I need info! AF & Navy :)

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I have been debating on joing the military now for the last year while going through nursing school. I have been debating between airforce and navy as well as joing with my RN or getting bSN first. I find myself in a pickle and need some help.

I have been wanting to speak with those in the mililtary as a nurse and their experiences, tips, suggestions ect. My boyfriend told me of this place and I wish I would have found it a long time ago. I have been putting off talkign to recruiters because I want to find out everything I can before I do so I know what to believe and ask. Many military and non military people I know tell me "they will tell you anything to get you to join." I have always wanted to be a nurse, I am only 20 years old (turn 21 in feb 2012) but I am mature for my age. I graduated a year early form high school (had a minor setback in nursing school thus far and should have graduated this last may but I have recovered and will be graduating in may 2012).

I want to help people and experience as much as possible. Iplan on joining either navy or airforce for 3-4 years then I would like to settle down with my boyfirend (the love of my life) and start a family.

I need any tips and information you can give me please. I am seeing that getting a BSN and joining AF is goign ot be a long wait and very few get in ( I didnt realize how scant jobs were in AF for BSN nurses). My younger sister is married to a navy submariner and she says there is a shortage for nurses in the navy, Is this true?

PLEASE HELP ME

Thank you.

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

You'll need your BSN first to be active duty in any branch of the service -- you cannot be a nurse in the service without a BSN. I recommend starting an RN-BSN bridge as soon as you finish your RN if you really want to be a nurse in the military.

Truly there is no shortage of nurses for any branch right now; as a matter of fact, the Army Nurse Corps is going to be actively downsizing in the near future. I know you didn't mention the Army, but the other branches tend to be in similar states as far as the numbers go.

I would recommend speaking to a healthcare recruiter (not just a regular recruiter) for whichever branch you choose, or both. Good luck in your RN program!

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What can you tell me about the army downsizing in the future? I just noticed in some f the threads about people posting wanting to know about airforce boards that they only select so many nurses with BSN's a year. What branch are you in? tell me about yourself?

I am open to army as well.Tell me anything you can. Thank you so much for responding ot my post I was getting worried no one would talk with me. I just want to hear what peopel who have been through have to say before

I talk to recruiters because I want know what I'd really be getting.

Thank you again. I noticed you have responded to alot of peoples posts you are so nice and inspiring. :)

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Specializes in Anesthesia.

Downsizing of nurses in the military is cyclic. The Army downsized their nurse corps back in the late 90's. It came back to bite them in the butt when 9/11 & GWOT started. I guess the Army didn't learn their lesson, but if the AF decides to let me go early I am jumping at the chance....lol.

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

ElizEub, I'm in the Army. Right now getting in is very competitive, and the Army is only considering RNs with two or more years of experience. I believe the AF and Navy aren't restricting their numbers quite as much as the Army is. But by the time you finish your RN and then get to work on your BSN, it might be a totally different ballgame.

Speaking with recruiters is really the best way to get information -- things change all the time, and talking to them doesn't obligate you to anything in any way.

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LunahRN always has a lot of good information on this subject, but here is what I can tell you about anticipating getting in on the Navy side, with a little bit of AF too.

DO NOT talk to regular recruiters. They are there for the enlisted personnel only. It's what I did in the very beginning and when I realized they wanted me to go in as an E-1. You have to get in touch with your medical recruiter because only they know the details of the accession bonuses and correct paperwork.

Recruiting seems to be different in each region. I have seen some people who say their recruiter won't talk to them or is rude to them, but my Navy recruiter always answered my questions. I did call an AF recruiter one time and I never got any answer back.

You must have your BSN first before you go into any branch. Lastly, it is a long process. I started in 2008 and I just got accepted a month ago. I didn't make it in as soon as I graduated school, but once I got a year of critical care experience, I was golden

deuces

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Specializes in ER, ICU.
You'll need your BSN first to be active duty in any branch of the service -- you cannot be a nurse in the service without a BSN. I recommend starting an RN-BSN bridge as soon as you finish your RN if you really want to be a nurse in the military.

Truly there is no shortage of nurses for any branch right now; as a matter of fact, the Army Nurse Corps is going to be actively downsizing in the near future. I know you didn't mention the Army, but the other branches tend to be in similar states as far as the numbers go.

I would recommend speaking to a healthcare recruiter (not just a regular recruiter) for whichever branch you choose, or both. Good luck in your RN program!

(Lunah, your statement is not 100% accurate. You need a nursing degree, and bachelors, but you don't need a BSN. I have an ASN and bachelors in music and am commissioned in the AF as a flight nurse.)

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Specializes in ER, ICU.

I would talk to recruiters. I think the impression they will mislead you is not true. My recruiter didn't say anything that wasn't true. Nursing is very competitive and you will need a year or more of experience to get in and a bachelors degree. Once you have some experience you can start the process of applying. This can take up to two years, so you can have quite a bit of job experience when you enter. Good luck.

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Specializes in Anesthesia.
(Lunah, your statement is not 100% accurate. You need a nursing degree, and bachelors, but you don't need a BSN. I have an ASN and bachelors in music and am commissioned in the AF as a flight nurse.)

I don't think you can do that anymore. The AF website states you need you Bachelor's in Nursing to join.

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Specializes in Critical Care (SICU/Trauma).

Okay, so I am a Navy nurse too, I'll try to give you the nitty gritty.

Nursing in the Navy right now is very very competitive. The Navy is supposed to downsize 30% in the next year. So in turn, they're only taking the best and brightest. I had a year and a half of civilian nursing under my belt, and I think that, my GPA and my nursing certification, put me ahead of some.

What is this setback you had? Was it grade related? They look at your transcripts. Withdrawals and incompletes aren't a good thing.

As far as I know, the only areas that are short right now are Emergency and Critical care nursing. Pediatric and Psych nurse practitioners are also in high demand. With that being said, you probably won't get into either ED or CC as a new grad. They're picking up CC nurses with a CCRN and 5+ years of experience.

Any other questions?

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What is this setback you had? Was it grade related? They look at your transcripts. Withdrawals and incompletes aren't a good thing.

Any other questions?

I failed my first semester Basics class but I came back the next year and re-took the course now im completing my third and going onto my fourth. I didnt have my head straight my first sesmter. I thought since i had straight As all my life and a 4.0 GPA it would be cake and I was dead wrong. I got my act together and have been doing well since then.

I didnt realize getting into the military as a nurse would be so competative and would take so long to get in. Seems like you cant get in anywhere as a new grad nurse lol.

How has the nursing navy life been for you so far?

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LunahRN always has a lot of good information on this subject, but here is what I can tell you about anticipating getting in on the Navy side, with a little bit of AF too.

DO NOT talk to regular recruiters. They are there for the enlisted personnel only. It's what I did in the very beginning and when I realized they wanted me to go in as an E-1. You have to get in touch with your medical recruiter because only they know the details of the accession bonuses and correct paperwork.

Recruiting seems to be different in each region. I have seen some people who say their recruiter won't talk to them or is rude to them, but my Navy recruiter always answered my questions. I did call an AF recruiter one time and I never got any answer back.

You must have your BSN first before you go into any branch. Lastly, it is a long process. I started in 2008 and I just got accepted a month ago. I didn't make it in as soon as I graduated school, but once I got a year of critical care experience, I was golden

deuces

Do you think If i work as im doing my bacheors ill have enough expereince to get in (being just a year). I have been working as a CNA for almost two years at a nursing home but I know that wont count for anything because Im not a nurse yet. My sister is married to a navy submariner and she told me they need nurses in the navy. From what I have been seeing in posts it doesnt seem like they are hurting to bad for nurses in any branch of the military. I guess I need to talk to a recruiter and see what they say. I have learned alot from nurses on this website. :)

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