Are you looking for an exciting civilian career where you could make use of your military experience? Consider pursuing a career in nursing. As a veteran or ex-service member, the skills you developed in active service can help you become a great nurse.
Learn more about the path to becoming a nurse by reading our comprehensive guide below.
Why Nursing?
Nursing can be an excellent career choice for former military personnel, thanks to the strong demand, competitive salaries, and matching skill sets. We’ll dive into these compelling reasons below.
High Demand for Nurses
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, an average of 193,100 job openings for registered nurses (RNs) are available each year. This rate may even get higher with the percent change in employment projected to be 6% from 2022 to 2032, a speed faster than the average job outlook.
Good Wages
The salary of nurses is higher than the average annual national salary and hourly rate, which Forbes puts at $59,428 and $28.34, respectively.
RNs receive an average of $81,220 yearly or about $39.05 an hour. Some states pay higher. According to our guide on the highest-paid nursing roles in the U.S., nurses in California and Hawaii can earn an average of $133,340 and $113,220 a year.
Veteran Skill Sets Align With Nursing
When you choose to become a nurse as a veteran, you may find the transition easier than others since many of the skills you learned in the military also apply to nursing.
Communication Skills
In the military, effective communication allows the accurate conveying of orders and messages. It’s crucial for building trust and understanding between members of your unit.
The same can be said with nursing. Good communication prevents errors and helps nurses build rapport with patients, their families, and other medical team members.
Accuracy Skills
Accurate work is crucial in the armed forces. In nursing, you’ll need that accuracy as well 一 especially for medication dosing, IV insertions, and other procedures that demand precision work.
Excellent Work Ethic
Veterans and returning service members tend to have impeccable work ethic thanks to their military training, service, and lifestyle. As a nurse, work ethic will dictate your dedication and behavior in the workplace.
Problem-Solving Skills
Military operations frequently present unforeseen challenges, equipping veterans and returning service members with exceptional problem-solving skills. As a nurse, these abilities will enable you to adeptly address issues, complementing veteran critical thinking and decision-making skills.
Adaptability
In the military, things can change without warning. As such, military veterans and service members develop strong adaptability skills, which is the ability to respond to new or changing conditions.
Adaptability is a must for nurses, who need to adjust their actions according to many factors, such as lack of resources, time constraints, or a patient’s unique cultural beliefs.
Teamwork
Teamwork in the military enables operations to run smoothly. As a nurse, you need to be a good team player. After all, you will work closely with other healthcare team members (doctors, pharmacists, physical therapists, etc.) to give your patients the optimal care they deserve. Just as in the military, good teamwork in nursing saves lives.
SOP Skills
Military personnel follow standard operating procedures when doing important duties. As a nurse, you’ll need to follow protocol to complete tasks safely and avoid adverse events that may harm you, your patient, or others.
Leadership Skills
Leadership in the military is more than just barking orders. It’s about commanding respect and confidence from your staff. As a new nurse, the leadership skills you experienced in the military will come in handy as you work under physicians and advanced practice nurses, as well as overseeing licensed practical nurses and certified nursing assistants.
Clerical Skills
If you worked in military offices, the clerical skills you developed during your tour of duty will prove helpful to your nursing career. Apart from performing procedures, you will need to maintain records, schedule appointments, and answer calls.
Cultural and Global Understanding
Military members who have been assigned to various parts of the globe or have worked with people from diverse backgrounds have a profound understanding of other cultures. This skill is a must-have for nurses who care for patients with varying backgrounds and beliefs.
Abundance of Resources
One of the best things about pursuing a nursing career after military service is the abundance of available resources. Veterans Affairs (VA) and other government entities offer many assistance programs and scholarships for ex-service members, and we’ll discuss those in detail later.
Common Nursing Career Paths
Wondering which nursing path to take? Here we’ll discuss the common nursing careers, including their description and average salary ranges.
Other Healthcare Careers for Veterans and Returning Service Members
Apart from nursing, there are many other careers that veterans (with or without healthcare experience) can consider.
Those with a high school diploma can work as home health aides, opticians, or pharmacy technicians.
Veterans willing to take a post-secondary non-degree program can work as emergency medical technicians or paramedics, medical assistants, surgical assistants, dental assistants, and phlebotomists.
Those with strong clerical skills can also pursue office-based healthcare careers such as medical transcription or medical recordkeeping.
Veterans who are open to completing a 2-year associate degree might consider the following careers.
Dental Hygiene
Diagnostic Medical Sonography or Cardiovascular Technology
Health Information Technology and Medical Registry
Nuclear Medicine Technology
Radiation or MRI Technology
Respiratory Therapy
Those who plan to return to school to get a bachelor’s degree can specialize in clinical laboratory technology, nutrition and dietetics, exercise physiology, medical dosimetry, occupational health and safety, and recreational therapy.
Veterans with an aligned undergraduate degree may pursue a master’s degree to become athletic trainers, genetic counselors, occupational therapists, orthotists/prosthetists, physician assistants, and speech-language pathologists.
Veterans can also pursue doctorate degrees and become physicians, dentists, podiatrists, optometrists, audiologists, chiropractors, physical therapists, pharmacists, or veterinarians.
Tips for Transitioning to Civilian Nursing
Shifting to a civilian job can be quite challenging, but the following transition tips should help make it easier.
Veterans New to Nursing
Deciding to pursue nursing is the first step, and we’re here to help you navigate from start to finish.
Selecting a Program
First, you need to choose the right nursing program. Decide whether you want to earn an LPN certificate, an associate degree, or a bachelor’s degree in nursing. You can opt for a bridge program if you already hold a college degree.
Next, it’s time to choose a school according to your preferences, such as location, class size, and online or in-person classes. The tuition fee should be a consideration as your GI bill may only cover a certain amount.
It’s also important to pick an accredited school with a high National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) pass rate and varied clinical opportunities. These experiences will prepare you for your role as an LPN or RN.
Consider going over each application’s requirements, which vary according to school. In most cases, they may require a certain GPA or SAT score, completion of science courses, a CV or resume, a personal essay, and references. Be sure to submit according to the requirements.
Study Well
Whether you’re a part- or full-time student, the same rule applies: You need to study well. Here are some good study tips to follow.
Recognize your learning style — Do you learn best from notes or videos?
Focus on the class material and review it, including any of the notes you’ve made
Use acronyms or acrostics
Join study groups, or create one with your classmates
Don’t be afraid to ask your professor or instructor questions
Make studying a daily habit
Prepare for the NCLEX
To become licensed in their respective states, LPN or RN students must take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX).
To register for the exam, applicants must fulfill state requirements:
Completion of an accredited nursing program
Application form submission
Background checks
Payment
Once your application has been approved, you will receive an ATT (authorization to test) that is good for 90 days.
Studying is critical to passing the test. Our NCLEX Prep Course offers over 2,200 practice questions that you can take with no added cost. We can help you learn about the content and common question types, which are key to passing the NCLEX-RN.
Leveraging Your Military Experience in the Nursing Field
As previously mentioned, many of the skills you’ve learned in the military will come in handy for your nursing career.
If you’re a good problem solver who can adapt easily, you’ll make a good nurse in fields where you need to think on your feet and make use of the resources available, such as an emergency department.
If you have excellent leadership skills and experience leading in the military, you can excel in a nurse manager role.
Switching From Military Nurse to Civilian Nurse
If you’re an experienced military nurse who is thinking of becoming a civilian nurse, you need to be aware of the differences.
Military nurses work in constantly changing environments, rendering care in both sophisticated hospitals and settings that lack resources. As officers, they have the authority to manage their hospital and personnel.
Conversely, civilian nurses often work in a single institution for years. The leadership hierarchy differs between military and civilian healthcare settings, and military nurses may need to take some time to adjust.
Both need to follow the same basic requirements, which is to complete an accredited nursing course and pass the NCLEX-RN. The military, however, requires their nurses to be aged 18 to 47, whereas civilians can become nurses if they’re older.
There are no extra licensing requirements for military nurses who want to become civilian nurses. The application process is similar: Submit the requirements, prepare for the interview, and ace it.
That said, ex-military nurses need to be ready for a shift to civilian practice. According to a 2017 study by Messiah University, many report the change to be taxing.
Some military nursing skills do not translate to civilian nursing, there may be decreased pay, and civilians can’t always understand the returning service members’ experience. However, given the adaptability and work ethics of former military members, they are sure to transition to civilian nursing well over time.
Resources for Veterans
As a former member of the military, you have exclusive access to financial and non-financial resources that aren’t available to civilian nursing students.
GI Bill and Military Financial Resources
The GI Bill provides full benefits to veterans who:
Served on active duty for a total of 36 months or 1,095 days.
Served on active duty and received a Purple Heart Award on or after September 11, 2001.
Served on active duty for at least 30 days and were discharged due to a service-connected disability.
Veterans who meet the above criteria can get their full nursing tuition (in-state rate) waived at state universities or community colleges. Meanwhile, the GI Bill will shoulder a hefty amount for those who elect to study in a private or foreign nursing school.
Veterans on active duty for less than 36 months or 1,095 days are also eligible for 50% to 90% of the full benefit, depending on how long they served the military.
Students whose tuition exceeds the amount covered by the GI Bill may get additional assistance through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Depending on the participating school, it may cover a set amount (up to $10,000) or the entire remainder of the fees.
Click here to find nursing schools and their corresponding GI Bill benefits.
The GI Bill will also cover up to $1,000 for books and supplies every year and up to $1,200 for tutorial assistance.
Scholarships
Veterans who are interested in studying nursing may apply for these military-specific scholarships and grants.
The right organization can make your life in nursing school easier, so be sure to consider joining support groups.
Student Veterans of America – With over 1,600 on-campus chapters, it provides network support and resources to help veterans achieve their full potential.
National Student Nurses’ Association – Composed of 50,000 nationwide members, the organization is working toward the promotion of student nurses’ professional development.
Veterans who wish to pursue nursing should apply for another VA benefit: Chapter 36 or the Personalized Career Planning and Guidance Program. It offers career, educational, and counseling services and support for resume writing and goal planning.
Nursing Career Resources for Veterans
As previously mentioned, there is a high demand for nurses. But if you want to get your dream job, you need to take steps to establish yourself as the best candidate in the pool.
Create a Powerful Nursing Resume
The basic requirement of any employer is a resume. But how do you make yours stand out in a sea of other applicants? If you want to be part of their shortlist, then you need to write a strong nursing resume:
List all the important information, including your previous military responsibilities, accomplishments, and awards.
Write an objective that reflects your motivation for employment.
Use professional-looking fonts such as Arial or Calibri; use font sizes 10 to 12 for standard text and 14 to 16 for headings.
Create clearly defined sections in your resume.
Use action words like coordinated, headed, oversaw, and organized.
Proofread your resume and save it as a PDF file.
Need additional assistance? VA Chapter 36 offers resume writing support, so be sure to take advantage of that service if needed.
Master the Nursing Job Interview
Apart from creating an excellent nursing resume, you will need to ace the interview. Here are some useful tips:
Wear clean, well-fitting clothes, and keep your accessories to a minimum.
Lean forward slightly and maintain eye contact while talking.
According to the BLS, the government pays nurses well. If you want to make the most of your skills, be sure to visit these websites that offer nursing jobs with the government.
Prefer to attend job fairs? The following sites provide lists of career fairs specially hosted for veterans, returning service members, and their spouses.
Veterans have exceptional skills, and it’s no surprise that many companies want to hire them. If you’re part of such an organization, you may find the following information helpful.
Bridging Employers With Veterans
On top of providing job opportunities to veterans, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s “Hiring Our Heroes” program works with employers who offer insights into their organizations. Every so often, the website hosts employer panels that explore healthcare careers in institutions such as HCA, Leidos, and Walmart Health, to name a few.
The U.S. Department of Labor also has a Hire a Veteran program, which bridges the gap between employers and veteran applicants through its Regional Veterans Employment Coordinator and National Labor Exchange job portal.
Subsidizes the apprentice-level wage of veterans who need to undergo training. It reimburses up to 50% of veteran salary for those who face extraordinary employment obstacles for up to six months.
Other Incentives
The VR&E program also offers non-financial incentives to employers who hire veterans. For example, it provides assistive technology such as specialized equipment and workplace modifications that allow veterans to perform their tasks fully.
The Department of Labor’s HIRE Vets Medallion Award, meanwhile, recognizes employers who exert effort in recruiting, employing, and retaining veterans. The award gives winning companies national recognition and an edge over their competitors.
Indeed, nursing is a career path that veterans and returning service members should consider, given the high job demand, great wages, and its alignment with military skill sets. While the path to becoming a nurse may seem daunting at first, it can be done easily with proper planning and use of available resources.
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