Considering Nursing, need advice

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Hello all, I'm a 22 yr old who has 3 years left in the USAF and am looking for advice. I'm sure you get these questions often but here goes. Before I joined I was a CNA at a sub-par nursing home and got a real bad taste in my mouth when it comes to the health care field. I worked with a lot of bad people and bad nurses. Not the best first impression I know. But I'm thinking about giving this another shot. I am in the USAF and thought I wanted to do this for the rest of my life. But now I am getting tired of the life style and the lack of freedom. Don't get me wrong, I love serving my country, but it's wearing on me. So I guess I am asking for some positive feedback from people saying it's not the job I made it out to be 4 years ago. Maybe some recommendations? I have 2 associates degrees (maybe a batchelors if I get off my ass). I'm thinking of pursuing a BSN or maybe an MSN.. not sure yet. I would love to travel abroad as much as I could. Don't like desk work (but I know everyone has to do some). And I want to feel like I'm doing something to help others / make a difference in this world rather than learning about aircraft systems and how to tell pilots respectfully that they suck at flying. I'm not to spun up on the types of specialties for nurses. But, I would rather not be surrounded by death 24/7. Any ideas or recommendations would be great. Thanks all!

Alex

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Specializes in Emergency/Cath Lab.

First off thanks for your service!

I was like you though. I started as A CNA in high school at a nursing home and hated it. Said I would never do nursing again. Went and got my EMT-B then moved to KS to start my radiology degree. While in the hospital doing shadowing I saw what nursing could be and realized I was in the wrong field. Now at 23 im in my second semester of nursing school and loving it. The clinicals are a blast as are all the teachers and most of the nurses in the hospital.

When I am done, I want to do trauma nursing but at the same time traveling nurse sounds high on my list too as I want to see lots of things too and see lots of places. I guess me telling you all that is there is hope, it isnt all doom and gloom like the nursing homes can be. Come back, give it a shot, if it doesnt work out again, oh well. That was my philosophy.

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Ditto on the Thank You for all you're doing for us!

Kudos

I'd suggest going to the base hospital or a local hospital and finding out about shadowing a nurse. Pick 2 or 3 specialties which you think you'll have an interest, and arrange to spend a few hours shadowing a nurse in each field.

Not all of of nursing is "Nursing Home" style care. So go get a taste from the buffett and see what you think. All it costs is a little bit of time.

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There are so many options for nursing..CNA/LVN/ rn-bsn-msn--advanced etc. Pick one that you like and what you will do good in. The nursing home work is a small sample of nursing..there are hospital/home health/ call centers/travel Rn. PLay surf the web and type in Rn, just alone you will get so many hits that it will over welm you, but these are just ideas.

Hope it helps.

Lastly, THANKS for serving our county!

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Hey fly-boy!

I ditto the suggestion on shadowing a couple of RN's... I was able to tail a CRNA through several surgeries and fell in love with it. This will be a second career for me as well, ...I have an Army retirement behind me.

My daughter is currently in the AF in Korea on a tour extension.

Good luck to you.

~Blue

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we need more guys in nursing !!

if your looking into doing some traveling maybe check out the most desired travel nurse posistions and check those out

i think some of them are icu nicu and or

( i'm partical to the or !!! )

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Specializes in Anesthesia.

Dude, I definitely say DO NURSING! At first, I was extremely hesitant (especially about the whole male nurse issue), but now that I'm in my second semester, i'm really glad that I'm going into this profession. There's seriously so much you can do, so many specialties, and so many job openings. In nursing, once you have your RN, the rest of your education is very accessible. There are so many different ways to go in nursing...My intructors even say, "if you're ever bored of the specialty you work in, you can always switch specialties or go back to school for your bsn, msn, and so on." I'm an aspiring nurse anesthetist, but if the pay is right, who knows where I'll end up. There are so many options..And being a male in nursing has been more of an advantage than a disadvantage. PLUS you can work three 12hour shifts a week, and have the four other days off. What's not to love about that? Sure beats a 9-5 desk job..

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Specializes in ED, Tele, Psych.

First, have you considered applying for a commissioning program within the Air Force and have them pay you while you go to nursing school? or requesting a retraining into a medical MOS and going that route? Second, nursing is what you make of it - RN in a nursing home is a lot different from an RN in an ED, up on the floor, in pre-hospital care, in an office, or in public health - some are high adrenaline while others are desk gigs. Third, nursing is a great career to feel like you've helped and one to feel like you get walked all over, it runs the whole range in every shift. Last , the pay is nice, you can travel all over the country, and the hours asre pretty nice. Good luck with it.

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Specializes in Varied.

USAF Alex,

Have you looked into AECP, Airman Education and Commissioning program? You get paid as an E-5 with BAH/BAS while the Air Force sends you to school and they pay for your tution and books. Nursing is one of the few degrees AECP covers. Check with your base's Education Office for more information.

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If you can before discharge:

1) Pay the $600 extra into the G.I. Bill "Top-Up" program, you'll receive $1471 a month tax-free worth $52,956.

2) CLEP as many classes as you can to accelerate your degree requirements. Contact the schools of your intent prior to taking the exams to save time (not money since they are free). Classes such as: http://www.collegeboard.com/student/...lep/exams.html

Link for info for Veterans: http://www.collegeboard.com/student/.../veterans.html

Link for Air Force Active Duty nursing opportunities: http://www.airforce.com/opportunities/healthcare/careers/nursing/

Good luck Alex:cool:

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