Military nurse

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I'm 21 and graduating with my associates in nursing this May and I'm so committed to becoming a nurse in the military (of course after I get my BSN). I originally thought Air Force, however, through research I'm piecing together that it looks extremely competitive to become a nurse in any branch of the military. In fact, it looks near impossible to get any sort of job in nursing from some of the threads I've seen on AllNurses.

I'm smart and reliable and have a really good head on my shoulders, but it sounds like its just a 1 in a million shot of me getting the required ICU experience and then actually getting accepted into the Air Force (or Navy or Army). I'm basing major life decisions on this dream (e.g. where I get my BSN, if I work part time or full time in the process, staying at a hospital I hate just for the experience, attempting to be a student athlete at the same time) and it's almost to the point where I'm considering giving it all up to spare myself the disappointment sacrificing so much and not getting it.

Am I correct in thinking that it's like the hardest thing ever to get into the Air Force as a nurse? Is there anything I can do while I get my BSN to make my application look more attractive?

I'm a pretty good runner. I ran in college for a year before transferring to my community college that doesn't have track or XC for the ADN program. I'm now talking to some schools with RN to BSN that would even offer me an athletic scholarship. Would the military be impressed by a nurse who is physically fit or would it hurt me more for limiting work experience I could be getting? I'm paying for school myself so it would help me a ton. I feel like ROTC scholarships are impossible to get and also not available for RN to BSN.

Sorry if I didn't use the proper military lingo, I research this all the time and still have no idea.

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Specializes in Dialysis.

Talk to a recruiter for real answers. My experiences from almost 30 years ago are not relevant to you today. Only they can give you the facts. Good luck and don't give up!

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Thanks. I've sent an email to a recruiter with no reply so I guess it's time I call them up.

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Have you thought about Air Force Reserves? I am a CCRN certified Critical Care RN with 7 years experience. I applied for a position in July 2014, with my experience I had no problem getting a spot (I am prior enlisted and I only wanted a reserve slot)....

Something to think about... I will say this, if you want to be a nurse, get the degree irregardless of your military options. It is a great profession.

Good luck!

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

I believe that the most attractive nurse for any branch of the service is one that has a high GPA (it really matters to the military), is experienced in a specialty, and is board certified in that specialty. Physical fitness is a given for any potential candidate. Don't give up!

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Specializes in Emergency Medicine.

I was an Air Force nurse for six years- I went into the Air Force as a brand new nurse. Out of 300 applicants only 68 of us brand new nurses were accepted. I was at the top of my class. If you go in with no experience which equates to a year or less in actual practice, you have to go through the Nurse Transition Program and have to do either Med Surg or OB. After that you generally need two years experience before transferring to a clinic. If you wish to be ER or ICU the Air Force now requires a year long fellowship that is highly competitive to be selected and then you add on time to your commitment- they will get their money out of you. Right now, since we are not in an active conflict the chance of getting into the Air Force is pretty slim. You need to speak with a special recruiter called a Health Professionals Recruiter.

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Thanks. I've sent an email to a recruiter with no reply so I guess it's time I call them up.

Go see them in person.

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Specializes in Intake, Home Care.

Having a good head on your shoulders (your opinion), as well as research will not adequately contribute to your decision. I was an active duty Marine for 10 years and spent my 21st birthday in Iraq. We are not at war right now (actively), so you need to have about 5 back up plans for your "dream" of becoming an Air Force nurse. Injuries happen, plans change, military demands change. Don't base your life on this one thing.

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
Go see them in person.

But also ensure that it is a health professions recruiter — they are spread a little thinner than the typical enlisted recruiting station.

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Specializes in EMT, ER, Homehealth, OR.

Depending on where you live it could be 75+ miles to the closet healthcare recruiter. Give them sometime to get back to you. Since you are still in a ADN program you are a low priority for them.

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I'm 21 and graduating with my associates in nursing this May and I'm so committed to becoming a nurse in the military (of course after I get my BSN). I originally thought Air Force, however, through research I'm piecing together that it looks extremely competitive to become a nurse in any branch of the military. In fact, it looks near impossible to get any sort of job in nursing from some of the threads I've seen on AllNurses.

I'm smart and reliable and have a really good head on my shoulders, but it sounds like its just a 1 in a million shot of me getting the required ICU experience and then actually getting accepted into the Air Force (or Navy or Army). I'm basing major life decisions on this dream (e.g. where I get my BSN, if I work part time or full time in the process, staying at a hospital I hate just for the experience, attempting to be a student athlete at the same time) and it's almost to the point where I'm considering giving it all up to spare myself the disappointment sacrificing so much and not getting it.

Am I correct in thinking that it's like the hardest thing ever to get into the Air Force as a nurse? Is there anything I can do while I get my BSN to make my application look more attractive?

I'm a pretty good runner. I ran in college for a year before transferring to my community college that doesn't have track or XC for the ADN program. I'm now talking to some schools with RN to BSN that would even offer me an athletic scholarship. Would the military be impressed by a nurse who is physically fit or would it hurt me more for limiting work experience I could be getting? I'm paying for school myself so it would help me a ton. I feel like ROTC scholarships are impossible to get and also not available for RN to BSN.

Sorry if I didn't use the proper military lingo, I research this all the time and still have no idea.

You can become a nurse in the military my husband just retired Army and he was in recruiting battalion for 14 years ... Very possible

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Specializes in Emergency Medicine.
You can become a nurse in the military my husband just retired Army and he was in recruiting battalion for 14 years ... Very possible

Was your husband a health professionals recruiter? That is very different than just a regular recruiting station- I just got out of the Air Force and like I previously stated, she will have a difficult time at current joining the AF; not impossible, but very difficult.

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