Alyx C

@LivOnTheGoHello, I have not joined the U.S. Army because they cannot guarantee that I can get in unless I go on active duty. I only plan to serve in the reserve. This was before covid.

Hello, The U.S. army healthcare recruiter accepted my CGFNS as long as it was done for the past 3 years. This was back in 2018. I’m not sure this time You are right, USAF does not accept CGFNS and BSN must be from a regionally accredited U.S. nursing school. thank you for the info and for your service!

That’s what I thought at first that I could just enlist. But they told me it’s a challenging process to change status from being an enlist to commissioned officer. My advice for you is get experienced as an RN as much as you can. Maybe critical care or medsurg. And wait until you become a U.S. citizen. For the U.S. army. On active duty, there are always vacancies but for reserves it can be competitive to get in as a nurse commissioned officer For USAF: I talked personally to the head of nursing department recruits of the USAF. She advised me to go back to school for RN to BSN then they can accept me but I refused. I already have a BSN. I pursued FNP instead. I’ve been looking into USPHS Commissioned Corps too. These are all my experiences back in 2018 and policies may be subject to change. It would be best to talk to a army/USAF healthcare recruiter.

Hello Rowi, Airforce is very strict during the time I inquired. The army is more accepting with BSN outside the U.S. but I did not go through since the pandemic came. You just need your credentials evaluated (CGFNS is acceptable) and you must be a U.S. citizen I’m already a U.S. citizen since 2019 and now a nurse practitioner. My dream of becoming a nurse in the airforce will remain a dream. Maybe I will join the airforce soon as an experienced Nurse Practitioner. Good luck!

Sure!

You’re welcome. No not right now. I’m studying for MSN-FNP right. Maybe when I’m done. How about you?

It is impossible to join the U.S. airforce if you have a foreign nursing degree. Unless you go back to study RN-BSN as they suggested or take a masters degree. I’ve talked to the head of U.S. airforce nursing recruitment about this info. then I talked to the U.S. Army medical professions recruiter where he told me that they do accept foreign nursing degree if you had your credentials evaluated by ECE or other accredited credential evaluators under NACES.

Hi. We have a similar situation. I had my BSN in the Philippines back in 2013. Got it evaluated by CGFNS through Professional Credential Evaluation report and is all similar to a BSN degree here in the U.S. I passed NCLEX and became a nurse last Aug 2015. Worked as a licensed nurse in the state of Nevada until now. I became a U.S. citizen last year Oct 2019. I wanted to serve in the military, airforce branch. However, my school back in the Philippines is not CCNE or ACEN accredited (obviously). I've asked the airforce recruiter if I can appeal my case but he told me that my current situation is not waiverable. I think at the very least they should consider a nurse work experience in the U.S. and not only require that you came from a U.S. accredited nursing school. I'm disappointed and I think it is unfair. My patients who were veterans were my inspiration. I'll try to ask another military branches.

Hi xuale01! I'm still waiting for my U.S. citizenship interview appointment. Hopefully I would pass then become a U.S. citizen. After then I would enlist in the U.S. airforce as a nurse. thanks!

I'll take note of that. Thank you so much, Ma'am!

My credentials was evaluated by CGFNS. But If that would be the case then I will be enrolling myself by next year for Masters. I just have to make sure it is accredited by the CCNE and ACEN. I've been planning to join the airforce reserve because I think they could help me with continuing education and become a nurse practitioner besides serving this country. Well, I guess I have a change of plans now. I'll talk to my recruiter again. Thank you so much for your reply!

Philippine nurses are way underpaid especially. who work in private hospitals. Most of them earn a minimum of 8-9k pesos per month equivalent to 170 U.S. $/month. Same 3 days, 12 hours shift in a week. As what I observed, my colleagues are trying to gain experience and currently looking for jobs abroad. There was a nursing bill increasing basic salary for nurses to 25k pesos / 532 $ a month, already passed congress and then the president but was not signed by the latter due to unfortunate reasons. Hopefully our newly elected president will show concern to nurses and raise their current salary. As a US-RN myself, I'm fortunate to be living here in the US. However, I am offering help to my colleagues who are looking for greener pasture even if that means leaving the beautiful country, Philippines.

I'm 23 years old and planning to join the US airforce reserve as an RN with a BSN degree. I graduated back in the Philippines last 2013. It has been a year now since I passed NCLEX-RN. However, I am not yet a US citizen but I am a permanent resident/green card holder and would be eligible for applying US citizenship next year Nov 2017. My recruiter told me to enlist and the airforce reserve could help me obtain my US citizenship faster. My questions are: 1. If I enlist on a certain job (medical), will they allow me to re-enlist and join as an RN and commissioned officer after I've received my US citizenship oath assuming that I've completed my basic military training? 2. OR should I wait and gain RN experience in a hospital until Nov 2017, become a US citizen and join as an RN commissioned officer in the airforce? I only have 8 months experience as a homehealth nurse. Help me please!