Army Medic to Nurse? Anyone have experience?

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Specializes in FPC, ER, Phys Exams, Combat, Flight.

Hello,

I'm currently a Flight Medic in the Army. I have 7 years experience as a Medic. I hold a ton of certifications to include EMT, I have several years of combat experience as well as hospital experience in Family Practice, ER and Physical Exams. I have been flying for 6months and will deploy as a flight medic shortly. My understanding is Medics hold more experience and credentialing than actual LVNs. I am seperating after this deployment and seeking to obtain my LVN for civilian employment. Anyone have any experience with this sort of transition?

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Check the State BON. You may be eligible to take the exam for LPN based on MIlitary experiences.

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I know that medics can challenge the boards in CA. Good luck!

And thanks for your service!!!

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Specializes in Cardiac/ED.

I live in California and now in an ADN program for RN, but I do have experience with what you are asking about.

I unfortunately did not research the requirments needed for Medic to LVN to challenge of the LVN boards and waited to long before trying. In California you have to have bedside nursing experience documented on Military letter head as a recommendation from your superiors or charge nurse. If I remember correctly you had to have at least one year experience in bedside nursing. You then apply for the challenge submitting all of your documentation and money of course and wait.

As I stated by the time I learned of this, all of my former superiors that I was still in contact with had gotten out of the military. The only letters I could get were not on military letter head and since I had spent most of my time in Ambulance/ER in Landstuhl Germany and in the ER in Alabama, I actually had two strikes against me and was unable to take the boards...so here I am in the ADN program.

My advice is get letters of recommendation from from your superiors before either you leave or they leave your command.

Good luck and be safe

Thank you for your service.

P2: ex Medic 91B Y100 yep thats right, a dinosaur! A school trained super B! soon to be RN (less than one year)

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I don't have experience with your issue, but I know how you can get your RN. Not sure about LPN. You could even start now while deployed. Check out Excelsior college (excelsior.edu) in New York. I'm almost positive that they will take you. Even if you decided to go the LPN route you could still work on pre-req's awhile . Excelsior has an agreement with the Army and the exams are paid for (DANTES). I went through their LPN-RN and now currently getting started on BSN.

Oh...... when you do get out check your board of nursing. Not all states except excelsior. If you do decide to enroll with them, do it very soon. In October 2007 they are changeing the requirements. They are adding quite a bit. You would just need to graduate by 2009 in order to not have to do the new requirements. Check it out... I hope that this helps you. God bless and Good luck. Thank you for all that you do for our great nations. Stay safe and take carellll

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First I would like to say that the choice you are making is a great one. I initally went into the army in 1992 as a medic and served for about 3 yars in that capacity, afterwhich I went to the 91c program (lpn). I served at the Burn unit in BAMC at fort Sam for about 4 years when I got anearly out for school. I went back got my ADN and am currently enrolled in a BSN program wit expected graduation in the Winter. I have loved nursing and have found that I have had more opportunities than I have time for. You will be surprised how well the military has prepared you for the nursing professsion. Since we are allowed to do so much more than in the private sector, we are allowed to learn more and be better prepared. My email is posted, please feel free to contact me for any advise you may need. I enjoy mentoring students, since I have taken the long route to get to where I am.

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From my experience, DO NOT GET THE LVN IF YOU CAN GET INTO AN RN PROGRAM. I only say that becasue I went that why and it too me longer to get to where I am today. The extra time it will take you to get the LVN you could get an RN, possibly doubling your money and advancement. The LVN programis 1 year and the ADN is 2 years. I dont think its worth the time, remeber I went that way.

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Specializes in ER, Occupational Health, Cardiology.

I personally have no experience with the transition, BUT I did go to RN school with an LPN who had been in the Army. He was a great nurse. With your qualifications, you sound like you will be, too!

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Specializes in ER, ICU/CVR.
From my experience, DO NOT GET THE LVN IF YOU CAN GET INTO AN RN PROGRAM. I only say that becasue I went that why and it too me longer to get to where I am today.

This is GOOD advice!

Yes, I have experience. I have been where you are now. I was a 91B1P and served with the 307th Medical Bn. (ABN); 82nd Airborne Division at Ft. Bragg, NC. After separation, I became a civilian paramedic and stayed one for SEVERAL years. I finally went to RN school and graduated in 2003. Having been trained by the Army, I know that you know enough to get into an RN program and do very well.

LPN/LVN is NOT where you want to be. Nothing against the LPN/LVN, but you have WAY too much training for that program. Go straight for the RN program. You'll thank yourself a thousand times over when you are done with it.

WSH

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I agree. Check out excelsior.edu. You are currently @ or above the level of a LPN. Go for it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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I have a ton of experience as a medic also and I am currently going through a health care educator degree program. I want to become a Registered Nurse also. I been medic for 9 years, and I have ran an aid station, a level II patient hold an a combat zone, as well as performing forward mission and convoys in country, I am an EMT, and both Basic Life Support and Advanced Cardiac Life Support Instructor, also certified as an Advanced Burn Life Support Provider. I am currently in charge of the Troop Medical Center at Fort Sam Houston as a supervisor over medical assistant, clerks, cnas, and lpns/lvns. can anyone help!?!

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oh sorry I meant in a combat zone as well.:cry:

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