Working as an RN in a GS Position overseas

Specialties Government

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My husband is USAF and we are stationed in Okinawa Japan. There is a naval hospital here which I was recently hired onto. BUT I got my job offer letter and they are hiring me as a GS7 with a salary of 33,979. I am a new graduate RN but I have 5 years experience as an LPN. I was just thinking that this was low. I don't have any other option but to accept it since there is no where else for me to work but I was debating asking if this could be some kind of mistake. It works out to be just over $17/hr. My last job I worked as an LPN I was making $19/hr so this is a pay decrease when I went up in education...makes no sense to me! Any help is appreciated!!! THANK YOU!

Specializes in GYN/Med-Surg.

My husband (USAF) has just gotten orders for Kadena AB. I also just graduated with my BSN in May and will be taking the NCLEX within the next few months. Because I have no experience as an RN yet since I'm a new grad, I'm figuring that it'll probably be impossible to be hired at the US Naval Hospital over there. Unless I somehow get lucky (?). We also have a 3-month old baby. The fact that I may have to go at least 4 years without using my degree is a hard pill to swallow. There's also the issue of not remembering all of my nursing knowledge upon our return to the states in 4 years :-/ This post was very informative and it's at least a little comforting to know that there are/have been others in my position.

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AFwife727,

I would try not to go in with a defeated attitude towards getting hired as a brand new grad. Just as stateside, employers are excited about hiring new grads because they can help develop them and not quite worry about "bad habits" that may have been picked up. There was a girl in the red cross orientation class I was in who was a brand new RN grad and was offered a position within a few months (I think even before she started volunteering). So, it's not impossible.

Just try and keep a positive attitude towards things, have lenghty highly detailed GS-style resume ready, references, recommendation letters, sealed transcripts, and show them your best. The family readiness center on Kadena (as well on the different military bases) hold sessions to help you practice your interviewing skills if that's a concern of yours.

After several months of waiting for a position (with some of that spent volunteering) in my area of choice to open up, I was feeling pretty defeated, but it finally came.

I forgot to mention in the original post. When looking at the contact positions pages, will pop up as "materials management" something or other. Email them and asked to be put on their job email list too. I haven't taken myself off yet, but they will email you anytime something comes open (granted, it's not all nursing positions, but it saves you from looking on their website (Individual Set Asides (ISA)) all the time. As is, they are looking for RNs at several of the clinics (at least 4)

Keep your head up and good luck!

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kelleyjo44,

Hello, I am now at Okinawa, Japan b/c of my husband got stationed over here. I was wondering how long did it take you to get a job at the hospital from when you applied? What steps did you take to get a job there? Do you have any pointers or things I should do? I am an LPN and I have 4 years of experience and I really want to work here. Please help. Thanks so much... Congrats on the job!

From one Military Spouse to Another,

Crystal 8/30/12

0 Votes

kelleyjo44,

Hello, I am now at Okinawa, Japan b/c of my husband got stationed over here. I was wondering how long did it take you to get a job at the hospital from when you applied? What steps did you take to get a job there? Do you have any pointers or things I should do? I am an LPN and I have 4 years of experience and I really want to work here. Please help. Thanks so much... Congrats on the job!

From one Military Spouse to Another,

Crystal 8/30/12

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