Active Duty USAF with no nursing experience...

[bnt1996]

Hi everyone!

I am currently Active Duty in the USAF. I have about 2.5-3 years left of my contract. I am almost finished with my BS degree in Biobehavioral Health at Penn State (online). I figured out that I wanted to pursue nursing AFTER I was close to finishing my BS in BB H...

The Air Force has a program where I would separate from Active Duty, go to nursing school (paid by the AF), and then commission with a 5 year service obligation, however I am not sure if military life meshs well with my life...

If I got out of the military, I was planning on pursing nursing school for sure, however I have 0 experience in the field, whatsoever. That makes me very insecure and nervous.

I am just wondering what are some things I could do to get my foot in the door? I am just worried that I would not be up to par with my peers if accepted. Would shadowing at hospitals be of any help? ANY advice would be appreciated!!

Thank you so much!

[Jayjormom]

First off. Thank you for your service. Secondly, most people that go into nursing school have 0 experience. You having a degree already so that puts you ahead of some candidates when it comes to the application process. Getting into nursing school, at least the few I applied to, had everything to do with pre req grades and a scoring system. So many points for A’s B’s and so on. So it really may just depend on the nursing schools that you are applying for. Do some research and find out what the application process consist of.

[Nurse SMS, MSN, RN]

You really can't go wrong either way here. Your five year commitment to the USAF will leave you without student debt, which is a pretty big bonus.

With your existing BA, you will be qualified to go into an accelerated nursing program to get your degree. Something to look into.

[chare]

1 hour ago, Nurse SMS said:

You really can't go wrong either way here. Your five year commitment to the USAF will leave you without student debt, which is a pretty big bonus.

[...]

This. Additionally you are going to have a nursing job waiting, which can be problematic depending on your area.

On 5/5/2020 at 3:18 PM, bnt1996 said:

[...]

The Air Force has a program where I would separate from Active Duty, go to nursing school (paid by the AF), and then commission with a 5 year service obligation, however I am not sure if military life meshs well with my life...

[...]

This is a valid consideration. However, you should remember that active service as an officer is much different than enlisted service.

Best wishes in whichever option you choose, and thank you for your service.

[bnt1996]

Thank ALL of you for the feedback. I’m so thankful.

I think I’m going to try and apply for the program when the time comes, I should be able to apply within the next year or two. I want to try and shadow a few nurses but considering the whole COVID-19 epidemic going on, I don’t think that will be likely.

I guess I was just feeling insecure because I feel like I got kind of set back since I’m starting later in nursing... By the time I apply I will be 27 years old ...

[Nurse SMS, MSN, RN]

6 hours ago, bnt1996 said:

Thank ALL of you for the feedback. I’m so thankful.

I think I’m going to try and apply for the program when the time comes, I should be able to apply within the next year or two. I want to try and shadow a few nurses but considering the whole COVID-19 epidemic going on, I don’t think that will be likely.

I guess I was just feeling insecure because I feel like I got kind of set back since I’m starting later in nursing... By the time I apply I will be 27 years old ...

Oh dear. I hate to tell you, but there are people starting who are WAY WAY older than you. I was 41 when I graduated. ? Its never too late to be what you might have been. You got this.