Do LPNs have a place in the air force or navy?

[Hoping2be]

I am a 29 year old female recently graduated from LPN program and having difficulty finding a job as a new nurse. Seriously considering enlisting in the airforce, army, or navy. Will they recognize my LPN license or do they only recognize RNs with a bachelor degree? I would hate to enlist and start at the bottom when I worked so hard to become an LPN! I also have a husband and one year old child. Is is selfish to want to enlist now? Any advice would be helpful! Thank you.

[caliotter3]

LPNs are enlisted personnel. With experience, you might be recruited to serve at the E5 rank after basic training. No way to be an active duty officer until you get a BSN.

[hardline]

With all due respect, either way you will still start out "at the bottom," but as an RN you will be a junior grade officer versus enlisted. As Caliotter said you will not be able to serve as a nurse in the enlisted role, but there are somewhat similar options available such as medic or Corpsman. Continue your search to find out more and decide what is best for you and do it.

:)

[Hoping2be]

Thanks for the replies. I would be happy entering as a medic! I think "at the bottom" wasn't the correct way for me to state it; Im not really concerned with ranking. I just mean that I would like my medical license recognized in some way! :)

[justashooter]

good luck with your marriage and family life.

[wtbcrna, MSN, DNP, CRNA]

LPNs are enlisted personnel. With experience, you might be recruited to serve at the E5 rank after basic training. No way to be an active duty officer until you get a BSN.

That is for the Army only. The AF really doesn't know what to do with LPNs. There AF doesn't have built in structure for LPNs like the Army does.

[Viper1104]

The Navy has no field for LPNs. We do have some civilian LPNs working in the medical surgical units in a limited capacity. RN is the base level for nursing in the Navy.