Confused please help!!!!!!!

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Im thinking of going right to the air force this summer when i get out of high school but im not sure what to ask my recruiter and im hearing mixed information from alot of ppl including recruiters. Is it possipble to get my BSN in the air force without already having my rn or adn? Will i have to wait years before i start school in the air force? Is there any way i can do these nursing classes online? And how do i know if my recruiter is telling me info to help or just what i need to hear to sign?

Please any insight will help, Thanks:)

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From what I know, the airforce pays for your education thru nsg school when you serve them for a set number of years. If you want to enter the air force as a civilian nurse you have to already possess a BSN. But in both cases, if you continue to serve them, they pay for you to advance your ed beyond a BSN

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Specializes in Med-Surg/Peds/O.R./Legal/cardiology.

Go to the "Specialty" tab at the top of page and scroll down to Government and Military Nursing. You may find answers there! :heartbeat

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My husband is in the army and I had once thought of joining but FTP what I understood, they would only Educate you for an LPN and it took way too long and had to sign up for longer because of the longer schooling. From my understanding, you had to already have your degree. But my husband is looking into a green to gold active duty right now they in need of RN's and you get it in 1 year with another year of clinicals. Since we are not sure of all the details right now, I'm just assuming it's an associates. Also I do know the ONLY reason he qualifies is because he's been in for at least 2 years so school will be his place of duty.

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I am far from expert on this, but recruiters came to my school before I graduated and told us that with our BSNs, we could enlist as officers, which of course has more pay and perks from the start.

I also do believe that you must serve for some length of time first, before attending school, if you enlist and don't already have a BSN, but I'm not sure of the details on this.

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Specializes in ER, ICU, SICU,(Critical Care).

Just my 2 cents worth. It does not matter what they tell you. It only matters what is in the contract they have you sign. If they are guaranteeing you something, they shouldn't be bashful about putting it in writing. If they won't put it in writing, don't count on them having the ability, or are authorized, to give it to you. This also applies to travel nursing and most employers.

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Specializes in Urgent Care.

In the Air Force nurses are officers. If you want to enter the Air Force to be a nurse you would need to attend nursing school and go through some sort of commissioning program (ROTC, COTS), which can be competitive to get into depending on needs of the Air Force. If you direct enlist after high school you will be an enlisted member, not an officer (officers must have a college degree), and will not be going into nursing, though there are lots of medical specialty codes you could do (various tech and medic positions). The Air Force may have programs out there to become a nurse once you've been enlisted and trained into another specialty, but again, those may be competitive and based on needs of the Air Force...no guarantees at the time you're signing the enlistment paperwork. I agree with the poster that commented on what the paperwork says. No matter what you're told, read everything you sign if you decide to proceed. I loved being in the Air Force (though not as a nurse) and it has a lot of great opportunities, but make sure you know what you're getting into before you sign and take the oath. Good luck!

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Specializes in Anesthesia.
Im thinking of going right to the air force this summer when i get out of high school but im not sure what to ask my recruiter and im hearing mixed information from alot of ppl including recruiters. Is it possipble to get my BSN in the air force without already having my rn or adn? Will i have to wait years before i start school in the air force? Is there any way i can do these nursing classes online? And how do i know if my recruiter is telling me info to help or just what i need to hear to sign?

Please any insight will help, Thanks:)

It is extremely difficult to get your BSN while enlisted on active duty. I don't care what the recruiter tells you. You will have to generally wait until after Basic training, technical training, and getting your level 5 completed on your CDCs until you will be allowed to enroll in classes on your own while active duty enlisted. That alone can be anywhere from 6mo-2+yrs after you enter the AF. Most people are able to get through their pre-reqs for nursing school while active duty, but actual nursing school is where most enlisted find it impossible to complete the program d/t AF needs. There are a few slots every year for AF enlisted to go back to school while active duty, but those slots are very limited and extremely competitive. You also won't be eligible to apply for one of those slots for 2-3yrs minimum. Most AF enlisted that become AF nurse corps officers get out go to nursing school and then come back in. Another viable option would be to look at ROTC.

As the saying goes, "The Devil is in the Details". The details is usually what the recruiters leave out.

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Specializes in LTC, Memory loss, PDN.
I am far from expert on this, but recruiters came to my school before I graduated and told us that with our BSNs, we could enlist as officers, which of course has more pay and perks from the start.

I also do believe that you must serve for some length of time first, before attending school, if you enlist and don't already have a BSN, but I'm not sure of the details on this.

Don't forget about the time in grade. These hash marks are indeed cash marks. In other words, a 1st Lt. with more than 4 years of service has a higher pay rate than a new Major.

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Specializes in ER/ICU/STICU.
It is extremely difficult to get your BSN while enlisted on active duty. I don't care what the recruiter tells you. You will have to generally wait until after Basic training, technical training, and getting your level 5 completed on your CDCs until you will be allowed to enroll in classes on your own while active duty enlisted. That alone can be anywhere from 6mo-2+yrs after you enter the AF. Most people are able to get through their pre-reqs for nursing school while active duty, but actual nursing school is where most enlisted find it impossible to complete the program d/t AF needs. There are a few slots every year for AF enlisted to go back to school while active duty, but those slots are very limited and extremely competitive. You also won't be eligible to apply for one of those slots for 2-3yrs minimum. Most AF enlisted that become AF nurse corps officers get out go to nursing school and then come back in. Another viable option would be to look at ROTC.

As the saying goes, "The Devil is in the Details". The details is usually what the recruiters leave out.

I agree. As a former service member I can tell you how difficult it will be for you and that recruiters LIE!! If they aren't willing to put THEIR promises in writing, then it isn't true. GET EVERYTHING IN WRITING!

As for your original question, your best option would be ROTC. As others stated it is very competitive, but you will be paid to go to school to get your BSN.

Another option would be to get your nursing degree on your own and then go in. You can even get an Associates first, go in while getting your BSN. I believe in the Air Force they will send you down to officer school if you are within 1 yr of completion of your BSN.

Good Luck

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

Moved to the Government and Military forum

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From what I know, the airforce pays for your education thru nsg school when you serve them for a set number of years. If you want to enter the air force as a civilian nurse you have to already possess a BSN. But in both cases, if you continue to serve them, they pay for you to advance your ed beyond a BSN

Question,what if I'm a just a newly licensed nurse? I have no experience except of course my clinical experiences when I was still studying.

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