Navy Nurse with GED

Specialties Quality Improvement

Published

So I'm 18 and working to get my GED I want to become a nurse for the navy I know it's more difficult to join the Navy or air force or whichever with an GED but I plan on going to a college outside if the navy then when I Graduate I plan to enlist would that make then more acceptable towards me since I got my nursing degree I also would like to hear some other people who are going or went through this to or just some great advice would help to I'm still trying to see which my best option is with someone in my circumstance

Thanks- Chanel

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Government / Military Nursing

Please visit this section of All Nurses to read responses from nurses who are in the service.

Before I say anything else, I want to harp on this point: please learn to use appropriate punctuation. I don't say that to be a jerk, but simply to tell you that I had an incredibly difficult time reading your post, and clear, concise communication via the written word is vital in both the military and nursing.

You will not "enlist" after you're out of college. Once you have finished college, you will commission as an officer. You will need to have your BSN in order to apply to any branch (AF, Navy or Army) and probably a couple of years of experience in a competitive specialty (ER, ICU, etc) before you'll be eligible to apply.

Another option is doing the ROTC program while you're in school. This will allow you to train as a cadet during nursing school and enter as an officer once you've successfully passed the NCLEX. Please note that many nurse graduates are being slotted directly for the Reserves as there are budget cuts and mandatory drawdown processes underway at this time and active duty is very, very selective.

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Specializes in LTC, Correctional Nursing.
Government / Military Nursing

Please visit this section of All Nurses to read responses from nurses who are in the service.

Before I say anything else, I want to harp on this point: please learn to use appropriate punctuation. I don't say that to be a jerk, but simply to tell you that I had an incredibly difficult time reading your post, and clear, concise communication via the written word is vital in both the military and nursing.

You will not "enlist" after you're out of college. Once you have finished college, you will commission as an officer. You will need to have your BSN in order to apply to any branch (AF, Navy or Army) and probably a couple of years of experience in a competitive specialty (ER, ICU, etc) before you'll be eligible to apply.

Another option is doing the ROTC program while you're in school. This will allow you to train as a cadet during nursing school and enter as an officer once you've successfully passed the NCLEX. Please note that many nurse graduates are being slotted directly for the Reserves as there are budget cuts and mandatory drawdown processes underway at this time and active duty is very, very selective.

Is is true that the military doesn't take GEDs anymore? I worked with juveniles in a residential detention facility on a military base for a short time and a few of the "big brothers" were telling the kids that GEDs are not accepted by the military anymore. (A few of the boys were expressing interest in joining the military when they were old enough). I was wondering was this just something that they were telling the kids to motivate them to stay in school or if this was actually true?

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Is is true that the military doesn't take GEDs anymore? I worked with juveniles in a residential detention facility on a military base for a short time and a few of the "big brothers" were telling the kids that GEDs are not accepted by the military anymore. (A few of the boys were expressing interest in joining the military when they were old enough). I was wondering was this just something that they were telling the kids to motivate them to stay in school or if this was actually true?

It isn't necessarily that they don't take GEDs anymore, but there's a whole process that I am admittedly unfamiliar with in order to clear folks with GEDs. Especially as joining is extremely competitive nowadays, many recruiters I know won't even go through the hassle clearing folks with GEDs when there are other applicants who passed high school, received a diploma and can enter much easier. If this were 2008, they'd probably be more willing to go the extra mile for a potential recruit, but we are now inundated with applicants and able to be choosy. As recruiters are busy people, they're going to take the highest qualified for the least amount of work, to include those with medical/criminal histories, etc.

If you're working juvenile detention, chances are some of your kids are disqualified anyway as juvenile records are not sealed/expunged from the military. The military (especially the Army) is not granting waivers for that kind of activity. Again, they can afford to be picky. Encourage any of your kids who want to join to get on the straight and narrow and finish school (as I'm sure you already do!). :)

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Specializes in LTC, Correctional Nursing.

Thank you for clarifying that. Very good to know. I didn't think that they took anyone with any criminal history, as they shouldn't given what the military (all branches) stand for. :-) Thank you again for taking the time to reply. ;-)

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Thank you for clarifying that. Very good to know. I didn't think that they took anyone with any criminal history, as they shouldn't given what the military (all branches) stand for. :-) Thank you again for taking the time to reply. ;-)

Typically, they won't waive major charges, but there are some infractions they'll overlook, especially in times of need. But you're right--as a rule, that's not the impression the military wants to give the public, and the years where military service was an acceptable alternative to jail time are (thankfully!) long behind us. :)

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Specializes in LTC, Correctional Nursing.
Typically, they won't waive major charges, but there are some infractions they'll overlook, especially in times of need. But you're right--as a rule, that's not the impression the military wants to give the public, and the years where military service was an acceptable alternative to jail time are (thankfully!) long behind us. :)

Oh my goodness yes! I never approved of the trade off of jail time and military service. I thought it was a dishonor to the ones who were volunteering their lives for our country. Anyhoo... that's a whole 'nother rant! :-)

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Oh my goodness yes! I never approved of the trade off of jail time and military service. I thought it was a dishonor to the ones who were volunteering their lives for our country. Anyhoo... that's a whole 'nother rant! :-)

As the OP never came back at all, I think you could probably get away with an all-out threadjack/rant in this case. I certainly wouldn't blame you. :) But yes, I know what you mean and I completely agree!

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Good for you for wanting to serve our country and as a nurse! At this time it is hard to get into the military with a GED but you know what it changes all the time. Here is what I recommend: get your GED, apply to all the colleges you would be willing to go to that have a BSN program, finish your degree, apply to the officer commissions program, if you do not get in you still have a BSN, go to work, apply again.

You are young and have your whole life ahead of you!

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