New army spouse, and soon to be new RN...need some advice

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Hello all,

being a new military spouse has me raising some questions about my career later down the line. I am currently in nursing school, got a year left to go before graduating with a BSN and taking the NCLEX for RN. My husband is active duty, and will be for a while. I have a few questions for anyone who's gone through this as a military spouse and an RN...

  • the biggest, #1 question: how hard was it to find a job as an RN AND as a new grad?
  • is it true that it is easier to move around with a California license than other state licenses? i keep hearing this from a lot of people, but i dont know if it's really accurate...
  • is it true that military spouses get preference when applying for an on-base hospital or clinic?
  • what is the process of getting another state's license when you move?
  • any tips or advice regarding this topic is welcomed!

I'm getting a little anxious about this topic... on top of the new worries and stress of having my husband in the military. All this is new to me and I feel like I dont even know where to begin. I'm also getting worried about his first deployment, and everything that comes with that, but that's kind of another talk all on its own. Any help is appreciated!

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Specializes in PACU.

I'm not sure what you mean when you say moving around with a California license? You have to have a license in the state you intend to practice, so regardless of where you have your current license, or where you will get it, you will still need to apply for a license in the new state via endorsement.

Each state has their own criteria for licensure via endorsement so you'll probably have to go to the state's BON website and it should be clearly outlined there. Usually painless but things can get complicated in compact versus non-compact states, I've heard. The money required can be different depending on the state.

Ease of finding a job as a new grad depends on the area. California I would expect to wait the seemingly normal 18 mo timeline to finding a job. North Dakota is seemingly very new grad friendly. The Northeast is notoriously hard on new grads and not very new grad friendly. I've heard positive things for new grads in some areas of the Midwest and Texas.

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
I'm not sure what you mean when you say moving around with a California license? You have to have a license in the state you intend to practice, so regardless of where you have your current license, or where you will get it, you will still need to apply for a license in the new state via endorsement.

Not necessarily. A nurse can work in a Federal facility with a license from any state. I have been working in a military facility in Georgia under my Virginia RN license since 2011.

To the OP: you can get spousal preference, but you also have to qualify for the job. Most Federal positions require at least a year of experience. You can check out jobs on USAjobs.gov. Good luck in the rest of your nursing program!

Edited to add: if you do apply for a license in a different state later down the line, each board of nursing for each state has its own application and process for licensure by endorsement (transferring your license to another state). You'll have to check each state as needed.

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I have spoken with people involved with the employment of military RN spouses and was told that any preference is not necessarily a shoo-in. You will be competing with any other RN military spouses for any openings in the area and then there are the permanent residents in that area to be considered. Just be prepared to be flexible until your family finds a place to put down roots.

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Specializes in L&D, infusion, urology.
I'm not sure what you mean when you say moving around with a California license? You have to have a license in the state you intend to practice, so regardless of where you have your current license, or where you will get it, you will still need to apply for a license in the new state via endorsement.

Each state has their own criteria for licensure via endorsement so you'll probably have to go to the state's BON website and it should be clearly outlined there. Usually painless but things can get complicated in compact versus non-compact states, I've heard. The money required can be different depending on the state.

Ease of finding a job as a new grad depends on the area. California I would expect to wait the seemingly normal 18 mo timeline to finding a job. North Dakota is seemingly very new grad friendly. The Northeast is notoriously hard on new grads and not very new grad friendly. I've heard positive things for new grads in some areas of the Midwest and Texas.

I think what she meant by it being easier with a CA license is that CA has some of the strictest qualifications in the US, so if you can get licensed in CA, you can get licensed anywhere. There are plenty of programs CA doesn't recognize because they lack essential components, thus CA will not allow someone who is a RN from whatever state to get licensed in CA. Additionally, as Pixie.RN said, with the VA or certain federal jobs, you only need to be licensed in one state to work anywhere.

OP, the new grad market varies widely. If you are staying in CA, it's going to be very tough anywhere you are, but not impossible. DO NOT let on that you are a military spouse. That says that you'll be leaving in a couple of years, and will not make someone want to hire you.

When you know where you're headed, look at the state's BON and see what's required if you're going to apply for a license in that state (which you should probably do so you have more jobs available).

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Wow, I'm sorry it has taken me this long to check in on my post. Nursing school has been back in session and everything has just been in a whirlwind...

Thank you to everyone who replied. Really, it has really helped me. I have also talked to other RNs who are married to the military and they have said exactly what you all have mentioned. It's gonna be rough, but I am very optimistic about my career and looking forward to being flexible with whatever gets thrown at me. That being said, does anyone have advice on the hiring process and how much should I really talk about being a military wife (meaning, is it going to hurt or better my chances of being hired?)

Thank you again everyone!

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
That being said, does anyone have advice on the hiring process and how much should I really talk about being a military wife (meaning, is it going to hurt or better my chances of being hired?)

Thank you again everyone!

The only downside from an employer perspective is that eventually you are going to move away and leave them, which might not give you an edge over another candidate who isn't a military spouse.

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