Future RN HELP HELP!

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I need advice and I seem to can't find it locally. I am reaching out to anyone who may have similar experience with my situation. I am a 9 year veteran of the USAF. My plan is to finish out my career at 20 years. I have recently decided I want to pursue a degree in RN with a focus on pediatrics (to ultimatly work in the NICU or nursery). Still unfamiliar with how that process works, but anyhow. My problem is with my degree and current career in the Air Force. I am in logisitics which has zero to do with nursing. I am afraid this may hurt me in the long run. Another issue is when I finish my degree and board cert I'll still have approx. 8 years left on my enlistment. Could this hurt me, essentially trying to use an RN degree and having little to no experience 8 years later at the age of 40? Any information and help would be much appreciated. Also, the locations I am looking at are the metro Atlanta area or Charleston, SC (specifically MUSC or the VA).

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Specializes in Prior military RN/current ICU RN..

"Could this hurt me" ? Hurt you how? Do you mean as far as getting a job? Sure it could have an affect on it. And you won't have "little" you will just have the "no" experience. Clinicals don't count. You will have zero nursing experience so you are a new grad. Certain positions are not open to new grads. However you will have a nursing license so that is good. Age of 40 is not an issue. And as a Vet that may help you. It has helped me in the government healthcare world.

One question. Are you going to be working full time AF while in nursing school? Don't forget you have clinicals which are often 12 hour shifts. Good luck!

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

You will not be able to maintain an active license for 8 years if you are not working. You would be required to do a refresher course if you were going to write the NCLEX 8 years post grad. You may want to wait until your enlistment is over before you go to school. as the previous poster mentioned, you will have to do clinicals during school. Not having worked in the 8 years since graduating would be an issue, especially with the job market being so competitive.

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I PM'd you

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I think it would be best to change specialties in the Air Force if that is an option. I do not know what is available to you. When I was in the Navy, I was in a field I did not like but we were understaffed and there was no way they would let me change rate. Wish I had a better answer...

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Are you a reservist? If not, how are you going to get time off to go to school? As a reservist you could finish your degree and go "Hey AF, Im a nurse. Will you give me a commission and let be a nurse with you?" Green to Gold style. Or is it blue to green? or whatever it is. Talk to a career NCO, you may be able to get the AF to pay for school and place you in a program where all you do is go to school. The Army has this program, ANCP or something like that.

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