Military nurse

Specialties Government

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Before I became a nurse, I was in the Marine Corps infantry with two deployments to iraq. My question is would the Navy reserve or Air Force reserve take me as a nurse? I have heard the Air Force does not like former Marines. The next question is what rank would be, and can be with a combat unit again?

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Specializes in Adult Critical Care.

If you have a BSN, then you will be eligible to apply. You'll be more competitive with OR, ER, or ICU experience. I had a former marine that was in AF basic officer training with me (COT). Your rank in the AF is credited based on 50% of your civilian RN experience. You need 4 years of civilian nurse experience to come in as an O-2...8 years for O-3. With 4 years and 1 day of enlisted experience in any branch, you will tack on an 'E' to your pay grade (O-1E, O-2E, etc).

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Ok thanks I am a new grad and I start at UT Tyler for MSN FNP in August of this year. I was debating if I should just wait until I finished the FNP Program, I am 29 so I have the time.

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Specializes in Adult Critical Care.

Know that you will be at a disadvantage applying as a new-grad NP with only an MSN (as opposed to a DNP). Plus, you get credit for having degrees above a BSN too. A new grad DNP-NP would come in as an O-3 (versus the MSN-NP would be an O-2).

Also keep in mind that the military is trying to phase-out MSN-NPs. They may not accept you as an NP without a DNP by the time you graduate (I'm guessing you'd be applying at the end of 2017).

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