A Confused Army Nurse

Published

Hi!!! I'm currently a senior in high school and I've always wanted to be involved with the military and nursing. I'm already a CNA and I want to get my BSN in the best/fastest way (I know I have a long way to go). I've enlisted for the Army already, and the only nursing job available to me was an LPN - which right after graduation I will be shipped to Texas to begin training as an LPN. It will take me from June of 2016 to late August of 2017 to complete my training which then if I pass, I will hopefully be licensed. Once I'm done with that, I will be in the Army Reserves and begin college right away.

I know that seems like a lot of information, but I need a lot of help with some of my questions and I truly truly appreciate anyone who is willing to answer some of my questions!!

To make things easier I'm just going to list out some of my questions.

1.) Would anyone on here know if my LPN licensed I obtained in the military is still good for civilian use?

2.) Since I'm going to already be graduating college a year later than most kids my age, what would be the fastest way to get my BSN? Military credits are tricky & I'm not quite sure what schools would accept my training as viable college credits.

3.) Are LPN licenses tricky to use in different states? (example: Take LPN state exam for Illinois, but go to college in Indiana - would I be able to work as an LPN while in IN if I choose to live there?)

4.) Has anyone here had the MOS 68C? (previously known as 68WM6) If so, what was it like?

5.) Does anyone have any tips on how to best complete my goals?

6.) What schools in the Midwest would be best to transfer from an LPN to BSN? (trying to avoid online schooling)

If anyone thinks I should know anything please feel free to share! I'm at the point where any insight given is very useful for me.

Thanks for your time!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.

Katie, welcome to AN! You may want to check out the Government/Military Nursing subforum. Right under the yellow bar that appears across the top of each page on the AN site, you will see another pale blue bar with links to articles and FAQs that may be helpful. The other option is to discuss your questions with a recruiter.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.

Welcome to allnurses.com

We moved your thread to the Government/Military Nurses forum for the best response.

As Rose_Queen pointed out, please check out the threads in this forum.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Literally all of your questions will be answered in due time as you enter the program. My biggest advice is to have fun at Fort Sam Houston but be careful....

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Literally all of your questions will be answered in due time as you enter the program. My biggest advice is to have fun at Fort Sam Houston but be careful....

That's what I figured but unfortunately I'm just an impatient person. What do you mean by be careful?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Katie, welcome to AN! You may want to check out the Government/Military Nursing subforum. Right under the yellow bar that appears across the top of each page on the AN site, you will see another pale blue bar with links to articles and FAQs that may be helpful. The other option is to discuss your questions with a recruiter.

Thank you !! Kind of new to this site so I'm still trying to figure out how to use it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in EMT, ER, Homehealth, OR.
.

1.) Would anyone on here know if my LPN licensed I obtained in the military is still good for civilian use?

Yes

2.) Since I'm going to already be graduating college a year later than most kids my age, what would be the fastest way to get my BSN? Military credits are tricky & I'm not quite sure what schools would accept my training as viable college credits.

You will receive some college credits for basic & AIT. You will have to explore which college will accept them. Do not worry about being a year behind your classmates who are starting college right away. Some will not stay in, some will take longer.

3.) Are LPN licenses tricky to use in different states? (example: Take LPN state exam for Illinois, but go to college in Indiana - would I be able to work as an LPN while in IN if I choose to live there?)

When you take your licensing exam you can choose which state you would like your license to be in. Also it is not difficult in most states to get a license by endorsement.

4.) Has anyone here had the MOS 68C? (previously known as 68WM6) If so, what was it like?

Can not answer this one.

5.) Does anyone have any tips on how to best complete my goals?

do not rush into anything, take your time and find the right school for you.

6.) What schools in the Midwest would be best to transfer from an LPN to BSN? (trying to avoid online schooling)

Sorry can not answer this one either.

Thanks for your time!

As another poster stated have fun.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

You will have your LPN, but I had a friend who was a M6 and she had to start with practically 0 credit hours after graduation but the depends on your school and its nursing program. I'm a former 68W, can't say to much about M6's but active duty they are usually in clinics Woking or in a CSH- combat support hospital doing army stuff. Have a blast in San Antonio it is a great city. And good luck

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER/Tele, Med-Surg, Faculty, Urgent Care.

Here is info on Texas:

https://www.bon.texas.gov/military.asp

In the past some states would not recognize Army LPN training. Depends on each state if they require you to graduate from approved LPN school. Also some states would not issue license by endorsement.

California will also accept Army LPN:

http://www.bvnpt.ca.gov/pdf/method4.pdf

New Mexico will not license Army medics/LPNs.

LPN by Endorsement

Endorsement candidates must provide license verification from the state where they were first licensed. In most cases, endorsement candidates must show that they graduated from an approved program. LPNs must meet New Mexico's educational requirements unless they were originally licensed by July 1, 1969. Military personnel who took the national licensing examination by July 1, 1977 and were subsequently licensed as LPNs, may be eligible for endorsement.

Illinois:

Medical Corpsman to Practical Nurse Program (LPN Bridge Program)

College of DuPage, Joliet Junior College, and Illinois Central College are offering an 8-week, 6-credit program customized for veterans who have previous training through the METC Basic Medical Technician Corpsman Program. Students completing the Medical Corpsman to Practical Nurse Program will be awarded a Practical Nursing Certificate and will be eligible to sit for the national Practical Nurse Licensing Exam (NCLEX-PN). For more info, see the program brochure.

Indiana-the application for licensure is for graduates of US nursing school.

Just one thing to add: Recruiters make lots of promises, some they can't keep. Are you certain to get into the medic/LPN training? Did you get it in writing? I just checked & it says 72 month commitment. It is possible your studies might get interrupted if you get deployed. You do realize that is a very real possibility. However, you will get experiences not seen by civilians.

68 Charlie/used to be 68 Bravo.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Lvn/Lpn rarely bridge into BSN programs. It's usually LVN/LPN to ADN. Not saying there are none, they might just be expensive and or have a long wait list.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Here is info on Texas:

https://www.bon.texas.gov/military.asp

In the past some states would not recognize Army LPN training. Depends on each state if they require you to graduate from approved LPN school. Also some states would not issue license by endorsement.

California will also accept Army LPN:

http://www.bvnpt.ca.gov/pdf/method4.pdf

New Mexico will not license Army medics/LPNs.

LPN by Endorsement

Endorsement candidates must provide license verification from the state where they were first licensed. In most cases, endorsement candidates must show that they graduated from an approved program. LPNs must meet New Mexico's educational requirements unless they were originally licensed by July 1, 1969. Military personnel who took the national licensing examination by July 1, 1977 and were subsequently licensed as LPNs, may be eligible for endorsement.

Illinois:

Medical Corpsman to Practical Nurse Program (LPN Bridge Program)

College of DuPage, Joliet Junior College, and Illinois Central College are offering an 8-week, 6-credit program customized for veterans who have previous training through the METC Basic Medical Technician Corpsman Program. Students completing the Medical Corpsman to Practical Nurse Program will be awarded a Practical Nursing Certificate and will be eligible to sit for the national Practical Nurse Licensing Exam (NCLEX-PN). For more info, see the program brochure.

Indiana-the application for licensure is for graduates of US nursing school.

Just one thing to add: Recruiters make lots of promises, some they can't keep. Are you certain to get into the medic/LPN training? Did you get it in writing? I just checked & it says 72 month commitment. It is possible your studies might get interrupted if you get deployed. You do realize that is a very real possibility. However, you will get experiences not seen by civilians.

68 Charlie/used to be 68 Bravo.

Thank you so much for responding! Yes I am certain I have the LPN training spot, & it's supposed to be a 53 week long course (not including basic training). If deployment happens then I would be ok with it, I actually kind of want to get deployed just to experience it. You said Indiana only recognizes licenses from nursing school? I'm looking at Ball State due to its LPN to BSN program, but i guess I can rule that out now bc they won't even recognize me as an LPN.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

What you have to remember is that you will still be missing the prereq courses needed to get into RN/BSN program. Having the LPN license wont hurt but you cannot apply to bridge programs unless you meet there criteria. Fox ex: my college gave my credit for Intro to AP but I still had to take AP1 and 2, and since Intro isnt on my degree plan it was nice of them but was of no benefit.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion