Air Force Nursing

allnurses Guide · Feb 19, 2009

So i am graduating w/ an associate's RN, this decemember i am really becoming interested in military nursing. I see that they require a BSN, i have a BS from a previous degree, so it would only be 20 something hours for me to complete to have my BSN. I guess what i'm wondering here is will they not even consider me if i don't have the BSN? or should i go the route of national guard nursing while i work on my BSN?

You can join the Army reserves/NG. I believe both of those take ADNs. The AF requires a BSN in order to commission as a nurse. http://www.airforce.com/opportunities/healthcare/careers/nursing/medical-surgical-nurse/ All the information you could want about basic qualifications for any branch is readily available on each branch's websites.

CaringT · Feb 22, 2009

If you are working as a RN although you do not have your BSN you can join the Air National Guard. We have a nurse in our unit that's a 2Lt (have been in the unit for a year now getting ready to go to COT) working as a crititcal care nurse and her civilian job is ob nurse. She is in school working toward her BSN. If I was you, I would go ANG just to get in; continue on the complete your BSN and apply for active duty once you are done.

Skeletor · Feb 24, 2009

If you are working as a RN although you do not have your BSN you can join the Air National Guard. We have a nurse in our unit that's a 2Lt (have been in the unit for a year now getting ready to go to COT) working as a crititcal care nurse and her civilian job is ob nurse. She is in school working toward her BSN. If I was you, I would go ANG just to get in; continue on the complete your BSN and apply for active duty once you are done.

One question CaringT:

I believe the ANG changed their requirements to include only BSN-prepared RNs, am I correct? Thanks in advance... :up:

CaringT · Feb 24, 2009

Not unless they have changed their policy within the last year. She joined our unit last Feb (2008) without a BSN.

Midwife2012 · Feb 24, 2009

I'm in the same situation as you, I have a bachelors in another field... I have contacted several recruiters. You can go enlisted if you are an RN without a BSN. In order to do nurse corp, and be an officer, you have to have a BSN. There is no way around this, according to four recruiters. I'm going to do an accelerated program at Columbia. I was told once I finish the BSN portion (1 year) I could join up and have them pay for the masters portion. You may want to look into an accelerated program, if you have the time. Otherwise, they will have you sign up as enlisted and you can APPLY for your officer commission once you earn your BSN, but combining this with active duty will be challenging, depending on your assignments. Another option is to go reserves while in school. Not rotc because they won't give you a scholarship while in school because u already have a bachelors. Best bet is to contact a recruiter from reserves and active in your area and see what options they give you. Hope this helps, because I know I was lost about my options til recently.

tulpen1234 · Mar 26, 2009

I also did an ADN program. I then did an online RN to BSN program. I would suggest that you look around at online programs for RN-BSN, see if you can apply before you graduate or start some prereq. This Dec when you graduate, get a job and start working as an RN, while you are completing the RN-BSN. Talk to a recruiter and start the process, before you complete the RN-BSN, this could likely take 6 mo-1 yr to complete. The benefits for you when you apply for AF nursing will be that you have work experience and you have already passed the boards.