Needing some advice and opinions... kinda down:(

[mom2three3]

So here is the situation. I start my ADN program in the fall and had always thought I would go on and do my BSN, then go into the AF or Army. My hubby is 4 years from AF guard retirement and works a corporate job where he makes between 70-80K per year. Here is my problem. He is the bread winner in our family. We have two boys and I have been home for years. I already have a BS in another area and have student loans. If I go through my ADN program, then BSN program, I am looking at adding another 20K to my loans. I always thought that I would try to get student loan repayment with the military... but now I am not sure if that's the best option. See, if I go military, hubby has to move with me and get a job wherever I am. We could possibly have to live on my Lt income for a while and that would be a BIG paycut. So... I either just get my ADN and follow his career moves as a civilian...save the money I would have spent on a BSN and live with it, or.... get the BSN, hope I can get loan repayment, go military, and pray that he gets a job equal to what he has now wherever I get stationed. I am 35 and have always wanted to be a military nurse....

What would you do?

I have to decide soon as I need to spend the summer doing BSN pre-req's if I am going to go for it...

HELP!~

[carolinapooh, BSN, RN]

Thanks for all of the replies. I guess It would be one thing to go from one income to two. That wold be adding money. But... who knows if and when hubby will get a job in corporate management where I end up. That could be a big loss of income for us. I am pondering all of this now because I have BSN pre-req's lined up for summer that I won't take if I decide not to do AD. I have a limited amount of loan $ left so I have to be careful about the classes I take. I might look into the STRAP prog or maybe just look into reserves...

We're on one income. The difference for us is probably that we don't have kids. My husband - who also used to earn six figures working overseas - just got a job here in San Antonio a week ago. We only have one car payment, though, and we're renting our house out in Durham so that mortgage is paid.

It can be done, but if you have kids I know very well that's a different ball game.

[jeckrn, BSN, RN]

Also what helps in the take home pay is the free health care.

[carolinapooh, BSN, RN]

OH, YES - it's one of the prime reasons I got back in - free health care/socialized medicine ROCKS...

[surromom]

I just wanted to add my 2 cents. I went to my BSN program with 11 yrs active duty navy behind me I assumed I would be back in the navy as soon as I graduated (my last class is this month and I took NCLEX in Dec) well with the economy as it is the military is hard to get into now too!!! So for me I am not headed back in the Navy yet.....

[carolinapooh, BSN, RN]

Yeah - unfortunately a lot of people are finding that out. When the economy tanks, the military can't squeeze everyone in. And when the economy is fat, they start handing out bonuses for all kinds of enlisted and commissioned folks because no one wants to be in.

[midinphx, BSN]

let's hope they are fat in 4 years...

[carolinapooh, BSN, RN]

They're already changing the bonus structure for existing RNs - in a good way. I think a lot of people who are reaching the end of their six year commitment are getting out (I know they're leaving Big Willie in droves). I can't imagine trying to hoof it out there in this economy (especially if I were a captain), but hey - it's their choice. So the USAF doesn't want to be heavy with inexperienced RNs.