redshott

I'm right there with you! About 9yrs ago I was accepted into an ADN program but my husband had orders to move overseas so I got my degree in health management instead.... The market is over-saturated in regards to medical admin so the jobs haven't been anything like what I had hoped. I'm almost 39 and my husband is retiring from the USAF so I can finally go back to nursing school (I'm hoping to do an absn program) if I want to. The parts that scare me are my age (I'll probably be 40 once I start the program) and giving up the security of a full time job/income while in school. I know a lot of people complete RN school later in life so I'm trying not to let it get to me! Best of luck to you!

I've also been researching this... I actually attended NEU online for my BS in Health Management (while living in AZ) but I'm now in NC and something about nursing keeps pulling me back in! I haven't spoken to anyone there yet but am hoping to find some more opinions on this forum!

Good afternoon! I wasn't sure where would be good to post this so I apologize if it's in the wrong category... I am a nursing student who is on a waiting list to finish my ASN/core classes right now. I am trying to kind of plan out a career path and am looking for opinions on the two that I'm 99% sure I've narrowed it down to- getting commissioned into the USAF or get a RN position as a GS in a military facility. No matter what way I go, I know I have to have my BSN first. My debate is that I'll be close to 40yrs old if I commission and I know I'd want to go career so that hopefully I can have retirement. I just don't know how much of a physical toll that may take if I'm already pushing 40 and have to keep up with PT tests, deployments, etc. I've worked in a civilian hospital and a MTF (in the lab both places) and it seems that RN's are happier at the military facilities and that's the kind of environment I want to be associated with. So that's why I'd choose to go GS if getting commissioned seems like it'd take too much out of me. My husband is currently AD (also USAF, will be getting out in 4yrs though) and I'm a current GS employee but I'd lose my "place" when I go to finish school since I can only be on LWOP for 1yr. I guess, to sum it up, I'm looking for opinions on being active duty from RN's or trying to get back into the GS system after I finish school. I'm open to other ideas too :) Thanks so much!

Hi everyone! I was given a scholarship to return back to school to complete my degree. I already know I'm going to lose it (my fault) BUT, I'm looking for advice to help me as I complete my nursing degree as I know it'll be getting even tougher soon. Any thoughts/suggestions/advice on where to either gather more information to re-train my brain so I can focus more on school work/studying and still balance working full-time and have a home/social life? Or do I go into school hibernation until graduation? Quitting my job isn't an option unless i win the lottery or begin clinicals - thank you!!

The classes that are pulling me down are ones from 14 years ago that have nothing to do with anything in healthcare - i'm going to have to retake some no matter what because of the time limit (like A&P 1 &2) but i had done well in those anyway...trying my best right now but can't wait to get back in the land of awesome internet!

Hey everyone! I'm currently a USAF/GS employee overseas (if that matters) and when I get back stateside, I'm finishing my nursing degree and trying to get commissioned into the USAF. When I first went to college, I was a slacker (to be blunt) and my GPA tanked... fast forward 13 years and it's caught up to me. I know you have to have at least a 3.0 (I believe?) and I'm almost back up to that but the recruiter said "the higher, the better" but I know that my past is what's bringing it down. Has anyone else gotten commissioned with a less-than-perfect GPA? Age won't be on my side either as I'll be mid-late 30's by the time I get my BSN. Thanks for any/all advice! Have a great day!

Hi everyone! I'm a pre-nursing student and am currently living overseas. Moving back to the US summer 2013 and applying for a BSN program (eventually going into military nursing). My question is: is there anything that you wish you had studied more to either prepare you for nursing school or, for those who have graduated, helped you in the "real world"? Since I'm limited on classes over here, I was thinking about going ahead and getting some books or study material to maybe go ahead and prepare myself. I've taken A&P 1 and 2 before but will have to retake it because of time since I took it. Thinking about Microbiology stuff? Thoughts/advice? Thanks!

i'm currently a phlebotomist and have done that same thing before... a nurse caught it and same thing- there was no damage or anything to the patient but boy do i check and recheck for the tourniquet before i leave the room! i was working overnight shifts when i did it and tried to only turn on the lights i needed- was a learning experience. but thats how we grow as healthcare professionals/nurses - don't give up!

Thanks everyone! Yes, I plan on getting my BSN no matter what but if I wasn't going to try to go Officer, I was going to get my ADN then do a bridge program. I'm finishing up an associates in psychology currently and will graduate before we head back to the states from the UK so since i'm 90% sure I want to join (leaning towards USAF just b/c of my husband), I was just going to do a BSN program when we get back to the states instead of the other so that it wouldn't take as long. If all goes as planned, I should graduate with my BSN by or around the time I turn 35. Thanks again! I REALLY appreciate all the help!!

thanks all! I had found that info as well but the recruiter here didn't seem to know anything and just told me flat out 35. we won't be back in the states for almost another year and due to time differences, it's hard to talk to people there regarding this... plus I have no clue who to contact besides the website (which I tried previously).all of you that joined later, would you do it again? I've been in banking and real estate in NC before becoming a vampire 3 years ago. Was accepted into nursing school in charleston, sc before I moved here in 2011. I'm excited and nervous about taking another leap!

Hi everyone! I've gotten conflicting answers so I thought I'd try to get a few more I am seriously debating about finishing my BSN and getting commissioned but, I'll be about 35 or 36 by the time I can do so. I have tried talking to a USAF recruiter here on base (we're currently stationed in the UK, husband is USAF) but he wasn't much help. I've been told that 35 is the cutoff unless it's something medical and then you can try to get a waiver. I also had someone who is an officer with the Dept of Public Health and they said there was no age cutoff. I'm probably leaning towards going USAF but my husband is pushing me to go Navy. My question though really is- what is the age requirement and has anyone here joined after 35+? Should I even consider joining at that age? I'm currently a GS employee (phlebotomist) at the base hospital if that matters at all. Thanks in advance!

Hi! I'm a USAF wife and we're overseas right now (im originally from GA but lived in NC forever too!) so I'm trying to finish as many prerequisites as possible then apply to schools when we get back stateside! My husbands going to hopefully be cross-training so a lot is in limbo right now... I was accepted to a nursing program in SC before I moved here so I don't have many left to complete- as of now we should only be here in the UK about another year

thanks! going off base for a class really isn't cost-effective...it'd be super expensive (especially b/c of the £ to $ conversion rate) and on base it's mainly masters level courses or flight-degree/general education classes...i've heard of and looked into the ocean county one but wasn't sure how it really was

well, it was that or move with my husband to England for a bit

Hiya! I'm an AF wife and we're stationed in the UK for a little bit but I'm wanting to finish my pre-nursing degree so i can finish school/clinicals when we get back to the states- any ideas/options for online schools for this? the school i was going to before moving doesn't offer everything online - i was accepted to a RN program before the move (in Charleston @ Trident Tech) but turned it down...major regret! Anyway, any leads are appreciated! Thanks!

I'm preparing to go get my ADN but my goal is a BSN or higher. I've been advised by various people to get my ADN first because it's more hands on with more clinical hours than the BSN program. Not sure how it affects the job market but here, there are only 2-3 schools that even have a straight BSN program. The rest are an hour or so away from the Charlotte hospitals. Of course, bridge programs are everywhere though.

Also, if you personally contact them, it shows you're more interested and like previously stated, can learn more about the different floors and maybe even help get an "in". Good luck on the NCLEX!

The hospital I did my phlebotomy clinicals at does the color-coded thing and the doctors office I work at has been talking about everyone being "uniform". Another big hospital in the area (charlotte, nc) does this as well so it may be coming more common...I personally didn't like it but we got to wear hunter green. Most of the nurses wore white and navy.

Hello all! I am a pre-nursing student in Charlotte but have not been able to get into a nursing program here - been trying for about 2 years now. I applied to Trident Tech on a whim and got accepted into the Spring 2011 class but am also debating about applying to schools in Columbia and Greenville. I haven't started looking into ADN programs there yet but am curious as to which city may have better schools (out of the 3) and which area may have more opportunity for part-time employment while in school (I'm currently a phlebotomist). Thanks for your input! Amanda

I've applied to most of the ones in the Charlotte area (Gaston College, Mercy School of Nursing, Queens Univ. ADN program, CMC's school of nursing, Cabarrus College, and SPCC) but I had looked into Cape Fear CC and Watts. Cape Fear I don't have all the pre-req's to apply yet and Watts, I just haven't been able to take off of work to go take their entrance test. They also make you take alot of the general education classes through their partnership with Mt Olive (i think) and you have to take X number of credit hours through them before you can take your nursing courses. I'm almost done with all my gen. ed classes so I'd be taking fluff classes just to get the hours. In SC, I applied to York Tech and USC Lancaster (they actually share a nursing program) in addition to TTC. TTC is the first one who accepted me so I paid my refundable $100 deposit and if all else fails, I'll be there Spring 2011! On the plus side, it gives me enough time to save since work and RN school doesn't really go together!

I have applied to schools in NC & SC (I'm in Charlotte) and as far as my research has taken me (I even looked near Wilmington), I have not found any schools in NC that do waiting lists. I applied to schools in SC just so I could get on a list and was accepted to Trident Tech in Charleston for Spring 2011. I took that but am still applying to closer schools. I've been applying to ones all over NC for about 1.5 years now with no luck. Hope you find one in SC with a shorter list! It's frustrating when you want to do something so bad but the lack of available slots holds you back! amanda

thanks for this info! i had been searching (but not too hard!) for this info as well as i plan on going to nursing school in sc...thanks again!

yes! there's a LONG wait list right now! i'm currently "in" for the Spring 2011 semester. I thought about the CNA route but since i'm a CNA in NC, it doesn't count. about done with my general ed courses though. even though i'm in NC, i applied to TTC b/c here, they don't do lists...you just apply every chance you get and hope and pray! and i don't mind relocating for school! plus it gives me enough time to save so i won't have to work (much) while in school. as the previous poster said, if you call and leave a message, they'll get right back to you. i had to do this a few times and don't ever think i had to wait 24hrs for a response. good luck!

I had looked into going ahead and joining the reserves but since I'm still working on my ASN/BSN, I still have a few years before I graduate (still trying to get into core nursing school - been taking pre-reqs for over a year). I had heard it is very hard to go from enlisted to officer (my goal is probably Navy Reserves Officer or go Full-Time) and someone had posted about something that was similar but wasn't as hard to transition. I hadn't heard about that Army program, I have spoken with 2 Navy Reserves people and they really weren't interested until I get close to graduating nursing school. They were helpful with school info though. In reality, to me, branch doesn't matter. I've lived on bases before and loved the Naval base the best and that's part of the reason I was leaning towards the Navy. Hope that my rambling makes somewhat sense and thanks!

Hi everyone! A while back I remembered seeing a post about, I believe, something similar to the reserves or the government. It was a division where it's easier to go enlisted to officer and switch from it to, for example, the Navy Reserves. I have tried to go through the threads I would have done a search for it but since I can't remember the name, it doesn't help much! I appreciate any help! Thanks and have a great weekend! Amanda