2nd degree to military nurses

Skippers1 · Sep 18, 2009

I have a second degree BSN and am in the process of joining the navy. I'm joining because I want to be sure I get as much training as possible and I know the military trains their nurses very well. Also to help pay back student loans!

bds165 · Sep 18, 2009

I'm a second degree BSN student (junior) and I also served 4 1/2 years AD Air Force as a Space and Missile officer.

After talking with instructors and civilian nurses I realized you can't beat the bennies from military nursing. I also think the experience will be invaluable compared to civilian nursing.

GHOT-Anes, CRNA · Sep 19, 2009

thanks folks for your response. May more will definitely be appreciated.

BartC_RN · Sep 19, 2009

I'm a second degree as well and second the comments made so far. Pay back loans, great training, etc. The whole package far exceeds a civilian job.

carolinapooh, BSN, RN · Sep 20, 2009

Second degree and second round in the Air Force - I spent four years in the AF as an enlisted K9 cop. I lived my whole life (for the most part!) as a military dependent or on active duty and when I got out I realized I didn't know what a good thing I'd had when I'd had it.

When my inactive commitment ended on 14 April 2004 and I lost my ID card, I felt like a piece of my identity disappeared with it.

Sure, I'll be deployable again - but some of my best memories are of deployments - heck, I met my British husband (who was a DoD civilian at the time) on a deployment. He came through my search post and my dog literally didn't like him (we joke that the dog was probably a good judge of character!).

When I decided to go back to nursing school, I toyed with the military, and then one day after I'd graduated my husband and I looked around and said - you know what - we've been here five years and it's time to go somewhere else. I called the Air Force the next day, and a year later, I'm on my way back into active duty in TWENTY-SEVEN DAYS.....whoah...

The Little Greek · Sep 21, 2009

Second degree RN here as well. My first degree was in marketing. I worked in retail management and merchandising for 10 years before going back to school and getting my degree. If you met me in person you'd probably think I was an unlikely candidate for the AF, but I'm AD and I love it!

I commissioned for a variety of reasons: I like to move often; I wanted an opportunity to use my MSN in a variety of settings without having to start over each time I moved to a new place; I wanted my kids to be exposed to lots of different places; healthcare perks are nice b/c I have a step son with Type I DM; I really like that I can pass on my GI Bill benefits to my kids after 10 years of service; and if all that wasn't enough I make great money.

LZRN · Sep 21, 2009

1st deg, cj, 2nd bsn. Almost 12 years in the marines.

As prior enlisted. Commissioned ANC as 66H/M5 July 09, just finished OBLC enroute to lovely

ft Irwin CA right now, love'n it!

USAFhopeful · Sep 21, 2009

1st degree in biology - was a customer service rep for a year and a half then chose to become a nurse. Applied to the AF. Would like to serve our country and feel I would be most satisfied as a nurse caring for our armed forces etcetera. The perks are a a plus but I feel joining the military will help me to become the person I want to be.

GHOT-Anes, CRNA · Sep 21, 2009

thanks for the wonderful response USAFhopeful. just out of curiosity why the Air force.

spawnupe · Sep 21, 2009

Actually, third degree nurse here. I have a BBA in Finance and Insurance, and a MBA in Business Adminstration. Looking back over the past two years, I am very glad that I made this decision to become a nurse. Recent graduate of Thomas Jefferson University BSN 09. Will be attending OBLC in October. Prior AF experience as well. I think that joining the military during this period of the GREAT RECESSION, was the best decision for me. There are so many benefits that I see that will set you up for success. I mean, when I look at my cohort of nurses that I graduated with, how many of them could say that they practiced nursing in Germany their first year out? I am proud to be an officer and understand the challenges that come with that office. I believe that joining the military would be an added benefit to anyone's life, if you let it. FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS!

GHOT-Anes, CRNA · Sep 21, 2009

Great post spawnupe!!!