Anyone with experience/knowledge on army medic to civilian LVN pathway?

[studyingfortests]

Hi, folks.

I'm working with someone who was a medic (corpsman) for several years in the military. Now a civilian, and looking to become an LVN, possibly eventually an RN or nurse practitioner.

From a little research I've done, it seems that his corpsman training makes him eligible to take an exam to gain an LVN license.

1. Does anyone have experience or know about this?

2. If he goes this route, would it make getting an RN or eventually RNP more difficult?

3. Does it make sense, given his long-term career path, to get an undergrad degree from UMPI or TESU or Excelsior?  He has a lot of time to work on Sophia and/or Modern States right now. (He's presently broke, making MS attractive due to price).

Thoughts appreciated.

[DeanLewis]

Honestly, his best bet would probably be to finish a non-nursing bachelor’s degree, and get the typical nursing school prerequisites knocked out along the way (Anatomy and Physiology 1 and 2, Chemistry, General Biology, Microbiology, Lifespan Development, Nutrition, Algebra, Statistics, and Psychology, all with lab when offered, Straighterline has most of these, but that can limit what programs he’d be able to apply to).

From there he could apply directly to a second degree accelerated BSN program, or a direct entry MSN. Honestly, there is little utility to being an LVN/LPN first. Most nursing schools only comp a few classes (mine did the first 3 of the core RN curriculum) for that license, as it’s a totally different scope of practice and therefore training in regard to similar skills…LVNs can't interpret or plan, only carry out care plans and report to RNs and prescribing providers).

The other sensible option would to just focus on getting the prerequisites out of the way and earning his RN qualifying degree at a community college, which is the most inexpensive route, and probably the quickest was to become an RN. There are tons of RN to BSN and RN to NP bridge courses. The biggest need is just qualifying for your RN license in anyway.

[Jonathan Whatley]

He's presently broke

Keep in mind that completing a bachelor's degree with or without Pell Grants, or completing 12 semesters with Pell Grants, will make him ineligible for Pell Grants. He might want to save his Pell Grant eligibility for an undergraduate nursing program.

[ss20ts]

What's an LVN? I haven't heard of an LVN. We have LPNs where I live. Same thing? Or is the LVN something in veterinary medicine?

[bjcheung77]

It's the same thing, different states have different ways of distinguishing them: https://nursinglicensemap.com/nursing-sp...vn-vs-lpn/