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Discussion

Getting an RN or joining the Air Force

Hello everyone. This is going to be kind of a long question/ discussion about the military, nursing careers, and my personal situation. I hope I can find someone who's been where I am or can give me some good advice. So to start things off. Ive desired to become a nurse for a very long time ever since I was a teenager. I never had much support or insight into the education options for nursing though. I am at a crossroads right now between trying to pursue a B.S.N. or joining the military to get my education. I am almost finished with my prerequisite courses for nursing school and I have around a 3.1-3.2 GPA (not very good I know). My big dilemma with the BSN route is the fact that even if I by some miracle get into a program I will have no time for a job which will subsequently lead to me most likely being kicked out of my home by my parents and I will not have enough funds to pay for my car Insurence. So transportation and housing are going to be shot with that route. So I figured doing the military would be a great idea but I would really like to join as an officer (which requires a BSN). So it's either I join and be a nurse and miss out on all the benifits of being an officer and have to take **** and claw my way up the ranks or have nowhere to live or go during BSN school. My ultimate goal is to have my RN and become an Air Force officer but it's looking like it's never going to happen in my current state. Sorry for the long post I'm just having a panic attack and don't know what to really do with my life at the moment. I really hope someone can help me. Thanks for reading.

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    Join as an RN, work on your BSN while you're in, then go Green to Gold (or whatever they call it in the AF) to become an officer once you get the BSN.

    The RN-BSN programs around here are only like 10 months.

    You could also look at student loans to help pitch in at your parents house and pay your insurance while you get your BSN if you wanted to just go straight commission.

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    The best route would be AFROTC to earn a commission upon completion of your BSN. You can't enlist and try to complete your BSN on the side. The next best route would be to get your BSN and work for 2 years, then get a direct commission into AD or the Reserves. Your third option - and we're getting into "how not to do it" territory - is to enlist in the AF and apply for the NECP after 2 years of service where they send you to civilian nursing school and commission you upon completion of your BSN. It's a great program but it's really intended to advance members who otherwise wouldn't be as close to applying for a BSN as you are. It's not the kind of thing you set your sights on the moment you enlist.

    Do NOT enlist with the belief that you can complete a BSN on the side and then apply for a commission.

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    The best route would be AFROTC to earn a commission upon completion of your BSN. You can't enlist and try to complete your BSN on the side. The next best route would be to get your BSN and work for 2 years, then get a direct commission into AD or the Reserves. Your third option - and we're getting into "how not to do it" territory - is to enlist in the AF and apply for the NECP after 2 years of service where they send you to civilian nursing school and commission you upon completion of your BSN. It's a great program but it's really intended to advance members who otherwise wouldn't be as close to applying for a BSN as you are. It's not the kind of thing you set your sights on the moment you enlist.

    Do NOT enlist with the belief that you can complete a BSN on the side and then apply for a commission.

    Why not? My husband did that in the Army. He enlisted, got his bachelors, then did green to good and got commissioned (after OCS of course).

    He isn't in nursing though. Is that the difference?

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    Why not? My husband did that in the Army. He enlisted, got his bachelors, then did green to good and got commissioned (after OCS of course).

    He isn't in nursing though. Is that the difference?

    I think that's the difference. She can't go to nursing school, do didactic and clinical hours, all while on an active duty enlistment. And even if she could, it's not as simple as sending in a copy of your BSN to get a commission. It's a competitive corps, so people are coming in via the NECP, via direct commission to experienced openings, etc.

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    I think that's the difference. She can't go to nursing school, do didactic and clinical hours, all while on an active duty enlistment. And even if she could, it's not as simple as sending in a copy of your BSN to get a commission. It's a competitive corps, so people are coming in via the NECP, via direct commission to experienced openings, etc.

    Gotcha. Thanks for clarifying that.

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    I believe you have to have your BSN to commission. I can say I am active duty, I went through a very fast high standards RN program while being a single mom. I am about to test for my license. Thinking of commissioning but the programs they have now while enlisted have TIS req that I do not meet. I would suggest completing your RN first enlist then do let the AF pay for the bsn which can be done online. But you will not be able to start school until you finish your require courses. If you do join I would suggest shoot for a medical job 4N. it will help you more than hinder. it can be done.

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