Considering joining military...any suggestions???

[pinkygirl]

Hey everyone!

I have some questions about military nursing.

I graduated in may of 08 and have gotten some experience on a acute rehabilitation unit in a hospital (where i currently work) and also even got a bit of office experience helping out at a busy GI office as a nurse. I have been looking into the military lately for possible opportunities for nursing. I have looked at the navy, AF, and even PHHS. I am just not sure which one would be good.

I did a medical mission trip in college as a nursing student to Nicaragua and absolutely LOVED it, and have wanted to do it again ever since, and would love to make a career out of it. but in reality w/o getting paid to do it (b/c lets face it, i got student loans to pay!!!!!) its not possible.

I have looked mostly into the navy but it seems there is practically no slots available most of the time. I unfortunately dont have access to a recruiter where I live for officers and when I call or talk on the internet, I get the enlisted guys who just dont know anything! especially regarding nursing!

I guess i have a bunch of questions, almost too many to think of them all right now, so if anyone wants to message/mail me their experience and what its like Id appreciate it ([email protected])

here are a couple quick questions that if anyone knows the answers to id appreciate it.

-how long in the process for applying (i know its very long...months long)

-what kind of training is involved (i do know that navy and AF do have a "boot camp" Esq type of training before additional training...but what does it all entail)

-what kind of specialty do you do (can I pick right away or will they place me where needed and I can apply after i get more experience?)

-with each branch, whats the likely hood of actually getting stationed where you want/like, and whats the average length?

-do you get called to do deployments more often with certain specialties then others? (again I would love to do mission type of work so i dont think this would be a problem for me)

-PFT...how bad is it? and do they make exceptions? (I am pretty sure I have a bad rotator cuff, either that or i am the weakest person on the planet. no matter how much i try to do push ups my left shoulder always gives out and screams in pain, im worried this will rule me out)

-pay i know is better, but exactly how much better? i make close to if not 40,000 a year. sounds good, but barely can pay my loan bills sometimes (went to a private college)

-do they still do hiring bonuses? and if so which one has the best? should i wait till they get better? or apply now and hope they are better since the process is so long

-how much does each branch pay for school? 80% or 100% I am very interesting in expanding my education. i would love to get another degree that could be useful with or w/o nursing, (something like anthropology or sociology, criminology etc.)

well thats all (not much at all right!:?) that i can think of right now. any answers would be great here, or if u prefer email me. again thnks for all your help!

[nursedarleen]

I would really like to know the answers to your questions, as well. I am also considering joining the Air Force. Hopefully, someone out there will read this post and help us out.

[NPvampire, MSN, RN, APRN]

I'm bumping this, too...seeking graduate nurse opportunities since I got myself into the sinkhole of online MSN and "find your own clinicals...via the yellow pages."

[Murze]

Will they also count your experience in home care when you enter the AF?