Day in the life of an AF nurse?

caffeinism · Nov 25, 2004

I too am looking at the service for a nursing career, but as your post shows, there isn't that much info out there. Have you found any posts that give a more clear picture of military nursing? I am still a nursing student so I don't know much about any kind of nursing yet. The only thing I have found out so far is that alot of people hate their work both in the military and in the civilian sector. As one person did say, to succeed in the military, you have to love the military in itself, regardless of what you do. Any positives or negatives you have found, would be greatly appreciated! Thanks

Jetman · Nov 25, 2004

I too am looking at the service for a nursing career, but as your post shows, there isn't that much info out there. Have you found any posts that give a more clear picture of military nursing? I am still a nursing student so I don't know much about any kind of nursing yet. The only thing I have found out so far is that alot of people hate their work both in the military and in the civilian sector. As one person did say, to succeed in the military, you have to love the military in itself, regardless of what you do. Any positives or negatives you have found, would be greatly appreciated! Thanks

As you can see, I haven't had much response with this thread. I graduated nursing school with a guy who was getting his BSN through the Navy. They paid his tuition and full salary just to go to school. He spent 14 years enlisted on a submarine so this was going to be a good for him to spend more time with his family. We both have been nurses now for 3 years, both working in an ER. I've talked to him a few times since graduation and the differences I've ascertained are:

1. The military utilizes more ancillary staff. In the ER where I work it is total patient care, plus much of the time I'm ordering lab, answering phones, and getting water for family members. I do not mind doing such things, it's just that it takes away from patient care time.

2. He tells me the nurses are well respected by the doctors. When you've been in long enough you'll actually outrank some of them. On the civilian side, some of the doctors I've worked with actually respect nurses for what they do, some see nurses as just their assistants, and some see nurses as doctor wannabees who were too stupid to get into medical school. Fortunately, there aren't that many of the last one.

3. Depending on where you live, military pay is better, at least in the long run. I have 3 years experience as an ER nurse and make 17.91/hr which is about 35-36K/yr. My first year active duty would be $10,000 MORE PER YEAR! I have 12 years of Air National Guard time so the pay is a little more than someone with no experience, but if you look at the pay charts you will see that the military has considerably more raises. You start at O1 less than two years base pay=$28,123 plus the tax free housing allowance which would add between $8,000-10,000 per year plus the tax free food allowance which is ~$2,000/yr for a total of $38,123-40,123. That is more than I make with my 3 years experience. I'm pretty positive in two years you make O2 and in two more year you make O3. So, in 4 years you become a Captain (I'm looking at Air Force), you would be O3 over 4 years. Let's look at the pay chart. Base pay=$50,017 Tax free housing=~10,000-12,000 Tax free food allowance=~2,000 for a total of ~$62,000-64,000/yr. Not too bad.

http://www.military.com/Resources/ResourcesContent/0,13964,49020,00.html

4. No contest, benefits are better in the military. Free medical, dental for you. Low cost life insurance, ~$20/mo for $250,000 coverage. Pension at 20yrs. Free gym memberships. Most AF bases have golf courses. Many restaurants, car dealerships, etc., give military discounts.

5. Educational opportunities. The military will send a certain number of qualified nurses each year to different schools for CRNA, FNP, Nurse Midwife, etc. with full pay and benefits and at no cost to the nurse. My hospital is reimbursing ONE er nurse to get her CNS. They said it wasn't in their budget to do it for anybody else and that this was just a "trial" case. In the military, there is also a tuition assistance that pays 75% of the members tuition up to a certain amount each year (not sure but I think it pays ~$250/credit hour for graduate level courses).

6. Finally, you do have to love the military lifestyle because it is different than civilian. In my experience, the military as a whole, is a family. Sure, you won't be spending 30 years in one place developing relationships, but the friends you have in the services are friends for life. It is truly amazing as you travel around the globe, where and when you'll run into an old friend that you had at so-and-so base.

Well, I've rambled on for awhile now. I hope this helps and good luck with your studies.

ps Talked the nurse recruiter for the Air Force today, $15,000 sign on bonus.

Jetman