Mdavi

I have no idea as I haven't been through other programs but we were required to have all the same pre-req's as the RN's plus go through our program then if we chose we could go on and get our RN. I do know that there are lot's of different kinds of LPN programs offered. A friend of mine got her LPN at a technical school and she only had two pre-req's and it was 13 months long. I personally had never heard of a 9-10 month long LPN program. You are right though there does seem to be a lot of disparities and I personally do not like it. I wish that they would just make nursing school uniform across the board.

My LPN program was 20 full time months plus a year of science and math.

I was wondering about this as well because in my state it seems that the MA's can do more than I can as an LPN. So I checked out their scope of practice and lo and behold they do have a larger scope of practice than LPN's and about the same as an RN give or take a few procedures. I am not sure how that happened except that maybe it is because they are under the Medical Board and not the Nursing Board! I think that the Nursing Board needs to take this into consideration and look into how they can expand the role of the LPN and RN, otherwise we are going to be pushed out of the clinics and for us LPN's who are already very limited in where we can work this takes a huge chunk of our employment of the market. In my case I know the docs get frustrated because my scope is so limited and yet I was very well educated in my nursing program and am perfectly able to perform the duties that are needed. Unfortunately my nursing board limits me severly while the MA's are able to perform all of these duties and have a large scope of practice with minimal limitations. The clinics have needs that are not being met by nursing and are turning to MA's to meet these needs.

AMEN!!

Three additional years? I think that depends on the schools people have attended and the level of nursing that they have gone to school for. There is such a huge variety of programs with different levels and different time requirements. It is hard to compare education levels so simply.

When I went to LPN school we were taught IV's and blood draws as part of our program.

What is the big difference?

Good for you for wanting to serve our country and as a nurse! At this time it is hard to get into the military with a GED but you know what it changes all the time. Here is what I recommend: get your GED, apply to all the colleges you would be willing to go to that have a BSN program, finish your degree, apply to the officer commissions program, if you do not get in you still have a BSN, go to work, apply again. You are young and have your whole life ahead of you!

Thank You! My sentiments exactly!

I work for the VA and I could probably help you but it would be next to impossible to help without actually seeing your electronic application. That being said, you say you live in Cali? What VA are you trying to apply to?