Is anyone an L.P.N. in the Army?

bobnurse · Dec 30, 2004

USARF from the former Presidio base in San Francisco. Back then, we were 91Charlies and not whiskeys.

When were you in san fran at the presidio.......I had a buddy that i was in AIT with at fort sam...I cant recall his name right off, but i'll look for it..He was stationed there in 1993-1994 and longer....I was at fort ord in 93-94 and transferred to fort hood and didnt talk to him since.. He was a 91Q (pharmacy tech). Bradly is coming to mind, but i'm gonna beak out the pics tonight and confirm.......let me know

PHTLS · Jan 4, 2005

When did you go through school and where?

Sorry for the reply delay. To answer your question, I graduated locally in San Francisco (95') when my Army Reserve unit offered an LPN program. Like many here, I also graduated from the 91Alpha/Bravo Medical Specialist course at Ft. Sam back in 1991.

I'm also PHTLS, EMT-B, EKG/Telemetry, and IV/Phlebotomy certified. California licensed as well.

stevenking, BSN, RN · Jan 7, 2005

Hello,

I just discovered this forum via a Google search for challenging the RN board in West Virginia. I am a current 91WM620 who graduated from Phase II at Fort Gordon in 2001. I was the Distinguished Honor Graduate and was pinpointed to work at Fort Gordon after graduation - fortunately, I bypassed the standard "med surg year" and went to work immediately in the MICU. It probably took six months to feel comfortable in my job - but I am greatly indebted to the time I spent in a critical care setting to really polish my assessment skills (or, if you're currently going through JCAHO - my "fact finding skills" that some competent RN will co-sign with me. :] )

After a year of working at the hospital, I launched out and begain some very different nursing experiences via agencies in Georgia and South Carolina.

I switched careers (was a pastor) to rejoin the Army (nine year break in service---former 11B at Planet Ord '86-90 - Manchu) and fell into 91B/91C land by total accident. After attaining what was 91C designation, I returned to school and earned my MBA in Healthcare Management in one year (I am educational potpourri - religious studies undergraduate - possibly enrolling in EdD eventually.).

Now, I am looking for the fastest pathway to RN - and challenging the RN board in West Virginia might be the ticket. I too, have a long list of credentials/certs in this evolving military reality (that actually will end in one year - due to my new role in life as divorced dad/single father. I am a victim of the go-to-Korea-and-wife-lose-her-mind genre):

EMT-B

BTLS

ACLS (instructor)

PALS (instructor)

ABLS (This was the best life support class I have completed.)

TNCC (A tremendous RN level course of which I encourage any trauma minded folks to seek.)

Sorry so long,

The Kingster

PHTLS · Jan 8, 2005

I wish I could have gone the 11 Bravo route first, before I became a medic.

stevenking, BSN, RN · Jan 9, 2005

11B was interesting...would never, ever go back to that world.

The Kingster

MaoKhan · Apr 29, 2005

Hello, I am currently a M6 student at Ft. Sam Houston and am about to finish phase 1 and am going to my phase 2 site at Walter Reed. Feels good passing the last test today :). Anyways I'll check the site some more if anyone wants straight up input from a studen't perspective.

ebonyangel · May 6, 2005

Hello, I am currently a M6 student at Ft. Sam Houston and am about to finish phase 1 and am going to my phase 2 site at Walter Reed. Feels good passing the last test today :). Anyways I'll check the site some more if anyone wants straight up input from a studen't perspective.

Hello there,

I am in the army right now contemplating reenlistlistment. Currently I'm looking at the 91W M6 MOS and have a ? for you. After completing phase 2 & 3, the 44 wks of mtf training, is your permanent duty station the same place as your phase 2 & 3 training or do you go back to ft. sam and do your tour of duty there? Please email me at [email protected]. Thanks.

vivibonita · Mar 14, 2007

Ok.. all this information is really interesting. I am thinking about joining the army, my recruiter says they will only get me as a 68W because I have my EMT license. However, in May (2007) I will be graduating as an LVN (LPN) before I join I will get my license. Will they accept me as an M6 or only as a 68W? My recruiter hasn't been able to tell me what I can do with my LVN license only that I'll be a 68W. But I believe I can do SO much more. I would appreciate any advise

Rme4life · Mar 17, 2007

this thread has also been very interesting to me. my question is regarding being in the army as a LPN but holding an RN license. i have seen other posts on this site about an RN working as an LPN (accepting an LPN job) and not being able to do this. so how does the army look at having someone in an LPN position (MOS) and yet holding an RN license? do they work you as a RN? is this a common thing for someone who is enlisted to actually hold an RN license or is this uncommon? i always thought that the military really utilized the LPN, with the MOS change has this caused many who are LPN's to not be able to work as one?

brendamyheart · Mar 17, 2007

ok so you want to know about basic training.. Its a lot of fun, you get to learn how to be a soldier and you get to learn the basic fundamental skills of being a soldier like marching, doing alot of army workouts, alot of basic combat training skills with the basic weapon systems and alot of rifle marksmenship and alot of pushups. The drill Sgts will be in your face screaming at you breaking you down first till it hurts and after a couple of weeks they will build you up. You learn and learn and relearn all the basic common tasks that a new soldier needs to know in order to make it on the battlefield. Basic teaches the basics in other words
91w school teaches the fundamental medical/trauma skills that a medic needs to know in order to treat patients on the battlefield and in the clinical setting. remember that it is a building block, if you have a good NCO Medic, he or she will improve upon your training as will a good MD or RN or PA...

Basic training was not fun for me. It is very hard on your body and mind. However, I went into the army when I was thirty. Went from 91B to 91c, civilian for LPN. I must say, that the training I received as a 91c was the best!

Zetetic · Jul 26, 2007

I know this is an old thread but I wanted to add my experiences & 2 cents worth. I was a Vietnam era 91C "Charlie". When we finished the 91C course at Madigan in 1968, they bussed us all to take the Washington LPN board exams. I held LPN/LVN licenses and worked in WA, OR & CA. I wish I had learned about it earlier but a couple of years later, I finally took the RN boards in California. I worked ICU/CCU/ED in a couple of southern CA hospitals and even though the degree nurses were often wary of me, I always proved myself to be more than competent. In fact, I never met a degree RN who did better than me on the RN board exams! However, I found that I could not transfer this RN license to any other state. Realizing that my RN career might be limited, I decided to leave nursing and go to college with medical school in my sights. Unfortunately, likely due to my age (age discrimination was common before the Allan Bakke case), I was not accepted to med school. Seeking another professional path, I went on to a degree & license in Meditech Technology. I worked as a lab tech for a couple of years, gained a graduate degree in health care administration & public health and then got a commission as a Navy Medical Service Corps officer at age 33. My active duty & reserve career began as an Army 91A10 Medic in 1967 and stretched to 2003 when I retired as a Navy MSC Commander. I've worked for a number of years as a Lab Manager, Blood Donor Recruiter, Clinical Director, Quality/Performance Improvement Coordinator, and Clinical Systems Analyst. I recently started as a Quality Data Abstractor at a Seattle area hospital.

It would seem to me that the restructuring of the Army's programs has somewhat diluted the standards for this level of care practitioner. Unless you really can’t afford to go to to a civilian college (community colleges are not expensive!), I’m not sure I would recommend enlisting in the Army as a pathway to a professional nursing level. Landing a nursing school scholarship via the military is, of course, a possibility while serving as an enlisted member but it will take a couple of years and you might have to suffer through a lot to get there.

ArmyKitten · Jul 28, 2007

Even if you have your RN license, if you are enlisted you are only allowed to practice within the scope of practice for LPN/LVN.

Personally, I wouldnt sign anything that didnt say you would be allowed to be a 68WM6- because they may make you just a medic, and not allow you to be a nurse.