Any former Marines/Military?

Former Marine here.

The comparison between the stress of nursing school and the stress of boot camp is no comparison... boot camp was much more stressful.

Vs. day-to-day life as a Marine... Apples and oranges comparison.

The big difference: Despite all the bluster, I knew darn well that I wasn't getting kicked out of the Marine Corps unless I did something extraordinarily stupid. Nursing school... well, let's just say that they can be a bit capricious.

A fellow member of my nursing residency program (for new grads) retired from the Coast Guard. After 20-something years in the CG, he wanted something different.

My father was in the marines for 23 years and just retired last month. He was a SAR swimmer for 9 years and retired as a Master Sergeant. Personally I am in the Navy Nurse Corps. Just graduated May 2nd. 0-1. Since the blue green is all one team I can still be deployed with the Marines as they don't have their own Medical Corps and are a branch of the Navy. All in all I think that the Physical conditioning necessary by the military definately helps keep your body in great condition helping you battle the mental stress of a demanding Nursing School program. Good luck to all my fellow male nurses. Oorah and Semper Fi!

While the Marines love their Navy corpsmen, I'm sure your dad would agree that you don't want to be pushing that line too vigorously around the Marines :-)

You'll do fine marine. Keep those push-ups and runs going everyday and you'll breeze thru NS.

Lt Col (Ret)

Air force vet here. I actually just finished my science pre-reqs and will be applying this fall for an 2010 start date, so am definitely glad that whole portion is over as A & P had me pulling my hair out. Currently a AF Reservist of a large medical unit, and the dream is to commission as a nurse when I'm done, and hopefully become a flight nurse.

AF vet here. My DD is now an Army vet (Combat medic 101st Airborne Air Assault with 2 trips to the sand box).

In my class we have 2 navy vets - both medical corpsman and both women. We do have male vets but not sure how many. (We have 8 males in our class of 24!) One of our males is a commercial airline pilot!

With the discipline of a former Marine, you will do just fine.

I have been out for 22 yrs and I STILL miss it! (Dad retired from the AF after 28 yrs.) I recently married an Army Master Gunner and it feels weird to be welcomed back into "the family"! LOL

Good Luck in NS!

AF vet here.

The studying and dedication is not the enemy. Staying within your scope of practice can be-no more suturing and otherwise!

Also, the 'dedicated service' thing can sometimes neutralize the 'hated of males' thing that can be present with professors.

Peace Corps. Late 70's. There is at least one other in my cohort. Not started with actual nursing school, orient Fri and start Mon, but do not expect the cultural challenges to be as extreme.