Transitioning from military service to nursing offers purpose, transferable skills, career advancement, specialization and rewarding opportunities. Harding University’s hybrid accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program helps veterans become registered nurses fast for eligible applicants with college credits.
Military service often enables people to develop a unique blend of discipline, resilience, technical expertise and other skills. They perform with a specific purpose, which is something registered nurses also experience. These skills can help make the transition from veteran to RN a natural one.
If you already have at least 64 college credits, you might be eligible for Harding University’s hybrid accelerated Bachelor of Science in nursing program in Arkansas.
Discover why veterans make good nurses, the benefits of a nursing career and how to earn a degree and become a licensed nurse by enrolling in a veteran to RN program online.
Why Veterans Make Great Nurses
You might wonder whether veterans make good nurses. The short answer is yes. Whether or not you served in the health care field, you gained valuable leadership and technical skills in the military that would set you apart as a nurse.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs highlights the strengths that veterans bring to the workplace, such as adaptability, follow-through and organization. RAND Corp.’s toolkit for helping private employers understand the non-technical skills that military personnel bring to the table expands on that list, emphasizing the following skills:
- Attention to detail
- Commitment to professional development
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking and decision-making
- Ethical behavior
- Leadership
- Reliability
- Teamwork
The technical skills a nurse needs can be taught in nursing school, but soft skills, such as those mentioned above, provide a strong foundation for any health care professional.
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Benefits of Choosing Nursing as a Career for Veterans
The health care field would benefit from incorporating someone with your military background, and you would find fulfillment as a nurse.
You Will Feel a Sense of Purpose
A nurse’s job is to ensure the health and well-being of their patients, which can give you purpose. A sense of purpose is highly important to workers, especially Millennials and Gen Zs. Those who have this sense are more engaged and more likely to stay, McKinsey & Co. reported.
You Will Find Satisfaction
According to an annual Gallup poll, nursing has been the most trusted profession for years. Nurses are also generally happy. More than 80% of nurses said they were moderately or extremely satisfied with their jobs in 2021.
The Demand for Nurses is High
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that nursing employment will increase by 6% by 2033, faster than the national average for all occupations.
You Will Earn a Comfortable Living
As a civilian nurse, you would earn competitive pay. The annual median wage of RNs nationwide is $86,070, according to the BLS. Nurses with advanced degrees or certifications usually earn significantly more than that. Advanced practice registered nurses, for example, earn a median annual salary of $129,480.
You Can Specialize
Once you earn a nursing degree and become licensed, you can increase your knowledge in a particular specialty. Civilian nurses are needed in hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, medical offices and other environments.
Popular nursing specialties include the following:
- Cardiac care
- Critical care
- Emergency rooms
- Gerontology
- Informatics
- Neonatal
- Nurse anesthetist
- Nurse midwife
- Obstetrics
- Oncology
- Pediatrics
- School nurse
- Surgical nurse
- Travel nurse
Various organizations offer certifications for certain specialties. The American Nurses Credentialing Center, for example, offers certifications in ambulatory care nursing, cardiac-vascular nursing, medical-surgical nursing and more.
You Will Have Opportunities for Career Advancement
Whether or not you choose to gain experience in a particular specialty, you will have opportunities for career growth as a nurse.
One way to advance your career and prepare you for higher roles is to earn an advanced degree. These can include:
- Master of Science in Nursing
- Doctor of Nursing Practice
- Doctor of Philosophy
Experienced nurses can take on leadership and managerial roles, ranging from nurse manager to overseeing nursing for an entire health care organization. As a nurse leader or manager, you could set a vision for care, support nursing teams, ensure compliance and bridge the gap between the administration and those providing direct patient care. Nurse manager positions range from APRN to charge nurse to unit manager, while nurse leader roles include chief nursing officer, nurse educator and nursing director.
Earning a Bachelor of Science in nursing will help ensure that you are ready for the next phase of your journey.
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Steps to Transition from Veteran to RN
The steps to becoming an RN include earning a nursing degree and passing the licensing exam.
At the start of their careers, most RNs hold one of two degrees:
- Associate Degree in nursing or an Associate of Science in nursing
- Bachelor of Science in nursing
Nurses with BSNs are highly desired by employers, and studies have shown that such nurses help improve patient outcomes.
Find the Right Veteran to RN Program Online for You
Traditional nursing programs take four years to complete and feature a mix of coursework and hands-on labs and clinicals. Accelerated programs such as Harding’s are available for students who have already earned a certain number of credits. Many of these ABSN programs deliver their coursework online. Harding’s ABSN, which can be completed in as few as 16 months, uses a hybrid method that includes online courses covering nursing concepts along with hands-on skills labs at its program site in Rogers, Arkansas.
While this hybrid approach offers convenience and flexibility, you will complete online coursework in real time with your peers and will have deadlines to meet. You will take proctored exams in person at the ABSN program site.
During your online courses, you might encounter the following tasks:
- Completing and submitting course tasks
- Conducting self-assessments to evaluate your comprehension of the topics
- Listening to audio
- Navigating simulated case studies
- Reading nursing theory coursework
- Using discussion forums to communicate with teachers and other students
- Watching videos
Practice Your Skills in Labs and Clinicals
Nursing students practice the skills they learn in nursing simulation labs, skills labs and clinicals. Harding’s ABSN skills labs feature all the state-of-the-art medical equipment and supplies expected in the hospital environment. You will also interact with realistic medical manikins that can speak and simulate symptoms. In these labs, you might practice the following skills:
- Holistic head-to-toe assessment
- Nasogastric tube insertion
- Blood pressure and heart rate monitoring
- Wound care
- Catheterization
The other main component of nursing school is clinical rotations at local health care facilities. You will work with experienced nurses and other health care professionals and provide supervised care to actual patients.
Pass the Licensing Exam
You will be able to take the NCLEX after you have earned your nursing degree. This rigorous exam uses practical scenarios to test your knowledge. Be sure to start studying for the NCLEX as soon as you start your ABSN program.
Financing Your Degree
As a veteran, you have several options for financing your college education:
- GI Bill: Eligible service members and veterans can receive financial assistance to pay for tuition, books, housing and other education costs.
- Military Tuition Assistance: Each branch of the military offers college scholarships to eligible service members, veterans and their families. This includes the Reserve Officer Training Corps program.
- The U.S. Department of Education offers grants, loans, loan deferment and other benefits. Undergraduate students with exceptional financial need might be eligible for a Federal Pell Grant.
You can also apply for scholarships through a myriad of organizations or take out a loan through a financial institution.
Earn Your Nursing Degree at Harding University
Harding University’s Carr College of Nursing prepares high-quality nurses to provide comprehensive patient care for the mind, body and spirit. As the demand for RNs is increasing, Harding’s ABSN program can help you prepare to enter the workforce sooner than a traditional program.
Contact us to learn how you can transfer the skills you learned in the military to a fulfilling career as a nurse.