AF or Navy Nursing with a BS & ASN

allnurses Guide · Feb 2, 2010

I have read many posts, but not one specifically to meet my criteria:
I've been an RN for 1.5 years, ASN, but have my Bachelor's in Communications. I love nursing and just want a change in my life. I'm divorced, no kids and would like to travel. I love trauma/ob/emergency and currently and am just doing civilian Med/Surg Tele Nursing. I am wondering:
Can i do AF nursing with my degrees?
Can I do Navy nursing with my degrees?
I have found that each offers sign on bonuses: My friend in the navy just got 35K, but I am just curious about the quality of life as well. Would I be living in dorms? House? Can we have pets? Any other info would be good as well...
Thanks
Maggie

http://www.airforce.com/opportunities/healthcare/careers/nursing/emergency-room-nurse/?view=list

Check out the pdf at the bottom of the page. The requirements to become a USAF nurse are on page 6 of the pdf.

http://www.navy.com/careers/healthcare/nursing/#specific-requirements

see specific requirements

You would need to contact a Healthcare recruiter for each branch to verify what the requirements are right now.

If you want to pursue a military nursing career I would suggest either going back and getting your BSN or going straight for an MSN. The time spent getting your BSN or MSN will be well worth it. Even if the Navy or the AF accepts you with Bachelors in Communications/ASN you are eventually going to have to get your MSN in order to be competive past O-3. Personally, I would find a local ASN to BSN program and start on your BSN ASAP. It is going to take you 6-12mo minimum to get all of your paperwork done anyways, so you could start your BSN and then contact a healthcare recruiter during your 1st semester to start your paperwork. I know the AF will give credit towards rank for all your RN experience (1/2 credit for the 1st 6yrs and then 1:1 after that). So as long as you are working as an RN you are gaining credit towards rank.

I don't think the AF or the Navy will take nurses without experience straight into critical care/ER. The AF does take new grads straight into OB, so that maybe an option.

The quality of life is going to be good in either branch. Commissioned Officers don't generally live in dorms, and for the most part your life outside of work will be pretty normal....ie you can have pets, do basically the same things you do now after work etc. The only thing about pets is you are going to have to figure who is going to take care of them when you are TDY, deployed etc. As military nurse you can deployed within 24-48hrs of being notified (possibly less). Usually you get more notice of deployments, but not always.

SINGMAGGIE-RN · Feb 2, 2010

Thanks for the input. I have thought about that as well, but just trying to figure out how to finance it all and still get out of debt. I'm not even sure what I would get my master's in? I really just want to get more experience and travel. Right now I'm not making that much and I work nights, which even give me a differential. I'll just keep looking and thinking.

But, thank you, really, for the input and advice

Kind Regards,

Maggie

allnurses Guide · Feb 2, 2010

Thanks for the input. I have thought about that as well, but just trying to figure out how to finance it all and still get out of debt. I'm not even sure what I would get my master's in? I really just want to get more experience and travel. Right now I'm not making that much and I work nights, which even give me a differential. I'll just keep looking and thinking.
But, thank you, really, for the input and advice
Kind Regards,
Maggie

Check out all the branches including USPHS. I don't know how much you owe in student loans/debt, but in general student loans can be defered while going to school. Even if you have to get more loans to finance school it would be worth it. I think all of the services offer loan reimbursement, but the catch is that there is only so much money for loan reimbursements each fiscal year and when that is gone it is gone.

There are also jobs in medically underserved areas, DIHS, IHS, Federal prisons etc. They all offer either educational benefits or loan repayments.

http://www.ihs.gov/

http://www.bop.gov/

SINGMAGGIE-RN · Feb 3, 2010

Thank you, again.

I really appreciate the input. I'm really drawn to the AF, and just want to make intentional/thought out choices.

I don't really have a desire to do work with indians or prisons, but thanks for the thoughts. :) I do think that getting my MS or finishing my bachelor's online would work well, b/c I really only have like 20 more credits for my BSN, which are many research classes and case management....

well, off do look more online..

peace

midinphx, BSN · Feb 3, 2010

Maggie,

I would suggest you finish your BSN since you are so close. Take student loans if you need to. All of the branches of service have had repayment options (even if they are dried up at times as you'll see in other posts). But there are also often sign on bonuses which you could use for the loan repayment too.

You sound really interested in the Air Force which is great. I suggest you find a nursing recruiter now and have a real talk about what you want. The paperwork process needs to be started early, even before you finish your BSN. Go to the airforce site to find a recruiter in your area. It doesn't mean you are signing up the first time you meet with the recruiter and you will not be wasting his/her time. So go investigate!

Good luck.