. As you can see there are a lot of coulds and maybes. And being in the military, your time is no longer your time. You go when they say go. Now as far as when to join, it's great do go in with a degree and yes you would have to go through boot camp. The Air Force has the shortest training which is 6 weeks I believe but at the same time I'm not sure the AF has medical jobs. The Navy is known for that. You'll have to ask a recruiter as I'm not sure. Back to the degree. Some branches, if not all, have programs where you can become an officer with your degree. That's more training of course. I'm not exactly sure what job you could hold having a BSN in say the Navy as I would think hose officers have more training in the MD field. But again, ask them about that. Won't hurt. Now on to living quarters, you can live on base if they have housing available and they would take you housing allowance to pay for that. If you live off base you would use your housing allowance to pay yourself. You would work in the hospital which is on base or a clinic on base. Ummmm, IDK if I answered all the questions but I hope that helped some. Do you have any bases near you?

blessedNhopeful · May 1, 2015

Carry Your Nursing Career Further in the US Navy Nurse Corps : Navy.com

Maybe that will help. Be sure to check the tab "Training and Advancement"

**NickiLaughs, ADN, BSN, RN** · May 1, 2015

The one thing I can tell you is it's very competitive to get into the military as a nurse now, few new grad openings and most positions require experience. I attempted to join but was disqualified for medical reasons. I've spoke with nurses in the military. They said its hard work at the hospitals usually as they don't have ratio laws as the rest of California does. If you got in, the risk of deployment is always there.

also be aware most recruiters will embellish and sweet talk. It's their job to meet quota. You want to talk to military nurses you should really go to military forum.

Silverdragon102, BSN · May 1, 2015

Moved to the Government and Military forum