Air Force to Nursing

Jilaweez, BSN, MSN, RN · May 4, 2007

Hello and welcome. Don't freak out yet...maybe start taking some pre-req's if you haven't already, once you start NS you will probably have to stay put for awhile so you need to make sure you are able to do that. In the meantime the pre-req's will keep you busy and moving forward. I took some of mine online so if I had to move it would'nt have been an issue.

Here's to a new begining!!!

Tipsims · May 4, 2007

Thank you so much..lol, this is what i want to do so bad,, I just don' to fail at it. this summer i will be talking online classes.

medhead · May 4, 2007

I'm prior service AF also :) Served from 1995 to 2001. My hubby is still in, so while I'm no longer AD, I'm still knee deep in the lifestyle too. And I so understand the worries about trying to finish school and getting orders! It's taken me six years of plugging away at my pre-reqs with many breaks in between trying to accomodate being a mom and supporting a military husband. It's hard but absolutely doable if it's what you really want! Believe it or not, transition back to civilian life (and school!!!) wasn't terribly difficult at all (for me anyway). My biggest advice, certainly have the big goal of the future in mind but mainly stay as focused as possible on what needs to be done in the present :) GL!

Tipsims · May 4, 2007

Thank you medhead...did you go str8 to RN or ADN,,,right now i'm thinking about LPN so i won't be w/o a job too long and then going back for RN, my we've been here since 2000 so i know we'll be leaving soon.

medhead · May 5, 2007

I understand your worry about starting a program and then having to PCS. It is a real issue. That is one of the reasons it's taken me so long to complete my pre-reqs before applying to a nursing school. And, I didn't even apply until I knew we'd be at a duty station for at least 3 years.

All I can say is THANK GOD FOR THE GI BILL! If it were necessary for me to work while going to school, I'd definitely go the LPN route and then go back later to further my education. As it is now, dh is able to support the family on his income alone, so I'm working toward my bachelor's in nursing and will get my RN licensure. You've definitely got to take the route that works best for you and your family and that fits into your current situation. Just from reading your posts, it sounds like you might already have a good idea about what that is :)

Tipsims · May 6, 2007

I understand your worry about starting a program and then having to PCS. It is a real issue. That is one of the reasons it's taken me so long to complete my pre-reqs before applying to a nursing school. And, I didn't even apply until I knew we'd be at a duty station for at least 3 years.
All I can say is THANK GOD FOR THE GI BILL! If it were necessary for me to work while going to school, I'd definitely go the LPN route and then go back later to further my education. As it is now, dh is able to support the family on his income alone, so I'm working toward my bachelor's in nursing and will get my RN licensure. You've definitely got to take the route that works best for you and your family and that fits into your current situation. Just from reading your posts, it sounds like you might already have a good idea about what that is :)

Thanks again Medhead.. i'm still not understanding the whole GI bill.. do i get whats left after school is paid for each sem or will I still need to take out edu loans and what knot?? my hubby is ready and willing to do whatever he has to do, even if it means saying here at Keesler longer! and his income can hold us while i attend school, i'm just nervous about everything..lol but i do know that being AD Security forces is killing me with all the deployments.. we have a child now and being away from her is too much, and i'm headed out again soon and my hubby my be coming right behind me soon. our lil girl may barely know us when we get back. its time for a change!! lol... i hope you don't mine but i may have more questions as time passes..thanks for you help.-tss

medhead · May 13, 2007

I have not needed to take out loans yet. Not sure how it'll work for you, but here's how it's gone for me. First, with every new school you attend, you have to talk to the VA folks at the admin office and get set up through them... don't forget to have your discharge paperwork with ya :) Once that's done, I have to go to the WAVE website every month -- https://www.gibill.va.gov/wave/default.cfm -- to verify my enrollment status. A week after verification, I get $1075 (the full-time student rate). I get that set amount every month, year round regardless of what I owe the school ... as long as I'm enrolled full-time in classes. I always end up with way more money than I need for the semester so we always put the extra in savings for later education needs. HTH!