Allowing Corpsman to Become Nurses

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Watching the Presidential debate tonight and a statement by Obama made my head turn. He was relating a story when a corpsman was stating that he has treated wounded soldiers but when he became a civilian he could not use his training or experience to count towards becoming a nurse (unknown which kind). The corpsman was upset that he had to start his education/training from the beginning.

Obama stated that the requirements to be a nurse (assumed licensure/NCLEX requirements) should be changed to allow corpsman to become nurses (did not state which kind).

Any thoughts?

I successfully challenged the board (RN-NCLEX) in 93 in West Virginia and am finally completing my BSN from Excelsior College (December 8th!). Independent duty Navy Corpsmen and 7 skill level Air Force medics also qualify.

West Virginia Code30-24-2. Qualification for examination for license as a registered professional nurse. Any person who has served on active duty in the medical corps of any of the armed forces of the United States and who has successfully completed the course of instruction required to qualify him for rating as a medical specialist advanced, medical service technician or advanced hospital corpsman technician, or other equivalent rating in his particular branch of the armed forces, and whose service in the armed forces was under honorable conditions, may submit to the West Virginia board of examiners for registered professional nurses, a photostatic copy of the certificate issued to him certifying successful completion of such course of instruction, a photostatic copy of his discharge from the armed forces, an application for a license as a registered professional nurse and the prescribed license fee.]http://www.legis.state.wv.us/wvcode/code.cfm?chap=30&art=24

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As a former USMC corpsman, paramedic now LVN in just bout every department in countless hospitals (registry) and staff I can honestly my training exceed that of a RN sorry but it did , I worked as team doc for recon team I saw my own patients n wrote orders,sutures,IV s. The attitude is very simular to what I'm reading on these post RN s questioning our training but after working with me and seeing what can do especially in the ER I have made good friends that I think have a different perspective on corpsman Ironically not that long ago independent duty hm s challenged the RN boards but we are closer to P A s matter of fact that's why p a s were created in 60s

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I'm so glad you posted this!!

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As a corpsman about graduate from a BSN program I can say that corpsman should not be able to test for an RN license.. The knowledge that you need to have as an RN is far more than is taught in corpsman school.. Depending on where you are, corpsman are very similar to MA's and EMT's

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Corpsman can already challenge nursing boards however our job especially as I D C corpsman is closer to P A

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Thank you man for your post as a former H M

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What bout I D C corpsman ?and I disagree with you by the way! I've been a nurse for 12 years now in all dept but E R is my home

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Yes absolutely IDC's are comparable to PA's. I never worked very closely with an IDC during my time as a Corpsman, but it sounded like a nice job!

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Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
As a former USMC corpsman, paramedic now LVN in just bout every department in countless hospitals (registry) and staff I can honestly my training exceed that of a RN sorry but it did , I worked as team doc for recon team I saw my own patients n wrote orders,sutures,IV s. The attitude is very simular to what I'm reading on these post RN s questioning our training but after working with me and seeing what can do especially in the ER I have made good friends that I think have a different perspective on corpsman Ironically not that long ago independent duty hm s challenged the RN boards but we are closer to P A s matter of fact that's why p a s were created in 60s

As a former army medic with some pretty high qualiety training, and not an RN I feel you. However not all corpsman and medic recive the saem training and experience. I regularly have AF and army NG medics with me. Their units send them to get critical care & IV experince. A lot of these young men and women have gone through basic medic training but have no practiocal experince.

I disagree that corpsmen and medics should automaticaly be elligable to sit for RN NCLEX. I would not be opposed to putting them through a testing procedure and giving them credit for everything they already know. Like my state does.

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Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
Yes absolutely IDC's are comparable to PA's. I never worked very closely with an IDC during my time as a Corpsman, but it sounded like a nice job!

I don't disagree. However PAs are not nurses.

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To my army medic brother after my active duty time i joined army reserve as combat medic and i was surpised to learn the training was different especially when we had real causualties, my C O even wanted to give classes on assessments as FmF navy corpsman we worked one on one with DRs or IDC examining patients as well as assessments and plans like ordering xrays and yes prescribing medication usually under direction of IDC or Md however ive seen pts conducted exams especially ortho cases And developed plans with medications, shooting x rays and reviewing xrays with the med officer, all UsmC. Corpsman were trained in this matter however if the junior corpsman stayed at a base hospital on the blue side they would never get this type of training

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Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
To my army medic brother after my active duty time i joined army reserve as combat medic and i was surpised to learn the training was different especially when we had real causualties, my C O even wanted to give classes on assessments as FmF navy corpsman we worked one on one with DRs or IDC examining patients as well as assessments and plans like ordering xrays and yes prescribing medication usually under direction of IDC or Md however ive seen pts conducted exams especially ortho cases And developed plans with medications, shooting x rays and reviewing xrays with the med officer, all UsmC. Corpsman were trained in this matter however if the junior corpsman stayed at a base hospital on the blue side they would never get this type of training

Yes the training is different at the basic level. However I graduated from the 18D short course and took the class with navy corpsmen and experienced army medics together. I agree with you about IDC = PA. However IDC and PA = not well prepared to be hospital nurse.

The good news is that in some places, like where I live in Wisconsin medics and corpsmen can become RNs in only two semesters. They are given credit for what they already know.

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