ESMERN

I have my BSN, and have completed and passed my NCLEX. The recruiters are telling me I can go in with direct commission, spend a year probably doing med/surg, and then pick one of four specilaty areas to go in. Is that not true? Unfortunately, my husband does not want to leave his current job for a long time because he likes his job and he will lose senority if he leaves for long periods of time. Currently he is a Houston police officer. People are telling him as a military spouse he can get help getting a job if he traveled around with me, but the process to get in where he is now was so long...he doesn't believe that being a police officer in other cities would be any different and when he does get in ...it then may be time to move again. I can't force him to change his career...we just have to support each other with what we both want to do with our lives. The route he decided was to go enlisted reserves, join ROTC (where he is undeployable until he finishes school), then do his time as military police reserves...and then if he gets pulled in active he wouldn't mind so much. I hope we can manage and make everything work out okay...I will probably sign up for the minimum number of years and if i enjoy the army reenlist if i dont then i will get out. My husband is afraid that i'm gonna like it and make a twenty year career out of it...but i remind him that i want to do so much with my nursing career that i dont think i will be able to do it all if i stay in the military...i have a lot of goals in life and i am just started out...checking one thing off at a time. Off the subject...I read some of your stories on the other military forums...loved them.

Thanks for the advice/info Iworecords. You have definitely given me a different perspective on how to look at the army. It still seems like something I want to do, but instead of my kids coming with me...I am probably going to have to leave them with my husband back in our hometown where he will have family support. Once again...Thanks

Thank you so much. You have been the biggest help in this whole process. I have been speaking to recruiters: my husband's recruiter and my healthcare recruiter. They seemed not to know much about the details of the nursing life/work. I am so excited about joining...I wish I could start already. What cities/bases have you been to? Anything you recommend or any place I should watch out for or are they all pretty much the same. How are the nursing work environments (nurses with other nurses, nurses with physicians, etc.) Thanks for all your help. -Esmeralda

Any answers to any of my questions would help a lot. I would like a better understanding of what I am getting myself into before I commit to it. Can anyone please help? -Esmeralda

I am interested in becoming a nurse in the army, but I still have a few questions such as: What are the hours the nurses work? Since it is salary pay do they work more than 40 hours a week? Do they get to decide days or nights or do they do both? Do you get to put a preference in for what days you want off? Is it easy to put time in for your vacation? Is it likely I will get deployed right away (I am coming in as a graduate nurse-no real experience yet)? Are those who precept you, helpful or do they wish they did not have to do it? I have young children...about how much is daycare costs on the base? If I have to work nights, does anyone have advice for childcare options during the night. When do you know what station you will be at after officer training? Are you likely to get whatever you request? Any advice would help. Thanks.

hi. i graduated in May 09. After graduating it has been difficult finding a job, so I have decided to join the army. I just had a baby so I cannot sign paperwork or do any tests until November. I am hoping to start my officer training sometime in January. I am so excited and cannot wait. I have a family and wonder how it will effect them. My husband is going to join the reserves but he will stay in our hometown and not come with the rest of us. Maybe our paths will meet. Good luck. -Esmeralda

I just wanted to share the disappointment with you. I just graduated in May. I applied to over a hundred jobs and they all pretty much say the same thing...I need experience. Where do they want me to get experience when no one wants to hire me. They say wait for the internships, but with limited spots for internships and being open to graduate nurses and seasoned nurses that are changing specialties...there is a good chance I still may not get a job the next time internships are available. Everyone always says a nurse will always have a job, but they never say how hard it is to get the first job. My whole family and my husband's family think I'm lying about having a difficult time finding a job. I am hanging in there. Hopefully we will all find something soon. (Desperate, I even thought about joining the army, but I just had a baby and have to wait 4 more months before I can join if I do decide to do that. I thought the military were eager to get anyone in. Looks like I was wrong...with the recession, they are meeting their numbers for this year and are not desperate for people to join.) Good luck in job searching...may good things come to those who (have to) wait.