Challenging LPN test as a military medic.

Nurses LPN/LVN

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Hey everyone :up:

I am a military medic and one of my instructors from tech school awhile back suggested challenging the LPN test when we get to our home states because our curriculum is very much the same. Do you all, as LPN's, think this is a decent idea? I've been an EMT-B for a long time and its time to move up in the world

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You could do that, or you could check into www.excelsior.edu about entering their on-line RN program, for which you are eligible as a military medic.

And thank you for your service.

:)

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Specializes in LTC, Memory loss, PDN.

I was a medic with the 149TH Surgical hospital MA out of Camp Atterburry before attending PN school at a civilian technical college. Back then my MOS was 91 B and I took AIT at Ft. Sam Houston. The first half of practical nursing school was no news to me, but I really didn't know a lot of stuff during the second half. Things may have changed since then, but I don't think I could have have tested out. Another caveat: There are a lot of procedures I performed as a medic in the military, that, if I performed them in the civilian world, would cost me my license. There are a lot of differences.

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Specializes in LTC, Memory loss, PDN.

Addendum:

There are probably several classes you could easily test out of at the school level and therefore you would not have to attend all the classes.

I know one course I could not have tested out of is pharmacology.

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How much exposure to maternal/child care does a medic get?

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we dont get a ton of maternal/child exposure in the medic course but we get basic exposure as EMT-B's...what some people dont understand that I want to put out there is that we go through 7 months of tech school...then we spend a few more months in a military medical facility (hospital) doing all we learned and applying it to everyday life. I've personally worked on every floor and had a blast. everything from labor & delivery to the ER and even in the OR...aswell as all the medical and surgical floors and they even stick us in the medical admin for a little while, not to mention every type of clinic you can think of. We get to be a "jack of all trades master of none" kinda deal :jester:

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I was only asking because up here in Canada, our military medics are required to obtain a PN practice permit to qualify in Orthopedics and Operating Room Technicians roles. They go back to college for a certain number of weeks for classes and practical experience before writing the exam.

I know this because the medics go to the same college that trained me and there was a class enrolled while I was in school.

So, long story short, they obtain the practice permit while still serving.

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Posted this a few years back just follow the link! But remember you can only work in a federal institution once you are licensed unless you belong to that state. Most states does not accept endorsement from challenging the board, but rather require diploma from an accredited school. Don't waste your time get your papers ready and study.

If you are still in the service check excelsior for your RN it's a self paced study. It is covered by TA.

Before retiring a few years back I obtain my LVN license from california and worked in a federal Medical Center. I started GS6 position + percs. Most of my counterpart did not avail to this opportunity and work as a nursing assistant, or ambulance driver/attendant after the military. The difference in pay is about $7/hr. If you go CA, send your last 3 EPR's that shows bedside nursing experience.

I wear the same boot once, just trying to help a fellow Medical Service Specialist. If you know what what I mean you been in long enough that we probably serve in the same flight somewhere. Aim High AF!

https://allnurses.com/forums/f57/navy-doc-needs-info-going-lvn-lpn-152178.html#post1602668

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Specializes in LTAC, Med/Surg..

We had a former medic in our class in nursing school - great guy, but withdrew to go back into the service halfway thru the program. He looked into challenging the test also, but then thought better of it.

Clinically the man knew what he was doing, and was always the guy that we went to for help with procedural stuff. But as we got further into theory, he was a little out of his depth - particularly as far as some people have already said, in the specialties like geri, psych, peds, and OB.

Also as already pointed out, there was stuff that was in his scope as a medic that LPN's can't do - he butted heads alot with faculty over that.

Personally I think it's a real shame that you get such training and get so good at so much stuff with no way to transfer that experience to a civilian gig. Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

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Specializes in ICU, Telemetry.

I think you can challenge the tests in TN and TX, but not sure if any other state will accept it. I know an LPN can challenge the RN boards in those states, but probably can't get a Rn license anywhere else....

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Specializes in Mother-Baby, Rehab, Hospice, Memory Care.
I think you can challenge the tests in TN and TX, but not sure if any other state will accept it. I know an LPN can challenge the RN boards in those states, but probably can't get a Rn license anywhere else....

LVNs cannot challenge RN boards in TX, nor can a military medic challenge LVN boards here. I'm not aware of any states that allow LPN/LVNs to challenge the RN boards.

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Specializes in Medsurge, ER, NICU.

I am planning to challenge the LVN/LPN also. Does Virginia have such program. I know California does.

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