how does nursing work for a military spouse?

angelwingsamy · Mar 9, 2010

i dont really know. but im sure his contact people could help you with this.

i would assume that you would have to get a new license in each state???

JessicRN · Mar 9, 2010

I have been the wife of a carreer military officer for 20 years then I joined the military myself. There are no exceptions for nurses. If he is posted you either go with him or stay. If he goes to another state you must apply for licensure, you do not have to rewrite the Nclex as most states have reciprocity. If he is shipped to another country then you do have to rewrite the boards and get licensure. ( I have had 12 licenses in 3 countries have written my canadian boards and my rnclex and german boards.. Your husband will spend much time on ship so you will be alone alot you go to different states where you know noone and have no family you have to face crisis on your own (thank god for SKYPE)

His carreer will trump yours, you constantly asked in interviews why you have left so many jobs.

chaxanmom · Mar 9, 2010

I'm a 15 year Navy wife and have to ditto Jessic here. My husband is a GOB at the moment d/t the economy. I got a great job here in Maryland and his detailer sent him to Philadelphia so he's commuted home on weekends the past year and a half or so. Sucks but ya gotta do what ya gotta do.

I've had to apply for reciprocity in each state we moved to as well. For us its been every 4-5 years so its not really a big deal. Being a working mom when you are pseudo single bites though. I have no idea how real single moms do it.

Katnip, RN · Mar 9, 2010

Can't you work for the military as a civilian nurse and not have to get a license everywhere you go? The military also has its own agency-C2 I think it's called. It's the same if you find a VA job near where your husband is stationed. I'd check into those options as well. Granted, not all bases may need nurses, but from what I hear the military does need them pretty badly.

elkpark · Mar 9, 2010

Yes, you can work for the Federal government (VA, active military, etc. -- any Federal agency/employment) with an active license from any US state, not necessarily the state in which the particular facility is physically located. But I'm sure it doesn't always work out that one is able to get Federal employment where one's spouse happens to be stationed.

Fiona59 · Mar 9, 2010

Does the US military re-imburse dependents the cost of their practice permit documents? I know the CDN reimbursed most of mine after I had paid for everything up front and submitted the documentation.

military spouse · Mar 9, 2010

Does the US military re-imburse dependents the cost of their practice permit documents? I know the CDN reimbursed most of mine after I had paid for everything up front and submitted the documentation.

No, but the cost for licensure in each state is probably only the equivalent of a 1/2 shift to full-shift's pay. Not a huge deal.

We moved every two years and I was always employable, even in Germany (working for a DoDDs school). Never tried working at a US military hospital. Too much red tape:D

TashaLPN2006RN2012, ASN, RN · May 26, 2010

I guess i'm shocked to hear all of this. I have NEVER had issues transfering my LPN license nor problems finding employment. I've worked both at the base hospital and off base in the civillian world. I'm currently getting my RN. I've been an Army wife for 6yrs and a nurse for 4 of those and i have three kids ages 5, 4 & 2. Yes it does suck to pick up and move jobs, but i find it fun and challenging and i've gotten to do so many differnt things. I've worked in the hospital, a podiatry/ortho clinic, home health, and have taught C.N.A school. Now I have a compact license so we just try to pick the states we wanna go to where i wont have to go through all the red tape to endorse in another state (i've had ohio, texas, and KY so far =) Getting into the base hospital isn't hard, just find the personnell office and usually mil spouses recieve preference. it may take a few weeks but you dont have to transfer your license! Oh and my husband talked to his command when we got to KY and out of their money for their battalion they paid for my endorsement fees, sometimes you just gotta ask! =)

nads22 · Jun 24, 2011

This is in response to TASHLPN2006. That is not reality. Especially for spouses of those that deploy. I spent 9 years as a soldier and now follow my husband around where he goes. Reality is, that we have to find jobs that allow us to be there for our kids (I refuse to allow my kids to live at daycare). That pretty much rules out 12 hour shift jobs. Most hospital jobs are 12 hour shift. As for the other jobs that you say give military preference...is not always the case. Those jobs are not readily available with my every move. And it means nurses have to settle for mediocre jobs that we may not want. Just because we have a RN license doesn't mean we will take any job that pays. Some nurses have worked very hard in their careers and deserve to work in jobs that they are qualified. Moving around makes this difficult!

sancage · Sep 27, 2011

I agree with nads22. I'm currently located in Orlando FL with my husband. Nursing is a career that is readily availabe, but I need the flexibility. I just can't apply to any job because my husband and I do not have any family out here. We have 3 kids and my husband's travels out of town a lot with his position. I can no longer work 12 hour shifts. I need a 8-5 or in between job. This is a big change for me because I worked 7 years on post operative surgical services unit with seniority. I have applied for many postions on usajobs.gov, but i'm still awaiting responses. What can I do?