SO LOST!!! NeEd DiReCtiOn!!

cant believe i found this site, I'm a medic serving in the united states army, I have an EMT-B liscence, but my ultimate goal is to become an BSN or higher, trouble is all the programs i see require you to be an RN, trouble with that is I don't know where to start to become an RN, are there scools out there that prep you for the NCLEX-RN? whats the deal, I'm so frustratedright now, i can't find but a smidgen of info on the internet so far. please help me!!!!

There should be schools around you there that offer the LVN , ADN, and BSN programs. They should be able to guide you in the right direction. If not, do a search here since I know there have been a few threads on finding a school in your area. Not sure if any of your training will excuse you from any science courses or not, but would be worth looking into. If time and moeny aren't a concern and you want to get your BSN, then go for it. But if you need a quicker route and a much less expensive one, I suggest an ADN program. We had some reps from a local 4 year college come into our class last semester and explained a few things that our schools were gonna collaberate on. But while they were here, they explained a new program they were starting this fall. It's an ADN to MSN prgram, bypassing the BSN. But you would be taking things that fitted into the BSN program. And in 18 months, you would have RN, BSN, MSN. Just a thought as to getting your ADN and then getting your higher degree. Hope this helps

Have A Great Day And Be Safe

Jerry

Hey, just wanted to let you know that there are several ADN programs out there. I can recommend doing it this way. I have had my ADN for four years and I have worked in the ICU since graduation. I've also looked into the RN to MSN programs, and am considering them. The University of Alabama has one that seems to be pretty good.

As a member of the armed services you have a great deal of options open to you. You can clep classes for free. Start looking at the prereq’s and get them out of the way. Then look into the Phoenix on-line program they have a RN course. Enroll and take it class be class. You will do just fine!

It baffles me that as a military medic you can clep courses (was it the community colleges of the armed forces being accredited that allows this loop hole). Yet as an LPN, you still have to take the colleges courses toward an RN degree. I went through a very rigorous LPN program (18 months and renowned as the best in the nation). When I took courses toward an RN degree in a local college, I A'cd them all with high A's. I seriously doubt a medic in the military with the on the job training could have done no better on the clep test, nor on the job than me as an LPN. It may be that the military's so called community college is accredited, but so was my LPN program (plus it was a full 18 months of formal training). I doubt the school a medic goes through was near as long and certainly not as or more rigorous. Has anyone ever addressed this issue, other than me?

I received two associates degrees from the Community College of the Air Force. One of the significant differences is that while in the military, you attend school eight hours a day, five days a week in compressed sessions for a period between twelve and sixteen weeks. If you took the number of hours you were in class over two years for an associates at a community college and compared them to the hours in class for the military college, they would come out just about the same. In the end, the A & P courses and others were NOT accepted by the Nursing program I entered, and underwent another set of classes. By the by, as an aeromedical specialist, I was able to perform more for the patient than I can now as a Nurse Apprentice half way to my BSN. I expect that it is mostly the difference in mindset -- in the military it just has to be done... In the civilian world there are protocols, fear of liability and lawsuits, etc.

Depending on the degree you are looking for SUNY Empire State College can be a great option for busy working adults. If you are like most adults today, you are juggling any number of roles – parent, spouse, employee, manager, entrepreneur, volunteer, caregiver, and more. Although you’d like to earn a degree for career advancement, to polish your skills, or perhaps just for the satisfaction of lifelong learning, you may wonder where you’ll find the time to add yet another role – student – to your already busy schedule.

Empire State College is the SUNY solution for working adults. It offers a more flexible way to earn a degree. With our individually designed degree programs and credit for prior learning, you create a degree program that combines what you already know with a plan for new learning that will take you farther. From online learning to individualized independent study, we offer more ways to study. With a faculty mentor who will guide you, we promise a more personalized experience…and greater satisfaction when you finish.

SUNY Empire State College offers college credit for work and life experience up to 96 credits! That’s quite a bit more than most colleges. Some examples of credit bearing experiences include military experience, standardized tests (such as CLEP exams), prior college credit, licenses and certifications (such as EMT and CPR), volunteering, other training, etc.

While Empire State College is pursuing starting a BSN degree, many students in the health fields elect to earn degrees in Community and Human Services- with concentrations in emergency management, health and human services, health services administration, health care delivery and management, health care, or health and human services. The key to Empire State College is that a student’s degree is in his or her own hands. With the guidance of a mentor, students will design their entire degree from start to finish and incorporate many personal and professional experiences into completing that degree.

If you have any questions visit the website at www.esc.edu or contact me at kate.reis@esc.edu. I am always happy to answer any questions.

Your frustration is about to come to an end in the very not too distant future. I'll post here when it's live but we're about to be able to offer an accredited online EMT/Paramedic to RN program. Should be able to give you details and contact info in about one more week. :)