Veterans Who Are Nursing Students: Can I get an AMEN

RunBabyRN · May 30, 2014

I'm a vet, and I just graduated from my BSN program.

I was never deployed (volunteered for Iraq a couple of times, but this was before they started sending females), so my experience may vary from many of my fellow vets. Nursing school was one of the harder things I've done, but so is parenting. So was being homeless when I was 19. I've had some hard experiences in my life, few of which have anything to do with being a veteran, in all honesty, but I wouldn't chastise anyone for saying that nursing school is the hardest thing they've ever done. It WAS hard! I think most of us have other stuff on our plates as well, and that just adds to the hardship.

I also think that if I'd gone to nursing school in my early 20s, as many of the posters here are, I would have approached it very differently, and it WOULD have been one of the hardest things I've ever done to that point.

Remember that everyone's coming from a different place. Try not to judge too harshly those with different backgrounds. I have a harder time with vets who compare everything to their experiences. I have a brother-in-law who has a hard time being around my brother and me because our service time (my brother went to Kuwait and Cuba) wasn't as "valid" as his because he was OIF. It's always a competition, and because of it, we don't spend time with them.

There are a variety of life experiences that are very challenging, but I don't think it needs to be a competition.

excited1 · May 30, 2014

I am not a Vet. I just wanted to drop in and say THANK YOU for what you have done for this Country. It is because of you all that make it possible for the rest of us to have the FREEDOM of education. GOD BLESS AMERICA!

excited1 · May 30, 2014

And to the OP, keep in mind those that say "nursing school is the hardest thing i have ever done" is because they did not experience what you have experienced. They arent saying its harder than what you went through, its what THEY have been through.

smf0903 · May 31, 2014

I'm not a vet but married to one. My husband has done three Middle East tours since 2002. I am fortunate to have the opportunity to go back to school using his post 9/11 benefits. I agree with the other posters who offered that "the hardest thing I've ever done" is relevant for that person. Sure nursing school is hard, it's suppose to be! If it was easy anyone would do it There are a lot of things in life that are hard, but many of them also can't be compared on a side-by-side basis.

I wish you well in your journey! And I sincerely thank you for your service :)

Wannabeeinscrubs, ADN, LPN, RN · Jun 1, 2014

I am a vet, and I keep waiting for school to get hard. I was enlisted and my goal is to get my BSN and go back in commissioned. I dont feel like I am done serving my country.