Rejoining the Army as an LPN

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Specializes in Med/ Surg, ER, Urgent Care.

Hello,

I'm a 42 y/o male LPN in fairly good shape :smokin: thinking of rejoining the Reg Army. I currently work in a somewhat rural area with little to no opportunity for advancement. I want to go back to school but the schools in MS make it so hard to even get in it discourages you from even wanting to attend this whole state is backasswards:eek:, besides I'm craving some life changing experiences and the peace corps doesn't do LPNs:down:. I would like to utilize the army to help pay off my student loans, further my education in the nursing field and see the world or at least some of it.

Does anyone know what benefits, bonuses, rank and mos's and further schooling are offered to current civilian LPNs and or prior service?

Also if anyone knows what I should ask for or request when talking to a recruiter !!!

if anyone has any valuable or invaluable info please reply

Thanks,

Mudd

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Hello:

I can't offer you much help.... but I know that the Army offers a program if you are already in the Army to obtain your BSN. Since you are already a Lpn maybe it would be a bit quicker??? Maybe check out

the Army times. At times they advertise for this program. Don't know how long you were in before, but at the least you would be an E-4. But, it is possible that you could be a E-5 or higher??? Good luck to you!!! Perhaps someone else will come along and give you some help!!!!

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Specializes in Ortho, Med surg and L&D.
Hello,

I'm a 42 y/o male LPN in fairly good shape :smokin: thinking of rejoining the Reg Army. I currently work in a somewhat rural area with little to no opportunity for advancement. I want to go back to school but the schools in MS make it so hard to even get in it discourages you from even wanting to attend this whole state is backasswards:eek:, besides I'm craving some life changing experiences and the peace corps doesn't do LPNs:down:. I would like to utilize the army to help pay off my student loans, further my education in the nursing field and see the world or at least some of it.

Does anyone know what benefits, bonuses, rank and mos's and further schooling are offered to current civilian LPNs and or prior service?

Also if anyone knows what I should ask for or request when talking to a recruiter !!!

if anyone has any valuable or invaluable info please reply

Thanks,

Mudd

Hello,

Hold on, wait, don't forget, the Army will want their time from you first.

Before you sign, make sure that your contract states exactly what you want, that is your only opportunity, (aside from re-upping) that I know of where you can negotiate for what you want. If you choose to go this route, it is enlisted, I know of an RN with an associates degree who ended up coming in as enlisted, she cannot work as an RN in the military. Most folks that I know of would not recommend you coming in as an LPN, the odds are not really in your favor to work as an LVN/LPN but if any way possible bridge your LVN to RN and come in as an officer.

Best,

Gen

p.s. edit to add, it isn't just the schools in MS that make it hard, there is a shortage of nurses, all schools with nursing programs are backlogged, backed up, have waiting lists and difficult pre-reqs. I know some folks who moved states hoping to make it easier but, each state has waiting lists, if you want, find one that has a quicker route for you with a place to work if you want to shake things up to make them happen quicker, good luck.

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Hello,

I'm a 42 y/o male LPN in fairly good shape :smokin: thinking of rejoining the Reg Army. I currently work in a somewhat rural area with little to no opportunity for advancement. I want to go back to school but the schools in MS make it so hard to even get in it discourages you from even wanting to attend this whole state is backasswards:eek:, besides I'm craving some life changing experiences and the peace corps doesn't do LPNs:down:. I would like to utilize the army to help pay off my student loans, further my education in the nursing field and see the world or at least some of it.

Does anyone know what benefits, bonuses, rank and mos's and further schooling are offered to current civilian LPNs and or prior service?

Also if anyone knows what I should ask for or request when talking to a recruiter !!!

if anyone has any valuable or invaluable info please reply

Thanks,

Mudd

Hi:

check out the new thread from Athena on here... AMEDD ecp school for nursing.... This is what I was tellling you about!!!!! good luck :nurse::redbeathe:nurse:

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Specializes in Telemetry, OB, Peds.

i completed the army's lpn course in 1992 and feel that the army offered some great opportunities to me. at the time, i did not want to be a rn so i completed a bachelors and masters degree in an unrelated field. it is funny how life takes you for a loop as i passed the rn after completing nursing school.

when i was in the army, years ago, civilian lpns were brought in at higher ranks while of the initial training was complete....yes the civilian lpns had to complete a basic medic course which most thought was a waste of time but it allowed the former civilian lpn to get used to the army's medical system. after completion of initial training, they were promoted to the rank of sergeant and had to complete a basic leadership course asap.

while i was in the army, i worked in the pacu, icu, telemetry and ob, develop great assessment skills as well as leadership skills.

if you are looking for life changing experiences, you will get them especially since are at war. please please talk to a recruiter and get everything that you want in writing before you re-start your army career.......for example, back in 1988, i met a civilian trained pa who was convinced that he needed to enlist in the army as a medic in order to work as a pa in the army......boy was he upset....but the recruiter probably met his quota (i mean target) :banghead:

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