Marine becoming a Nurse

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Hello my name is David Williams, I'm currently an Active Duty Marine. My enlistment ends in 2020. I plan to become a Registered Nurse because I enjoy helping others and have always been interested in medicine. I would like to get advice on what I should do as far as working and going to school at the same time. I'm debating between North Carolina or Georgia as to where I'd like to attend school. I'm wondering if it would be a good idea to become a CNA or LPN and work as one while attending school? Or would it be beneficial to just work at a job that pays well enough to keep my bills paid while going back to school to ultimately become an RN with either a ADN or BSN? If anyone has any advice or could guide me in the right direction, I would greatly appreciate it.

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If you haven't yet done so, make an appointment at your command's education assistance office to investigate what they offer that might be helpful. As I've been retired for several years I'm unsure what is available, but if available you should consider the following:

  1. Unless you are intimately familiar with your options under the Post 9-11 GI Bill, have someone explain this to you, in detail.
  2. Schedule and write as many college entrance exams as available. If possible, at least the ACT and CLEP.
  3. CLEP anything that you can, even though the school that you attend may, or may not accept them. I did this and was given credit for five classes.
  4. This is the most important tip I can give you. Maximize any tuition assistance available. Courses to consider: English composition; algebra; chemistry, with lab; statistics; biology (general, micro, anatomy & physiology), with lab, and anything in humanities. As with CLEP, there's no guarantee that the school you attend will accept these in transfer. But, anything they do accept are classes you won't have to take. Even if none are accepted the knowledge gained is helpful, and it gets you back in the habit of studying.

As for working, it can be difficult, particularly full time employment. The nursing program can become a time management headache, more so after the clinical component begins. My nursing program, and it's my understanding that others di this as well, have fairly rigid class schedules with classes structured to meet the program's clinical requirements. And toward the end of your program the clinical courses might be scheduled on multiple days.

I am not familiar with schools in Georgia. However, here are many good schools in North Carolina. Many of the universities in the University of North Carolina have nursing programs. Tuition from one school to another varies greatly, as does the cost of living.

As to degree, my suggestion would be to consider a BSN program. This is not to suggest that the ADN is inferior, as it's not. This is based on the fact that in my area, as well as others, the trend is to hire BSN prepared nurses. This however, is highly dependent on where you settle. If ADN prepared nurses are being hired in your area, being completing an ADN program makes good sense as it gets you working 2 years earlier. And there are many reputable BSN completion programs, many of which are online.

Best wishes in whichever route you choose.

Semper fidelis

GySgt, USMC Retired

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Hello my name is David Williams, I'm currently an Active Duty Marine. My enlistment ends in 2020. I plan to become a Registered Nurse because I enjoy helping others and have always been interested in medicine.

It appears you are fortunate in receiving a detailed reply.

Best of luck to you. Marines Rock!!

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