Entering Army or Air Force as a Nurse Officer

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Hi Everyone~!

I will be graduating from nursing school with a BSN this coming August. I have started the process for applying to both the Army and Air Force and completed my physical at MEPS. (Is that okay to apply to both, by the way?) I am having a hard time deciding on which branch for several reasons (Safety, Deployment Rates, Student Loan Repayment Amounts, Best nursing experience, etc.).

Is there a big difference between nursing in the Army vs. nursing in the Air Force? I am interested in trauma nursing. When thinking of trauma, I have heard and am sure Army is the best way to go. I just worry about it being more dangerous than the Air Force. How true is this? Do you really get depoloyed more in the Army than the Air Force? Also, I will owe about 100,000 in student loans when I'm done with school. The Army will pay up to 120,000 and AF will pay up to 40,000. This also tells me to go Army.

Does anyone have any tips or advice for me in making this decision? I appreciate it!

Jenn :nurse:

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Specializes in Med/Surg, APU/PACU, Peds, Flight.

i am pretty sure that before your packets would go to the boards, you need to choose whichever one you want to commit with. you can't have 2 packets being submitted at once.

from what i've been told about deploying and such it's not an if you will get deployed, it's a when you will get deployed.

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Physical needs to be with one branch at a time...

you should decide what branch you want rather then submit to two different branches and both of them looking at your as an indecisive applicant with wavering support at a time when applicants are not in demand - there are lots of them.

I'd recommend gaining a bigger perspective if you are worried about joining the Army as a nurse for 'danger' then just take a step back and think of all of those on the front lines who are readily stepping forwarding, grabbing their basic load and actually seeking danger - get some perspective and if that doesn't immediately make you want to support those Soldiers then you should seriously re-look whether you belong in the Army or military for that matter. If you can see yourself serving then look at the general role of the AF versus Army in terms of overall mission, look at the nurse specialties and from that you can gain a good broad overview of who does what and what their focus is....

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Also, keep in mind there's not really anyone on here (as far as I'm aware) who can actually compare the two branches for you - as nice as that would be - we all belong to one or the other and can usually only talk about the one.

Just_cause's advice is right on the money.

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I have talked to a experienced army LTC nurse who has worked alongside all other nursing branches of the military. He told me the army is vastly superior in terms of training and dealing with trauma/critical care. As for your worries with danger, doesn't trauma usually coincide with danger?Even with that in mind nurses are usually in FOBs or CSH 99% of the time...

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Thank you all for your responses. That's good to know about the packets. I guess I better make my decision. :) I know, I do contradict myself with loving trauma but worrying about safety. I have had no doubt that I will be deployed and I'm prepared for that. I guess I was just looking for what the nursing practice is like while deployed (field hospitals, clinics, etc.).

jgcadet: Thanks for the tip on trauma skills in the Army.

I haven't had much luck on getting information about the insider's experience and what the real deal nursing practice is like in any branch. I'd still love to hear about experiences of those both deployed and in the states.

Thanks, again!

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Specializes in critical care: trauma/oncology/burns.

i think most ad nurses on this forum will tell you, whether you are working in the rear or deployed down range:

just embrace the suck.

you're gonna get blood on your boots one way or the other

you will also laugh some and cry a lot

but know, that for that one airman, sailor, devil dog, or soldier you will make a difference in her/his life

athena

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