Corpsman, LVN, Paramedic or Bachelors degree to BSN?

[Camboo10]

Good Morning,

I am writing to inquire what might be the best route to what I am trying to do. Currently I am serving active duty as a Hospital Corpsman with what I feel is a good balance of experience in both field medicine and hospital medicine but plan to get out In February. During my service I have gotten certified as a paramedic and had enough inpatient nurseing experience to challenge the california boards for the nclex-pn which I am currently studying for and will likely take in December when I get back to my main command. I also had the opportunity to get my Bachelors Degree in Health Science online while serving.

What I'm looking for is the best path success to becoming an RN/BSN and what programs there are out there for it. Should I go LVN to RN to BSN or would paramedic or lateral entry BS degree be a faster route?

It's not that I am trying to skip any vital nursing information for a more tradition route just not re-learm to much of what I already know. Dose anyone know of a program that would take all of my prerequisites into account and if so what experience have you heard from said program? I am very aware of the navy's MECP program but, for personal reasons, don't have a desire to complete it.

I also was wondering how much having challenged the boards in California will hurt me compared to completing a more formal program. Is this a potential conflict or neglagable? Please let me know what your own experiences are and apologies if I posted this in the wrong discussion board or it was addressed previously and I missed it, kind of new to allnurses.

Thank you!

[shibaowner, MSN, RN, NP]

There is no reason why challenging the boards would hurt you.

As for your prereqs, they should all be accepted by a nursing school. Make a list of the BSN schools you are interested in and then check their admission requirements. Contact them if you have specific questions.

Either LPN or paramedic is great experience prior to the RN. I think paramedics make more money, so that might be a good job for awhile and also while you go through nursing school.

Good luck.