Usafa Nursing

[Zanzoomchi]

Hello I am a senior in highschool trying to figure out what to do about in the Airforce Academy. I have had my mind set on nursing as of now but I am confused with the whole process, I know the case my does not offer nursing as a major and I have looked at the USAFA requirements for healthcare majors. And I was unable to see how long Nursing graduate school would take upon graduation and then I looked at the official Airforce page and to become a clinical nurse leader I need to have my bachelor’s in nursing. When will I be able to achieve my bachelor’s will it be during Nursing grad school? I am very confused on the process

 

[Devil Doc]

What country are you in?

 

[EJF]

If you have your heart set on Nursing, USAFA is probably not the most efficient or forward route to choose. You might do better to consider an ROTC Scholarship and attend a traditional college if you also want to serve.

 

[Zanzoomchi]

What country are you in?

I am in The U.S

 

[Zanzoomchi]

If you have your heart set on Nursing, USAFA is probably not the most efficient or forward route to choose. You might do better to consider an ROTC Scholarship and attend a traditional college if you also want to serve.

I have noticed that but I have my mind set on an academy I know it’s not a straight route but I know it is possible looking at the careers they have for their health department. I just need to know the process

 

[Clar]

I have noticed that but I have my mind set on an academy I know it’s not a straight route but I know it is possible looking at the careers they have for their health department. I just need to know the process

Send me a PM once you have enough messages.... I have had a few friends do this route.

 

[Impulsive]

Hello I am a senior in highschool trying to figure out what to do about in the Airforce Academy. I have had my mind set on nursing as of now but I am confused with the whole process, I know the case my does not offer nursing as a major and I have looked at the USAFA requirements for healthcare majors. And I was unable to see how long Nursing graduate school would take upon graduation and then I looked at the official Airforce page and to become a clinical nurse leader I need to have my bachelor’s in nursing. When will I be able to achieve my bachelor’s will it be during Nursing grad school? I am very confused on the process

Academies are set up to produce "Line Officers" (officers who can serve anywhere anytime and have no restrictions), the chances of "nursing school" direct from the Academy I would think are pretty slim. Usually Grad School (for nursing) requires you to be a promotable O-2, then requires additional ADSO. I understand your desire for an Academy, but realize you need to probably make a choice, nursing or the academy. Most if not all the services have a specific "Nursing ROTC" program to fill these positions, so they don't take new officers out of the pipeline from the academy.

There are few ALO's or ex-ALO's on here, they would know for sure your options, paging @flieger83

 

[mijohnst]

My DD is in the same pickle. She wants to be a nurse and has been accepted to prep school. Her thought is to major in Life Science and then go to grad school on the path to becoming a PA. I tell her to keep an open mind and not be focused on one thing until her junior year. Being young, there are likely things you don't know about or even thought about that might be a career path you'd enjoy as much as being a nurse.

 

[Momstaff12]

My DS is faced with the same issue and is currently a senior. He is waiting on the USAFA decision now but has already received a Naval nursing ROTC scholarship to a university. He is also waiting on a USAF ROTC scholarship decision this weekend also for nursing. While he would love to attend the Academy, he is passionate about being a nurse and that route will likely win out with him choosing ROTC and still being able to serve.

 

[99Gold]

Here is a recent article about three grads who went into John's Hopkin's nursing programs after graduation.

Military to MSN and Back: A Select Few - Johns Hopkins Nursing Magazine

Top-flight Air Force Academy grads ready to soar in Master’s Entry program. Somewhere around 50 percent of Air Force Academy graduates become pilots, figures Francesca Moore, second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force. Each year, three cadets are offered the chance to become top-tier nurses. Moore...

magazine.nursing.jhu.edu

I have a ds who wants to go the SA route and possibly become a doctor. I told him that if his #1 goal is being a doctor (whether in or out of the military), do not go to an SA. Sure, some cadets go directly into medical fields, but they are the exception amd it is very competitive. Add on to that, you are competing against high-level candidates and the schedule is not always set up for success in applying to medical programs.

If his goal is to serve and he'd like to pursue a medical field someday, than an SA can be a good option. If he gets to pursue med school right out of the Academy, whoohoo! If not, he can go do something cool in the military for awhile and look at med school later. He decided that he might want to fly and then go to med school. Besides flying, he is open to several career fields knowing that med school can looked at down the road. The long timeline and potential payback does not bother him at all so he is still going to pursue an SA and I think it's a good decision for him.

You need to decide how important nursing is to you and how you will feel about the very real possibility that you won't be selected as one of the 0.3% of cadets that get to go into nursing right out of the Academy. An SA isn't the best option for everyone.

 

[unkown1961]

Most nurses come from ROTC and have an undergrad degree in Nursing. That would be your best bet to be a nurse in the AF.

 

[Zanzoomchi]

Send me a PM once you have enough messages.... I have had a few friends do this route.

I will, I look forward to speaking with you.

 

[Zanzoomchi]

Here is a recent article about three grads who went into John's Hopkin's nursing programs after graduation.

Military to MSN and Back: A Select Few - Johns Hopkins Nursing Magazine

Top-flight Air Force Academy grads ready to soar in Master’s Entry program. Somewhere around 50 percent of Air Force Academy graduates become pilots, figures Francesca Moore, second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force. Each year, three cadets are offered the chance to become top-tier nurses. Moore...

magazine.nursing.jhu.edu

I have a ds who wants to go the SA route and possibly become a doctor. I told him that if his #1 goal is being a doctor (whether in or out of the military), do not go to an SA. Sure, some cadets go directly into medical fields, but they are the exception amd it is very competitive. Add on to that, you are competing against high-level candidates and the schedule is not always set up for success in applying to medical programs.

If his goal is to serve and he'd like to pursue a medical field someday, than an SA can be a good option. If he gets to pursue med school right out of the Academy, whoohoo! If not, he can go do something cool in the military for awhile and look at med school later. He decided that he might want to fly and then go to med school. Besides flying, he is open to several career fields knowing that med school can looked at down the road. The long timeline and potential payback does not bother him at all so he is still going to pursue an SA and I think it's a good decision for him.

You need to decide how important nursing is to you and how you will feel about the very real possibility that you won't be selected as one of the 0.3% of cadets that get to go into nursing right out of the Academy. An SA isn't the best option for everyone.

Thank you for the Article. I will take a look at it. I do not mind looking at nursing later down the road this is something I will take into consideration.

 

[Zanzoomchi]

My DS is faced with the same issue and is currently a senior. He is waiting on the USAFA decision now but has already received a Naval nursing ROTC scholarship to a university. He is also waiting on a USAF ROTC scholarship decision this weekend also for nursing. While he would love to attend the Academy, he is passionate about being a nurse and that route will likely win out with him choosing ROTC and still being able to serve.

I would have done rotc but in my case I was not qualified for the AFROTC scholarship and I’m still waiting to hear back from Naval ROTC. The only thing I have heard back from so far are the service academies

 

[Zanzoomchi]

My DD is in the same pickle. She wants to be a nurse and has been accepted to prep school. Her thought is to major in Life Science and then go to grad school on the path to becoming a PA. I tell her to keep an open mind and not be focused on one thing until her junior year. Being young, there are likely things you don't know about or even thought about that might be a career path you'd enjoy as much as being a nurse.

My problem is I have seen the program that the USAFA offers after graduation is a Masters in nursing program as a clinical nurse leader but it confused me because I know in order to get your masters you need your bachelors in nursing. If the academy is sending you to a masters in nursing program right after grad how would that work? That’s my issue

 

[Capt MJ]

My problem is I have seen the program that the USAFA offers after graduation is a Masters in nursing program as a clinical nurse leader but it confused me because I know in order to get your masters you need your bachelors in nursing. If the academy is sending you to a masters in nursing program right after grad how would that work? That’s my issue

Have you read every part of the link below?
Note there is an email address. Compose an email with questions you have that you can’t find an answer to at the primary source, introduce yourself as someone interested in Air Force nursing via USAFA.

Health Professions Advisory Committee

The Health Professions Advisory Committee oversees the cadet application process into military health career fields, like dental and nursing.

www.usafa.edu

 

[Zanzoomchi]

Have you read every part of the link below?
Note there is an email address. Compose an email with questions you have that you can’t find an answer to at the primary source, introduce yourself as someone interested in Air Force nursing via USAFA.

Health Professions Advisory Committee

The Health Professions Advisory Committee oversees the cadet application process into military health career fields, like dental and nursing.

www.usafa.edu

I have and I am waiting on a response from the HPAC. Unfortunately the admissions office did not pick up their phone the multiple times I called so I am waiting to hear back via email. Thank you for your help

 

[OldRetSWO]

it confused me because I know in order to get your masters you need your bachelors in nursing. If the academy is sending you to a masters in nursing program right after grad how would that work? That’s my issue

You might want to look further into what you "know" about the requirements for a masters degree. In many/most disciplines, you do NOT need to have a bachelors in that discipline in order to get a Masters. For instance, I do not have a Bachelors in Business but I do have a Masters in it. I know quite a few friends/former coworkers with Masters in Electrical Eng that did not have Bachelors degrees in EE. My sister has a Masters and PhD in Economics from one of the finest universities in the US but her Bachelors was not in Econ.

 

[Zanzoomchi]

You might want to look further into what you "know" about the requirements for a masters degree. In many/most disciplines, you do NOT need to have a bachelors in that discipline in order to get a Masters. For instance, I do not have a Bachelors in Business but I do have a Masters in it. I know quite a few friends/former coworkers with Masters in Electrical Eng that did not have Bachelors degrees in EE. My sister has a Masters and PhD in Economics from one of the finest universities in the US but her Bachelors was not in Econ.

with the help of many from this I have come to realize the program is for people without a bachelor’s in nursing. What you have said is something I just started finding out recently and it eases my mind. The program allows for me to be able to get my masters in nursing and become a Registered Nurse in one go.

 

[tkinion]

Most AF nurses are not ROTC but direct commission. If you want to be a nurse, go to a civilian nurse program (BSN), complete your licensure, work a year or two on the floor then visit a health services recruiter. You’ll even get constructive credit for your experience. You can also get an ADN degree, work in the field while you complete the BSN transition and end up with the same result.