kenny_longtin

Thanks for all the answers! So it looks like BSN is the way to go if she wants to do case management (desk job) type of nursing. I have seen patient advocate positions with agencies with one of the requirements being LPN, however. Though maybe these are bogus... one thing to clear up: To work as a nurse in a hospital---is it the same as for nursing school? You go through a physical exam and a doctor signs off on you? Or do they also request all past medical records to see what physical ailments (back problems) you've been treated for in the past?

Most doctor's offices hire MAs & sometimes LVNs. Generally they want experience." Sorry by MA - you mean "medical assistant"? "LVN" is another way of saying LPN, correct, which is what she is seeking. My daughter says she really wants to be a medical case manager/ patient advocate/navigator (growing field apparently). Yes of course experience is needed but you got to get it somewhere. The first job in any field very hard to find. She thinks getting the LPN will help her get better patient advocate positions (as well as entering a certificate program for pt advocacy). I know she could take the approach of getting a masters in social work but that is a much longer program and much more expensive !!!! than LPN. (Like $40,000 more) We researched this a lot on Pt advocate forums and on many employment sites. Requirements for patient advocate in hospital for example, often includes nursing degree. RN is preferred of course but we have seen a fair amount of LPN acceptable. She is prepared to wait it out and try to find a desk job with insurance company, hospital, etc etc. - it is a second income for her family. Again a nursing LPN just to improve one's credentials (even without employment experience) is a lot less expensive than a masters in social work. I just hope if she applies for a patient advocacy position or nurse case mgr position (particularly in a hospital), she would not have to take a phys ex or sign a form to release all medical records? She has no problems with walking and sitting for long periods at any rate, though she should definitely not do a job that requires lifting of patients. Hope this makes sense and is helping others. Don't want to spend the $6000 on nursing school if she cannot use it. Looks like if she gets past the school phys ex, then she should have no program with the nursing license questions and again, hopefully if she applies for a non-clinical job, she would not have to be in the same excellent shape, back wise, as other nurses.

This is probably a stupid question but -- to get a job as nurse --- is the candidate required to disclose to the prospective employer (or give permission for full disclosure) of all the candidate's past medical records? The school my daughter is applying to is being very cryptic. They wrote me an answer that to get a job as a nurse, she would have to disclose all her medical records to the employer. This cannot be true??? I think the school meant the hospital or clinic hiring her would require another phys. exam but how can they require disclosure of all her medical records? Is that standard when getting a nursing position?

Thank you for the answers. I WELCOME ANY FROM STATE OF FL IN PARTICULAR. As far as desk jobs, my daughter wants to get the LPN before she gets a patient advocacy/navigator type of training/certificate from a univ. (which is much likely to be a desk type of thing). I looked at the application for the BON NCLEX (LPN) for the state of FL. It appears to NOT ask about past medical (physical) history at all, correct? So her back issues would not even be divulged -- how could it be because, correct me if I am wrong (OTHERS WHO HAVE TAKEN THE FL LPN TEST), there are no questions about past medical history. As to mental health question on the application - it APPEARS TO ONLY ask if she has had a psychiatric disorder that has inferfered with her nursing ? She can honestly answer NO on this, correct? Since she has only suffered major depression and it has never interfered with nursing (since she's never worked as a nurse); so she could honestly answer NO, correct? Sorry if I continue to be confused. Hoping to get some State of FL feedback

Hi, Is there anyone licensed (took the NCLEX test) in the State of FL? I am wondering is a physical exam required before being licensed as an LPN -- before taking the test (LIKE a PHYS EXAM IS required before nursing school)? In FL, is the BON allowed to ask about your past medical history (physical history) before allowing you to sit for the NCLEX and/or are these questions on the NCLEX application? I am asking because my daughter wants to go to nursing (LPN) school but she has had all sorts of procedures on a slipped disc in her back (she wants an office job in nursing but that is not the BON's business if you ask me) and she has also had major depression with antidepressants/anxiolytics? I looked at the application and it looks like it just asked if someone has had a psychiatric problem interfering with nursing -- which she could truly answer NO, correct, since she has only had major depression and she has NOT worked as a nurse? And it did not ask about any past medical history (in terms of the body/physical) so she'd never have to mention her back, correct? Please advise. Not sure if she should spend the year and the money on school if she cannot get a license. Thanks Floridians who answer