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?

Specializes in FMF CORPSMAN USN, TRUAMA, CCRN.

Thank you for your Service. (Doc, USN/USMC; 1965-1977)

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Specializes in FMF CORPSMAN USN, TRUAMA, CCRN.

]ILoveMyJobRN

Thank you for your Service

Doc, USN/USMC; 1965-1977

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Specializes in Nursing Education.

"Corpse"man (aka corpsman to the rest of the population, other than the Pres) should be given some credit for the medical training, but sorry, everyone that wants to take the NCLEX-RN should be held to the same standard....college level math, English, A&P, Micro, Chemistry! Not to mention learning the nursing process and application. You don't get that on the field. You also don't get public health component, peds, LTC...etc etc.

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That's just it. You shouldn't get a pass into nursing just because you took a military job. I think that is what is at the crux of this.

It's up to the individual to step up and do what's needed to get that nursing degree (hard, long and often boring work). At least you guys took a job that will pay for a lot of it, if you follow the rules they have laid out for you.

I know several MDs who went into the military just to get their MD paid for. They did ALL the hard college and med school and residency work and then served in exchange. Note: no skipping college, no auto-college credit.

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Specializes in FMF CORPSMAN USN, TRUAMA, CCRN.
Let me start this by thanking all the service men and women for their service.

I think the military corpsmen are highly skilled and talented individuals......but they lack the theory behind the task. Learn the theory take the licensing exam and become a nurse. Just like the finest medics I have ever worked with......there is theory they are missing on some things...but they make fine nurses.

Esme, Thank you for the compliment, I agree, I think former Corpsman and FMF Corpsman make excellant Nurses. First off, Let me thank everyone who has participated in this discussion and just on a technical note, the correct pronunciation is always Corpsman, there is no feminine for the word. My kind word, No PC to worry about, gotta love it LOL.

My personal experience was as a FMF Corpsman, meaning I was also trained by the US Marine Corp, in addition to being trained by the Navy. All of this was in another lifetime, during the Viet Nam War. I still have a great deal of difficulty speaking of this, so my explanation will be minimal. As you can imagine, the work of a war Corpsman is unlike anything you could ever prepare yourself for. Exploding ordinance, mines, your friends getting wounded in every way possible and it is your responsibility to see that everyone gets a fighting chance by making it to evac chopper at least, if you can even get one, and half the time that’s impossible. Talk about experience, you can jury rig a chest tube out of spare parts, you don’t worry about aseptic technique, that’s the last thing on your mind, you’re in 2 feet of mud to start with. Let the guys back at the evac worry about that. Next up is the kid with both his legs blown off. You’ve had 2 of your guys each holding a leg with a belt wrapped around it for the last 5 minutes until you could get to him while you were elbow deep in that other guys chest trying to keep his heart beating. You try to tie guys together with string, and stuff their guts with kerlex just so you can get them on the chopper. Two other guys are dead, so you might get a chance for your morning coffee after all.

Some of you may think that Corpsman don’t have a clue as to why they do the things they do, and in some cases, you may be right. Some of them may not, especially now, and especially they lower rated HM strikers or HM3’s who are working stateside at smaller bases and simply assisting the RN’s and Dr.’s. Those who haven’t had a chance to get their feet wet and take on any responsibility of their own. Those who have responsibilities usually also will expand their own minds and learn why they do what they do, simply for their own edification. If they go on to FMSS, to become FMF Corpsman, they are required to expand their knowledge more so than simple A school to become Corpsman for the Navy. They must become proficient in weaponry and a host of other disciplines as well. I urge you to not be so quick to sell Corpsman short; they just might have a whole bag of tricks you weren’t aware of. When I came back from the war, there weren’t any programs for transitions, I just utilized what I knew best and went to school to expand on what I knew how to do, and kept on going to school. When I first came back, they called me a baby killer and told me I shouldn’t be a nurse. I said some things I’m not allowed to say on here. I just kept going to school until I got to where I didn’t want to go anymore, and I was in a position to deal with some of those who thought I shouldn’t be a Nurse.

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During VietNam (I know--that was a looooong time ago) corpmen and medics were allowed to take the NCLEX (at that time they were the State Boards). BUT--their license did not have reciprocity with other states. Meaning, they could only practice as RNs in the state where they took the Board exam. I see no issue with continuing this practice. The only problem that has arisen with this practice is that these nurses cannot attain their BSNs since they have no previous formal "training" ie nursing school. Perhaps something could be worked out with the colleges to have them challenge ADN status so they can pursue their BSNs. I have worked with these nurses and they do excellent work--after all, they are veterans of our US military!

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In 1972 I became an LPN in NJ. My corpsman experience qualified me to take the LPN exam which I passed the first time studying only 35 minutes during my ride to Trenton to take the exam. After a short period time I got a scholarship to RN school and in 1976 I became an RN. I still work full time. Pretty good for a vietnam vet who was 90th in a class of 90 in High School.

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Specializes in OR 35 years; crosstrained ER/ICU/PACU.

I definitely think there should be a "bridge curriculum" for corpsmen, similar to the type of training I got when I went to Paramedic school after being an OR nurse for 20 years. I was able to "challange" out the basic courses, i.e. take the final exams for the anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, etc, classes, without having to actually go to these classes. I aced them all, then was able to concentrate on the other aspects of EMS, & take those classes This could work in reverse for the corpsmen who are interested in Nursing. Let them attempt to "test-out" in the areas they already have knowledge in. In other words, give them credits for whatever training & experience they already have, then they move on to the other subjects they need to complete their training. It not only saves some time for them, decreasing the length of time in school, but also is money-saving for them, a win-win situation.

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Specializes in FMF CORPSMAN USN, TRUAMA, CCRN.

I didn't mean to imply by my story that I thought that today's FMF Corpsman, Medic's and Corpsman shouldn't receive credit for their fieldwork. I believe they should have the opportunity to challenge whatever sections of the criteria they feel ready to challenge. If I'm not mistaken, I believe it used to be called "CLEP." It was quite some time ago for me and I'm certain things have changed as well as the names for things. I am not suggesting, by any stretch of the imagination, that anyone should be given a free ride, but Vet's have gone above and beyond for the sake of this Country and deserve to be paid back for their sacrifice. Those who disagree, could have just as easily volunteered and gone to war and gotten their A$$ shot at the same as these others did. If you don't like it, there is still time before the pull out in 2014, go sign up and see what happens, take your chances like these other very brave people did

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I'd be supportive of some sort of accelerated curriculum. And of course tuition. You sign up to die for me and mine, my tax dollars can pay for your entry level education into whateverr profession you choose.

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I think that they should be allowed to take NCLEX-RN exam based on a certain number of years. In addition the military could formalize training to equate to nursing school requirements (in curriculum). Some of the for profit schools offering nursing degrees don't require some of the pre-reqs mentioned in previous posts so that should not be an issue. I do think that serving in the military should come with special privileges - and I would be all in favor of making this one of them.

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In the meantime don't put me in charge of selecting applicants to a nursing program, because you know I'll be biased and throw all of the medics apps on the top of the pile ;] ... you know, things like that do happen... job applications as well. An RN with a medic background is way more than just a new grad and employer know this, trust me- they know they are getting far more than they are paying for, and at the end of the day in today's world, money talks, not jingoistic patriotism.

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