BSN to Air force

Specialties Government

Published

Specializes in Emergency Room.

Hello everyone,

I am looking for some advice from those who have actually gone through it. I do not know for sure what I would like to do definitely or what the best options are. I will be finishing up my BSN in March and have been considering joining the military, specifically the air force as an officer. Some of my past experience is I have been working at the Cleveland Clinic for 3 years as a nurses aide, and have a job in a Neuro ICU right now knowing I could get hired there as a nurses when I graduate.

Now, would it be the better route to get some ICU experience first, then join? Or does it not matter and would it be better to just join as soon as possible? Does anyone have any additional information that would be helpful?

I have been trying to contact a specific recruiter for an officer as well as medical, but have not had any luck yet with getting in contact with someone.

Thank you to everyone in advance!

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Specializes in Emergency Room.

I'm also considering the army now... I can't seem to make any definite decisions.

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
I'm also considering the army now... I can't seem to make any definite decisions.

Last time I heard, the Army was not taking new grads. Definitely something to verify with a healthcare recruiter, but I think they want at least two years of RN experience for those seeking a direct commission.

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Specializes in Adult Critical Care.

I'm a current active duty AF nurse. I can't tell you what the current recruiting climate is, but we have historically taken a limited number of new grads who didn't do ROTC (i.e. via direct accession). By the way, we consider you a new grad if you have less than 1 year of full time RN experience.

I would highly recommend that you get 1 year of civilian level-1 trauma center ICU experience first and then start applying toward the end of your first year. If you join before that, you will need to do at least 2 years of med-surg at your first AF base before you'll be allowed to do ICU.

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Specializes in Emergency Room.

Thank you very much! I was actually put in contact with a recruiter and they require either a 3.5 gpa it atleast a years worth of experience!

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