Advice needed for Military Spouse

Nunya, BSN · Oct 25, 2019

Not a spouse but prior military and prior civil service... Have you thought about getting into the civil service or VA system? That way you can move with him and keep seniority. It might be harder to get an education job at a specific hospital because there aren't as many slots but you'll be accruing time towards your own retirement. I think VA pays better.

caliotter3 · Oct 26, 2019

When I was taking nursing prerequisite classes near a major military post, I remember an instructor who was a nurse at the big civilian hospital stating that this particular hospital went out of its way to hire military spouse nurses. According to her (with the exception of active civil service or VA nurses), this was not the usual case in general in all other geographical areas. In other words, she was validating the fact that military spouse nurses have problems with their careers to the point of being able to get jobs at all. This is a truism for all military spouses, whether husbands or wives, nurses or not, across the board. My husband was not satisfied with his employment opportunities (or lack thereof) after he retired from the service and started following me around. I would concentrate on my educational goals until the spouse leaves the service if it were me. Easier to pick up after he is out than to languish for the next ten years because you can't do what you really want to do. JMHO

NurseinBoots, ADN, BSN · Oct 26, 2019

Thanks guys! I think I was just stressed at the moment because everyone was just bombarding me with the "Oh, you're stuck." But, thats not true. I think focusing on my education is actually a really great idea and maybe looking into the VA since they have spousal preference. 10 years does indeed go by fast so I'll make the best of it!

AnnieNP, MSN, NP · Nov 7, 2019

Perhaps work on your MSN. I know someone who was an NP for the VA and she loved it.

Trauma Columnist · Nov 10, 2019

I'ma military spouse, hubby did 23 years. I did L TC, medaling, & ICU without problems . I did MSNafter he retired and haven't looked back since,BTW we moved 3 tines while I was in NS

rac1, ASN, BSN, RN · Nov 13, 2019

I am a military spouse, and while I am a a newer nurse, I just want to say to you: Do not let anyone else define who YOU are as a nurse!

No way. You can do whatever you put your mind to. There are so many options for online degrees today that there is no way that your husbands career has to slow yours down no matter if you move every year or three. If you want to pursue something other than med/surg nursing, do it and don't even ask anyone else what their opinion is because it doesn't matter. Getting into a specialty is an interview away - and has nothing to do with how often you move. Getting a masters degree is an application and a few years of hard work away - and has nothing to do with how often you move. Unless you make it so.

If I can do it (with five kids and a military career husband) YOU can too. I am not special - just human like you.

NurseinBoots, ADN, BSN · Nov 14, 2019

Thank you again so much. It really is so nice to see that there are other people cheering me on. As an update, I decided to apply for a speciality (ED since its something I've always wanted to do) and got an interview....so well see!

caughtupinthismoment, ADN, BSN · Jan 22, 2020

You can get in anywhere that requires an RN license. Sure experience is preferred, but rarely required. Don’t give up and apply for what you want. Focus on landing an interview (good resume and cover letter) and then charm the pants off of them. Everything else will figure itself out. Nothing is absolute. Including not getting hired because of x, y, and z.... Unless those include felonies or drug diverting or something. That’s the beauty of nursing.

Nurses range from both ends of the spectrum.. really *** and really freaking awesome. Try and be one in the latter category and you’ll see many doors opening for you regardless of your situation. I was offered an interim manager positions after only a year and a half on the floor, then made it official just a few months later. And it’s not because I’m hot *** or anything. I just go hard 12.5 hours, every single day I’m there. Set your mind on the goal and do what it takes to get there. You can get there. Promise.

birthworkernurse · Oct 30, 2021

Hi all,

This may be a long shot, but I'm really looking for advice/tips here. I'm a military spouse who has been out of the education game since 2016 when I got an MPH. Now I'm a doula and I'm really set on trying to do the CNM route. It seems almost impossible to me as a traveling military spouse who goes back and forth overseas (alot) to get any sort of RN license to even move forward with the CNM process. I'm just beyond frustrated and would love input on possible ways to slowly start this process without re-doing classes over and over again with the transfer of credits, etc.

Thank you!

On 11/13/2019 at 12:12 PM, rac1 said:

I am a military spouse, and while I am a a newer nurse, I just want to say to you: Do not let anyone else define who YOU are as a nurse!

No way. You can do whatever you put your mind to. There are so many options for online degrees today that there is no way that your husbands career has to slow yours down no matter if you move every year or three. If you want to pursue something other than med/surg nursing, do it and don't even ask anyone else what their opinion is because it doesn't matter. Getting into a specialty is an interview away - and has nothing to do with how often you move. Getting a masters degree is an application and a few years of hard work away - and has nothing to do with how often you move. Unless you make it so.

If I can do it (with five kids and a military career husband) YOU can too. I am not special - just human like you.

I would love to chat with the woman who posted this!!

rac1, ASN, BSN, RN · Oct 30, 2021

3 hours ago, birthworkernurse said:

Hi all,

This may be a long shot, but I'm really looking for advice/tips here. I'm a military spouse who has been out of the education game since 2016 when I got an MPH. Now I'm a doula and I'm really set on trying to do the CNM route. It seems almost impossible to me as a traveling military spouse who goes back and forth overseas (alot) to get any sort of RN license to even move forward with the CNM process. I'm just beyond frustrated and would love input on possible ways to slowly start this process without re-doing classes over and over again with the transfer of credits, etc.

Thank you!

I would love to chat with the woman who posted this!!

Hi! I'll chat with you of course! Can you send me a direct message on here?

Orca, ADN, ASN, RN · Nov 4, 2021

As far as the educational component goes, there are a number of online programs for MSN, so it wouldn't matter much where you are living or how often that you move.