Is military career pathway as a nurse good for me?

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Hello everyone,

I need some advice about whether being a military nurse is a right choice for me. Here's the outline about me.

-31, married, want to have a baby someday after having a stable career; my husband has a stable job (high school teacher)

-BS in bio, MA in fine arts, applying a few accelerated BSN programs for next January entry dates, BIG student loans (very very huge!)

-had some clinical background as a hospital volunteer, had some teaching experiences, good at math and science

I want to be a nurse to have a life-long stable career. I heard many rumors that nowadays new nurse graduates have hard time to find jobs in the civilian world. I wonder if situations are better in the military.

I applied navy before, as an undergrad in the delayed entry program, but withdrew at the last moment because I was not placed in the medical field as I requested after the physical exam. But now, since my situation changed, once I become a nurse, I wonder if I can get to work as a nurse in the military. I do have some concerns.

1. What's my chance to get into nurse candidate program? Which branch (navy/air force) is more suitable for me in terms of loan forgiveness, tuition reimbursement? What's the maximum amount that military will help out to pay off the student loans?

2. What are some potential problems for married military nurses? Do most of them live separately away from their spouses during the active duty? Are there employment assistant programs for spouses (civilians) to help married couple stay together? How difficult to have children during active duty?

3.When is best for me to sign up, right after admission to the accelerated BSN or after passing the NCLEX?

4. How easy to get a nursing job in ICU right after I sign in?

5. If I'm thinking about getting a MSN in anesthesia after a few years in ICU, am I allow to pursue that degree as a full time student? Will my status change to reserve?

Any other advices and comments are welcome too. Thank you all in advance!

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

Many of your questions have been answered many times over in this forum; the search function might be helpful if you don't get many answers.

As with the civilian sector, nursing positions are diminishing in all branches of the service. Times are tight. There are fewer monetary incentives - they are still around, but the military is in a position where they can be very choosy. They may be more likely to select those who desire to serve vs. those who are looking to pay off large student loans.

There can be a high price tag attached to service - you give up a lot of personal freedom, control over your work location, being with family, and you may be asked to put your life in danger around the clock. But with all that, you may get experience that is unparalleled!

Contacting a healthcare recruiter for whichever branch you choose may be helpful. Sometimes those folks are tough to reach as they are spread thin over regions and they are inundated by inquiries from new nurses or those considering this pathway.

Good luck in your BSN program! The military in general does look at GPA, so keep that in mind.

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Specializes in Dept. of Veterans Affairs.

True....there is a lot of info here if you search the threads. That being said... The ARMY has a sign on bonus of quite a lote of money. Also, there is the loan repayment program that they offer. Please talk with a recruiter to get more information. Take that information and double check it online. Recruiters are numbers people and will say almost anything to make you sign. The military is a great place to grow career wise if you want to make it a career choice. I'm a little sorry I left after so long. I miss it. Anyhow, if you are thinking of the service, check the physical fitness standards for your age group and gender. Ensure you can meet the standard for the Officer Basic Course (OBC). If not, you should start now! Trust me... It'll pay off in the long run. One of the first things a recruiter will look at is to see if you cancer ht and wt standards and pass the fitness test. Good luck on your search here. I'm sure you'll find what you are looking for.

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Specializes in Dept. of Veterans Affairs.

Sorry for my typos and misspelled words. I'm using my smartphone. :)

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

Unfortunately for new grads, the Army is currently requiring two years of experience for direct commission. Even those who go the ROTC route are no longer guaranteed an active duty commission. It's a different recruiting climate than just a few years ago.

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Lol your questions would be relevant back in 2006 but now the military is super competitive borderline impossible for new nurses coming off the street. I will address your questions as follows:

1. What's my chance to get into nurse candidate program? Which branch (navy/air force) is more suitable for me in terms of loan forgiveness, tuition reimbursement? What's the maximum amount that military will help out to pay off the student loans?

The Army is full on nurses especially new ones right now so I can almost guarantee the AF and Navy are as well, unless you get lucky and get a reserve nursing slot for a 66H (General nurse) you won't get much in the way of incentives unless you are perioperative or some in demand specialty.

2. What are some potential problems for married military nurses? Do most of them live separately away from their spouses during the active duty? Are there employment assistant programs for spouses (civilians) to help married couple stay together? How difficult to have children during active duty?

Your spouse moves with you, I think there is some preference at GS/govt jobs or military spouses but not much. Having children is not usually a problem there are millions of military brats that have been just fine.

3.When is best for me to sign up, right after admission to the accelerated BSN or after passing the NCLEX?

Sign up? You mean apply for the boards? As I said before this is a new era, the military is very selective and you don't just sign up. Your chances of getting in as an AD new nurse without AECP or ROTC is already really low. That being said they won't take you seriously until you have your RN.

4. How easy to get a nursing job in ICU right after I sign in?

Not going to happen

5. If I'm thinking about getting a MSN in anesthesia after a few years in ICU, am I allow to pursue that degree as a full time student? Will my status change to reserve?

Good luck with that, slots are competitive plus everyone and their mother wants to go CRNA.

Not to sound snarky as your questions are valid but easily answered by previous posts on here. The military is downsizing and a lot of your questions are "wants" that are few and far between but not realistic as a new nurse. Keep in mind I am coming from an Army perspective I can't imagine how competitive the AF and Navy are right now...

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Andrewschultz,

Your info is SERIOUSLY outdated....

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

Your info is SERIOUSLY outdated....

Not surprising, given the serious shift in recruiting, as well as retention and promotions! The CPT board that was completed in April and announced two days ago saw only a 70% promotion rate, down from the very high rate (like 95%) from the last few years. Times are lean!

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Specializes in Dept. of Veterans Affairs.
Andrewschultz,

Your info is SERIOUSLY outdated....

Really? I just spoke with a recruiter in March at a career fair. Hmmm.. Maybe it is.

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Specializes in Dept. of Veterans Affairs.

Dranger,

Sir,

I just navigated to the ARMY website and they are still popping off with the loan repayment program. Is that at least correct?

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Specializes in Dept. of Veterans Affairs.
Unfortunately for new grads the Army is currently requiring two years of experience for direct commission. Even those who go the ROTC route are no longer guaranteed an active duty commission. It's a different recruiting climate than just a few years ago.[/quote']

LunahRN,

There are Army brochures that state only one year public health experience is required along with your BSN. is this no longer the case? I have within the last four months been to a recruiting station and looked at the brochure. Things do change rapidly don't they.

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

I feel like websites and materials tend to be a bit behind the times. Healthcare recruiters will usually have the most up-to-date info. The general recruiters won't have a clue, though. AMEDD is totally different. But they may change requirements for specialty positions, like public health.

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