army wife overseas

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  1. Should I

    • 0
      Try and get a job overseas on base
    • 0
      Stay in California
    • 1
      neither because it is extremely difficult to work in South Korea

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Hello, I will keep this post short and to the point. I finish school in December of 2017 and will most likely take my NCLEX in California shortly after (March at the latest). My husband is getting stationed in South Korea September of 2017 and I was curious if it would be difficult to get a job overseas on a military base as a civilian? My plan was to follow him out there once I finish school however I want a job. I have read that the pay wouldn't be as great overseas as it would be here in California however I honestly just want a career to keep me busy and actually use the degree I just spent 5 years trying to get. Let me know if you have any input on this situation. Thank you!

Specializes in GYN Oncology, Post Surgical.
Hello, I will keep this post short and to the point. I finish school in December of 2017 and will most likely take my NCLEX in California shortly after (March at the latest). My husband is getting stationed in South Korea September of 2017 and I was curious if it would be difficult to get a job overseas on a military base as a civilian? My plan was to follow him out there once I finish school however I want a job. I have read that the pay wouldn't be as great overseas as it would be here in California however I honestly just want a career to keep me busy and actually use the degree I just spent 5 years trying to get. Let me know if you have any input on this situation. Thank you!

Dear Army wife,

I too am a military wife and was stationed in South Korea for the last 2 years of my life.

Where are you going, Osan or Yongsan? we went to Osan and it was a very unique experience.

Here goes my two cents:

1) While I was in Osan, I requested to the medical group a chance for the shadowing program they offer. I spent months shadowing in every area of that hospital, which gave me a few reference letters and some experience as well. You can go to the educational office (inside the own hospital) or Red-cross and request the paperwork to be filled (in order of applying to the program you will have to do several training about Employee safety & health drills, MDG code response, Infection control and HIPPA laws and the newcomers orientation).

2) If you have already a RN license, you can apply for jobs inside the own hospital. I have two friends (both RN's that were working while there). I also met a girl (army wife) that used to be a nurse at the E.R as a volunteer (she wasn't being paid)

I couldn't work because I don't have my RN license yet... at the time I finished all my pre-req and was ready to apply to a program we got the PCS news... (sigh) so I shifted my plans in order of accompanying my family which is AS IMPORTANT AS MY CAREER! :)

I spent those two years finishing a bachelors in allied health planning on getting into a RN program when back to the U.S. Which I am doing right now.

You are in a much better place than I was, I am sure you will find plenty to do!!

Feel free to ask me anything you need to know about the base, the lifestyle, etc etc...and Good Luck!

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Specializes in GYN Oncology, Post Surgical.
I spent 2 years in Korea as an Air Force wife. This quite a while ago (1988-1990). However, if he chooses an unaccompanied tour, does he have the option of a 1 year remote tour?

If he goes accompanied, its still 2 years correct?

We were stationed at Yongsan in Seoul. I will say it was the most miserable 2 years of the entire 23 years he served in the Air Force (and I was USN during a portion of this time too).

I was not a nurse when we were stationed there but I worked at the 121 Evac hospital (hospital made famous in the TV show MASH). However, because I was a veteran, I got vet preference - many American wives were not able to find work.

Believe me, your marriage can survive a 1 year separation. However, 2 years isn't that long if you decide to go to Korea either.

"I will say it was the most miserable 2 years of the entire 23 years he served in the Air Force"

OMG, I am laughing so hard! Indeed I can't say that it was pleasant either! It was a VERY hard assignment (and I hated Korean food) lol

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I would love to know if you found any job prospects. I am in the exact same situation and wondering is it worth moving.

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I decided to stay... :( it's gunna be a long year with out my hubby but I got a job offer here straight out of school so it was reassuring to know I would have a job pretty quickly.

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Extremely difficult. You can volunteer as a RN with the medical group or possibly sign up at the school to be a relief School Nurse. Paid work is almost impossible to get.

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Specializes in Hospice, corrections, psychiatry, rehab, LTC.
I decided to stay... :( it's gunna be a long year with out my hubby but I got a job offer here straight out of school so it was reassuring to know I would have a job pretty quickly.

All things considered, I believe that this is the right choice. Separation will be tough, but you will immediately gain experience, and you won't have to explain a gap between getting your license and starting work.

Good luck to you.

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Hello curious I am in the same situation this coming up year. Was it hard finding a job in South Korea as a nurse.

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Hello! I didn't wind up go to korea. I stayed in the states and got hired to a hospital during my 4th semester of nursing school.

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