Well, I have made a decision---I am joining the Air Force Nursing Corp. I speak to a recruiter today. I am done complaining and have progressed from anger to acceptance. I have applied to everything under the sun to no avail. Last week I bumped into a girl who graduated with her BSN a year before me. She has gone 16 months and still no job or any prospects of one. I do not want to end up like that. I guess it comes down to what you are willing to sacrifice. I wish things were different,,,,,but they are not. I just have to roll with the punches and do what I have to do to see this thing through. Below are my options:
Try to get into non-paid New Grad internship with hopes of the hospital hiring me. I spoke with the director of the program and she said I have a good chance of getting in. She also said that a job can materialize, but that it is not necessarily the case.
Air Force: 3 year hitch. Would gain unmatchable RN experience, get paid and secure my future by having an impeccable resume.
i've been told by numerous, numerous people that it's not a matter of "if" you get deployed, it's a matter of "when" you get deployed. during my chief nurse interview that was brought up as well as my willingness and thoughts of shooting a gun. luckily for me i am an avid shooter so that doesn't bother me. the military definitely isn't an easy out for people to take. it's a different world and a lifetime commitment.
Excellent idea, I'm joining the Air National Guard myself (I've got 5 years experience). Use your benefits to advance your degrees! Excelsior is a great way to go the distance and they work well with the military. Good luck!
You say you're not finding jobs. Are you looking for areas not in the nursing field? If so, are you finding the BSN to be a detriment?
I realize you got your degree in an area and want to put it to use, but when survival becomes important take something you can get preferably the better option available to you.
Excellent point and i feel the same way. I've looked into other fields and it always fun to cone up with ideas of where else I can apply this degree. I certainly have not had trouble finding insurance companies actively recruiting me to sell insurance which I would probably be terrible at. Aside from insurance companies tho, I'm not quite sure where else to go. Maybe look into research positions with universities. But back to nursing for the armed forces, do es anyone have any opinions as to which would provide the best clinical experiences between the different divisions. It seems benefits are all the same across the board but I assume the training programs are slightly different. Any ideas which is the 'best'? Why would someone choice AF over Army or vice versa?
Excellent point and i feel the same way. I've looked into other fields and it always fun to cone up with ideas of where else I can apply this degree. I certainly have not had trouble finding insurance companies actively recruiting me to sell insurance which I would probably be terrible at. Aside from insurance companies tho, I'm not quite sure where else to go. Maybe look into research positions with universities. But back to nursing for the armed forces, do es anyone have any opinions as to which would provide the best clinical experiences between the different divisions. It seems benefits are all the same across the board but I assume the training programs are slightly different. Any ideas which is the 'best'? Why would someone choice AF over Army or vice versa?
Insurance companies will take nearly anyone. As a whole, they don't have a lot invested in their sales staff. Insurance adjuster perhaps?
I'd just start looking for jobs where you might market some of the skills. If you had some bio and chem courses then the surrounding chemical plants here would be viable options for local nursing grads. The lab jobs pay well and actually don't require science degrees.
What about government nursing jobs like prisons, health centers, etc?
Teaching? Down here, as long as you have a four year degre, you can literally take the tests and sit through a two or three week seminar and get a teaching license, lol.
My Aunt retired from Air Force, as a Lt. Colonel after 21 years, and her retirement check made her life a lot more fun! She went on after retiring (ripe old age of 44) and worked as a DON, then later, she toned it down as a part-time floor nurse, as she enjoyed the job, but no longer wanted the headaches of management. I have never heard her say anything but great things about the service. If not for my hearing loss, I would have gladly followed in her footsteps. I am envious of your new adventure!! GOOD LUCK!!
ImThatGuy, BSN, RN
2,139 Posts
Avid shooter? You single?
lol jk