Time to move on

Specialties Government

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Hi!

I'm currently a RN of 3 years in an out patient dialysis center. Currently no hospital experience. It's always my dream to join the military. It got serious 2 years ago and it is all that I'm thinking every day. I have my 4 year Bachelor's degree in Nursing which I took out the U.S. Got it transcribed and shows that it's accredited in the US standards. They don't do GPA scores so I checked the equivalent score of my grades by some online calculator. GPA came out 2.41. I know its low but what can I do, I was young, wasn't a dreamer before and all I wanted before was just to pass and get over college.

I applied first for the airforce. Two ways to get in according to the recruiter. First to have an hospital experience. Second, to apply for the Nurse transition program and to have a GPA of 3.5. Recruiter told me to apply for a hospital position and try to apply in the USAF after one year.

I tried reaching out for the army today and he said they accept anybody without experience but need to have atleast a GPA of 3.0.

Last choice, Navy but I don't want to try it anymore at this point I'm discouraged.

I think it's time for me to close the doors in joining the military.

Specializes in ER, ICU.

You could get a hospital job and the experience you need. Or, retake classes and raise your GPA. You could also enter a Masters program. Good luck.

6 hours ago, nurse2033 said:

You could get a hospital job and the experience you need. Or, retake classes and raise your GPA. You could also enter a Masters program. Good luck.

yeah my choice is the hospital experience but im afraid after 1-2 years life happens and I dont have a chance to join.

Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

Are you a US citizen, and did you attend a CCNE or ACEN accredited school? If the answer to any of those is no, you do not qualify for commissioning.

I would work on your GPA, getting into the military is very selective, you are in competition against 100s of applicants for a few spots. Recently the military has significantly cut the nurse corps in each of the branches, making them more selective. Find ways to stand out, GPA, experience, certifications, etc. In the military you are not just a nurse, your an Officer first, nurse second.

If it is something you dream of, then it is worth the journey, the experiences one gets in the military are boundless. It has been one of the best choices of my life.

Have you thought about the US Public Health Service? If you can get into a federal job (usajobs.gov), USPHS is a branch of government health service offering many of the benefits of military service. Right now there are a few areas in the federal government really searching for nurses, like Indian Health services and Bureau of Prisons.

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