I need help/advice for RN&Army wife

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I graduated as an RN a little over a year ago and have worked as an RN for a little over 6 months. I am recently married to an Army officer. We moved to Ft. Benning, GA about 2 months ago and I have had the hardest time finding a job here on base. I have a FL RN license so I can only work on base with that license. We're only here until May of next year so I didn't think it would be beneficial to do the license transfer to GA. We are moving to Ft. Knox next May and I will be doing the license tranfer then. Because I have been having trouble finding an RN position here in GA, I have even considered going to an online school to get my BSN. I am totally lost and don't know where to go from here. I've even considered just working at pier 1 so I can have income! haha. Does anyone have any advice for how to be an RN while being an Army spouse? I thought being an RN would make it easier to move around often...Thank you for any help!!!

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As you can read on the forums here, there is no nursing shortage in lots of places. However, when you move to Fort Knox, you will probably be able to find a job at the hospital according to another thread in the KY forum. FYI, I lived at Fort Knox for a while so I can tell you don't expect much entertainment without going to Louisville. Elizabethtown is OK but nothing fantastic. I wouldn't go into getting the BSN online until you get to Fort Knox because your employer may pay for some of the cost.

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Check into a compact license.........there are several states that recognize your license if it from one of those states.

Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC)

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Specializes in Critical Care/Coronary Care Unit,.

Since you'll be traveling a lot as an army wife, I would suggest that you sign up with various nursing agencies in your area. You should also check out all about staffing since they are one of the largest travel agencies. They give 3 month assignments, etc. However, they require a year of nursing experience. However, you'd be able to work wherever you go. Also consider home health agencies. Good luck.

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Specializes in OR, OB, EM, Flight, ICU, PACU.......
Since you'll be traveling a lot as an army wife, I would suggest that you sign up with various nursing agencies in your area. You should also check out all about staffing since they are one of the largest travel agencies. They give 3 month assignments, etc. However, they require a year of nursing experience. However, you'd be able to work wherever you go. Also consider home health agencies. Good luck.

Congrats on marrying an Army officer! Hope you like the ride, it can be tough at times, but rewarding, and seeing the world isn't too shaby!! I would second some of the advice of the previous posts. Plus the Agency idea is a good one. As a retired Army Master Sargeant, most of it in Medical, I find it hard to believe there are all the nursing positions filled on any military post! Maybe times have changed. I would also add that many states have computerized/online registration. Not sure about Georgia ( I was there many moons ago!) but you might check with the State Nursing Board.

Good luck and keep us informed!

Just my $.02.

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Specializes in CT stepdown, hospice, psych, ortho.

I'm a military wife and, as a matter of fact, I just left Fort Benning in the summer.

Small world.

Take heart, I paid for my GA license and never worked a day there since we were only stationed there 6 months and everywhere I interviewed wanted me to commit to a year. I bet your husband is doing MCCC? I can commisserate. BTW, I couldn't stand GA. At least you didn't waste the money on getting your license. For what its worth, we relocated to the west coast to another base and I've gotten a call for almost half the jobs I applied for, offering an interview. My advice to you is try to find prn work, it may be easier to get your foot in the door because you don't need the benefits. I am considering doing agency work right now because the money is waaaay better than I've ever gotten before. I, like you are thinking, went back to school. I'm finishing up my Masters next spring and am so glad I had the opportunity to go back. If you'd like to talk more, feel free to message me since I've been there, done that.

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