Is the military hiring?

Mslecia20 · Sep 29, 2012

I will be graduating in December with my BSN and right now am interested in the Army and Air Force. Does anyone know if either branch is currently taking nurses for active duty? I've heard some people say things are slowly winding down in the Middle East, thus less nurses are being taken in. I've also heard soldiers are being shipped to other places, meaning nurses will be still be taken in.
If so I'd also be curious about loan repayment opportunities and what they are currently offering. The last nurse recruiter I spoke with said things were unknown with a new fiscal year coming up. thanks for the help everyone, tough time right now making the decision.

My recruiter told me there was a small graduate (within 6 months of graduating) mission this year but the boards meet in November and they will not know the new mission until June of 2013 for fy 2014

lindarn · Sep 29, 2012

Your best bet is to speak to a HEALTH CARE RECRUITER, not a regular recruiter. They have the stats on which is hiring.

A couple of years ago, I was doing my annual tour at Madigan Army Medical Center (I am AFR Nurse), and the new grad army nurses told me that the Army was the only service that was accepting nurses.

The Army also offered more opportunity than the other services. That is what I was told, when I inquired as to why they chose what service to join.

Lindarn, RN, BSN, CCRN

Somewhere in the PACNW

jeckrn, BSN, RN · Sep 29, 2012

Linda is right you need to contact a Healthcare Recruiter. Right now most services are not taking new grads unless they paid for the education.

Mslecia20 · Sep 29, 2012

Oh sorry I didn't mention my recruiter is an army recruiter.

super4 · Sep 29, 2012

I agree with what you both said. I definitely should talk to a healthcare recruiter and not a regular recruiter, I know that. I just don't know exactly how to go about that and don't want to contact a recruiting office just to have some guy calling me every day to trying to get me to enlist when I know that if I did enter the military I would be commissioned. Because of this I wanted to ask you guys (military RNs) about how to go about this process. I kind of feel a recruiter might sugar coat things to make joining sound more desirable and not really give the clear cut facts and experience of being a nurse in the military. Do you feel healthcare recruiters are honest and straight forward with things or would you say the sway things to sound a little better than what it's really like?

Also, I hear a lot about nurses in the military having to work more hours that a civil nurse which is totally fine and understandable with me. But honestly what is an average "hours-per-week" for a military nurse? 4 - 12's? 5-12's?

cateetee · Sep 29, 2012

I agree with what you both said. I definitely should talk to a healthcare recruiter and not a regular recruiter, I know that. I just don't know exactly how to go about that and don't want to contact a recruiting office just to have some guy calling me every day to trying to get me to enlist when I know that if I did enter the military I would be commissioned. Because of this I wanted to ask you guys (military RNs) about how to go about this process. I kind of feel a recruiter might sugar coat things to make joining sound more desirable and not really give the clear cut facts and experience of being a nurse in the military. Do you feel healthcare recruiters are honest and straight forward with things or would you say the sway things to sound a little better than what it's really like?
Also, I hear a lot about nurses in the military having to work more hours that a civil nurse which is totally fine and understandable with me. But honestly what is an average "hours-per-week" for a military nurse? 4 - 12's? 5-12's?

Hi!

I graduated with my BSN in May. I can tell you my recent experience with my Air Force health recruiter was awesome. He was very straightforward and did not sugarcoat things. At the moment, military nursing is extremely competitive and so he basically told me that I needed to get my packet situated with all of the components and we could go from there. This was for the USAF July NTP 2012 Boards (and I was selected )

I would contact a health recruiter now so you can find out what you need to complete your application packet! I had no ties to the military prior to applying so they didn't pay for my school & I am a new grad RN about to leave for COT in Oct. So as far as I know the USAF is still taking nurses!

Let me know how things go & if you have anymore questions you can PM me

deftonez188 · Sep 30, 2012

I don't believe you have to worry about recruiters trying to pull the wool over your eyes to get in. They don't have to - most people are competing for what little slots they do put out annually, or in other words, there is no desperation on their end.

As for the Navy, it's really competitive still - I haven't met any direct accessions yet, only those having completed a school program like myself.

midinphx, BSN · Sep 30, 2012

The healthcare recruiters don't have to lie to get their numbers up and get you in, too many qualified applicants are available. They may not tell you all the facts that you want - they aren't nurses, and may not know all the answers. I never felt lied to or harassed by my recruiter.

In a hospital setting, an AF nurse can expect to work 4 -12hours shifts one week then 3 -12's the next. Rotating days and nights usually quarterly (though that varies on every unit). You can also expect extra duties that we usually do outside of those hours. There are also various mandatory meetings that have a tendency to fall on my days off. It looks like a lot, but it does eventually even out. If the census is low, they often call off the military nurses - they know how we spend our time.

On deployment - expect to work 6 days a week. Often, that gets changed based on volume/census.

The application process is a paperwork nightmare. It is a long road with long waits and no answers. That is just a taste of the military - just when you think you're done with the paperwork, there is another checklist! lol.

We never know what the future brings. There were nurses/military before the middle East, and we will be here after. It's time you take your questions to the healthcare recruiter. Be aware that the military is not a job - it's a lifestyle and a privilege to serve.

linnaete, ASN, BSN, MSN · Sep 30, 2012

Find a healthcare recruiter. Don't go to the main Navy/Army/AF website and fill out a form, most likely that will prompt someone calling you to enlist (not commission). IMO the best way to find the person (recruiter) you are looking for is to find your recruiting district's web page depending on where you live and either find the number of the officer recruiting office or call the quarterdeck and ask for the number to officer recruiting.