Schleppy

thanks for the responses everyone. from what i have heards, following the OB pathway is a good thing because as a new grad it takes you right into a speciality. As I mentioned before, I just don't want to commit to the AF (I am only signing 3 years to start) and walk out with only med/surg experience...I could get that anywhere as a new grad...Ya know? I want to take full advantage of getting the most experience possible in the few years that I am committing....(for now.) Let me know if you have any other thoughts! Thanks

I worked 36 hours/week in a busy emergency department, for the first 2 years, but starting the 3rd year, I had to drop down to 24 hours/week, which was SO helpful....I would suggest not working more then 24 hours. I worked full and part time night shift, but I was able to do some homework on our rarely slow nights... It also depends on what kind of work you do, if you have a job that can allow for a bit of homework time, then maybe you'd be able to work a little more then 24...but ultimately, you just need to finish school! It also can depend what type of program you are in, BSN or ADN... Hope that helps!

Alright everyone, first of all, nursing school isn't about completely letting go of yourself...it shouldn't be a "trend" to gain weight in nursing school. In addition, it is NOT healthy to plan on "losing" weight either just because you don't have time to eat or you are too stressed to eat. Come on everyone, and please realize that you have to take care of yourself, first and foremost. Your brain can't function enough without food to nourish it, so all that "study" time you will be wasting if you don't supply your brain with energy. You can gain weight by eating or NOT eating too... Overall, yes nursing school is stressful, but my best suggestion is to plan your lunch every single day. Obviously with healthy choices, veggies, yogurt, water, wraps. Easy stuff that you can munch on. Don't overindulge, but please don't underindulge either. Supply your brain with energy, and you'll make it through nursing school just fine.

Alright, Hi everyone! just wondering if anyone has some good advice on what pathway to choose for the AF Nurse Corp. I am currently working on the entire application process, I go to MEPS on Monday this next week. I won't go to OCT until August of 2011...in otherwords, I am still very early in the application process. I won't graduate from school until May 2011. Anyway, the question is, does anyone have awesome suggestions on which route to choose, Med/Surg or OB? I have 5 years of clinical experience working as an EMT in a busy emergency room, but I also have a feeling that I would LOVE to do OB. My only concern is that I just don't want to limit myself. I don't want to choose L & D and then be "stuck" there in my career after a few years of AF nursing. Ultimately, I always pictured myself working as an ER nurse, or in L&D, but DEFINATELY NOT med/surg. Originally, I was thinking that the med/surg path would help me be more "well rounded" as a nurse, but I'm just not convinced of all the experience I will get in the first few years of my military nursing career. I don't want to comit 3 years in the AF and only come out with med/surg experience.... I know that no matter what experience I get it will be good, and no one can make the decision for me, just curious what others are thinking, and the reasoning behind the pathways you have chosen. I have talked with several ER/ICU nurses, and they think equally of L&D nurses, meaning if they were in the hiring dept for an ER and got a resume for a L&D nurse, they would ABSOLUTELY hire them...I like the thought of getting specialty experience right out of school, even if it is in L&D, I just don't want to limit myself and have to start at square 1 if I decide later on I don't like L&D..... Any thoughts?