Military Spouse RN

[saramarie]

I am looking for any type of advice or tips or shared experiences with finding a nursing job as a military (airforce) spouse overseas. I graduate nursing school in May of 2018 and am getting married shortly after. My soon to be husband will finish up training in June 2018 and then could be sent to Japan, South Korea, etc. I've heard how difficult it is to find a nursing job as a new grad especially overseas, so I'm trying to start preparing now. I really don't want to stay in the states after we get married, but I feel like my options are so limited! If anyone can relate, please help!!

[PookieBaby_RN]

i sent u a PM i dont think i can

post personal emails here the mods might remove it. So if anything I would be more than happy to answer your questions here if you are not able to reply to my pm.

[saramarie]

Update for me- I have been here for about 8 months and haven’t been hired yet. Luckily, I was able to start volunteering at the hospital with the Red Cross. I think that’s probably all I’ll be able to do during our time here, but that’s okay. It’s great to be doing something nursing related here!

[PookieBaby_RN]

@saramarie How long did the background check for red cross take you? Was it a security clearance? I have 9 months left here I was going to volunteer there too but I spoke to another girl here in Okinawa who said she hasnt recieved her clearance to volunteer yet and that she had been waiting 8 months. Are you in mainland. I am not going to bother applying any more I may jus go back to the states early esp if its a lengthy process.

[saramarie]

I started the process in September and finally got to start volunteering in January. I’m not sure if it was a background check that was holding the process up or something else. They never mentioned that. I am in Misawa. Best of luck!! You’ll get to work as a nurse in no time ?

[brynnr97]

@saramarie @PookieBaby_RN Hi! I am in the same boat, my soon to be husband just got orders to Okinawa for 3 years starting in October, while I finish my BSN in December. I had been thinking maybe I'd stay in the states for 1 year to get experience and then hopefully be able to get a nursing job over there and join him, but now reading this thread I'm wondering if that will even be worth it if it's so hard to get a job anyways. Did you end up transitioning easily enough to working as an RN @PookieBaby_RN in the states once you got back? And @saramarie is the Red Cross volunteering like using nursing scope of practice? Did you enjoy it?

I had been hoping to get into working as an RN asap so I can go for my NP or CRNA sooner, but now I'm not sure what to do. Did you guys think the experience and being with your spouse was worth putting your career on hold for a few years?

[saramarie]

I enjoyed volunteering for a little bit, but I wasn't actually able to use many hands on skills as a volunteer and ended up becoming a substitute teacher for the base school instead. I sub for the school nurse occasionally and intend to use that on my resume in the future. At this point, I've accepted that I won't work as a nurse here, but I believe the experience of living in Japan and being with my spouse was completely worth it. I would not trade this time for anything. 

 

There have been occasional positions available for RN's, but they were office type jobs that I had no interest in doing. I hope you are able to find something in Okinawa, but if not, take advantage of the time you have to travel and enjoy Japan. You will love it!!

[amoLucia]

saramarie - wonderful attitude & perspective. Enjoy the opp'ty while you have the chance!

[abyers0028]

Hi, I'm currently in nursing school in TX, my boyfriend is in the Air Force stationed in NV. After graduation, I'll be moving there. Should I take my NCLEX in NV, even tho I went to nursing school in TX? I'm worried about taking the NCLEX in TX and then having to go thru the process to change my licence since NV isn't a Nursing Licensure Compact state. Would us being married help the license/endorsement process? Thank you for any advice.  

[chare]

In my opinion, if you are planning on relocating to NV, and aren't planning on working in TX, you should apply for licensure in NV.

Best wishes.

[PookieBaby_RN]

@brynnr97 I like the experience of Okinawa but not to live. I will never would want to replay that time of my life. Personally, I would explore everything japan has to offer and go back to the states to live. Although being in japan probably saved a strain on a marriage, it did nothing else for me personally or my career. I felt like I had a strong enough relationship with my husband thay I wished I should have stayed in the states and worked. If I can go back and do it again, I would have just brought my husband back home every three months or I should have just visited rather then wasting away there for 3 yrs. I have always had a career and being at home doing nothing was very difficult for me. You have to do what is best for you. I had a 3 year gap in my resume, once I explained my situation and that my hubby was military the hospital I worked at didn't seem to care. What was difficult was being out of clinical practice for so long and having to just jump right into it. it was an adjustment but you will be fine.