Corpsman to lpn

[Rhythm]

Is it possible for current Navy corpsmen to get futher training while on active duty in the navy to pick up the lpn degree?

[puckmedic]

California you can challenge the board certification. In TN your Navy training won't count for anything. In KY same thing and in Missouri same thing. You need to contact the nursing license folks in your state and ask specifically.

[DocSmallFMF]

The best thing in my opinion for any Corpsman interested in getting into the nursing field and remain enlisted or prepare for civilian life is to check out Excelsior's nursing program. I'm not in the program, but I hear that if you're motivated and are willing to dedicate the time, you can finish your ASN. This will allow you to sit for the NCLEX and become an RN. That's Excelsior College and all corpsman qualify.
Quick hint: You can finish your ASN (assosiates) then move into a BSN online from a well known university and then move on to an online masters program in a field that is high demand like Nurse Practioner and Nurse Educator. All you studs and studettes that love the uniform you're in and don't mind retiring enlisted, here's your oppurtunity to prepare for life outside the Navy.

God Bless

[0311_DoC]

Here's what they sent me when I made an inquiry:

The first step is to complete the required Undergraduate Application for Admission. Our unofficial review will give you an idea of approximately how many of your prior college credits may apply to one of our degree programs and approximately how many additional credits you will need to earn in order to complete your degree. The fee for this service is $75 (active duty military can apply $50 of the $75 application fee toward the enrollment fee should you enroll within 6 months of the application review). You will need to obtain your official transcripts to submit either with the Application Form or separately. You may apply right on line through our web site at www.excelsior.edu or you can download and print the below attached application form and mail to Excelsior College, 7 Columbia Circle, Albany, NY 12203-5159. This unofficial review does not give you a list of courses you need to take to complete the degree nor does it allow you to obtain course approval from our academic advisors. Once enrolled however, your academic advisor will develop a program plan with you to help you pick the courses to take to complete your degree with Excelsior College.

Below, I have listed the current degree requirements for our Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program. Our program is completed almost entirely by self study and examination with one 1 credit on-line course and one weekend clinical examination.

GENERAL EDUCATION COMPONENT 31 semester hours
6 semester hours Humanities
6 semester hours Social Science/History (Life Span Development Psychology and Sociology)
8 semester hours Natural Science/Mathematics (Anatomy and Physiology and Microbiology)
7 semester hours Arts and Sciences Electives
3 semester hours Written English Requirement
1 semester hour Information Literacy Requirement – on-line course

NURSING COMPONENT 36 semester hours
Theory Examinations:
Essentials of Nursing Care: Health Safety
Essentials of Nursing Care: Health Differences (this exam is waived if you hold a current LPN/LVN license)
Essentials of Nursing Care: Chronicity
Essentials of Nursing Care: Reproductive Health
Health Differences Across the Life Span 1
Health Differences Across the Life Span 2
Health Differences Across the Life Span 3
Transition to the Registered Professional Nurse Role

FCCA - Focused Clinical Competency Assessment) Simulation - computer based exams in three parts

Clinical Examination:
Clinical Performance in Nursing Examination (CPNE) - weekend clinical examination

Below is an approximation of the typical costs one student would incur while enrolled in either the Excelsior College (EC) Associate in Science or Associate in Applied Science Nursing degree program. Please note that these fees are effective July 1, 2007 and only include the nursing component portion of the program.

EC application Fee $75
EC Enrollment Fee $895 (*765 for military personnel both active and veterans)
EC Student Service Annual Fee $440 (as needed for each year after initial enrollment)
EC Program Completion and Graduation Fee $495
EC Written Nursing Examinations, 8 @ $205
EC on-line course in Information Literacy $290.00
Focused Clinical Competency Assessment (FCCA) $375
EC Clinical Performance in Nursing Exam (CPNE) $1,825

Proposed textbooks for written nursing examinations $1300
*Discounted enrollment fee applies to U.S. Veterans, Active Duty Service members, or DOD personnel.

Please expect to pay additional costs. These costs will depend upon your individual situation. These factors include any fees for traditional courses, examinations, textbooks, etc. for completion of the General Education component of the Nursing degree, travel expenses related to the trip required to take the EC CPNE, and any workshop attended to prepare for the CPNE ($ 755 - CPNE Workshop).

This should give you a good estimate of the expected costs to complete the Associate Degree in Nursing.

On average, students enrolled in the Associate Degree in nursing programs complete the degree in approximately 36 months. Some students complete the degree in less time and some in more time. How quickly students complete their degree depends on several factors including how many credits are accepted toward the degree from previously earned college credit and most importantly the life circumstances that allow students to move at a pace that compliments these life circumstances. All students, however, must complete the degree within 7 years of cumulative enrollment. If you decide to enroll with Excelsior College, please contact your academic advisor for program planning. Your academic advisor will work with you to establish a program plan, inform you of the available resources to help you succeed, and work with you to determine a reasonable goal for program completion. Your success is our success!

If you have additional questions, please feel free to contact our Admissions Office at 888-647-2388, 2-7. The office hours are Monday and Wednesday 8:30 am to 8:00 pm, and Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 8:30 am to 5:00 pm, EST. Any one of our Admissions Counselors would be happy to speak with you. Keep in mind that additional information can also be found at our web address, www.excelsior.edu .

Best of luck in pursuing your educational goals!

Sincerely,

Carmen Pizzuto
Admissions Counselor
1-888-647-2388, ext. 27
admissions@excelsior.edu
www.excelsior.edu

[8404]

Just out of curiosity and because there are so many "diploma mills", does anybody recognize these accrediting bodies? Is this the same accreditation that your local colleges have? It does make a difference!

Excelsior College is accredited by the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (http://www.msche.org/), 3624 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, 215-662-5606. The Commission on Higher Education is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).

Nursing Degrees -- Associate, Bachelor's, and Master's
The associate, bachelor's, and master's degree programs in nursing at Excelsior College are accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) (http://www.nlnac.org/home.htm), 61 Broadway, New York, NY 10006, 800-669-1656. The NLNAC is a specialized accrediting agency for nursing recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).

[psencik1950]

Just out of curiosity and because there are so many "diploma mills", does anybody recognize these accrediting bodies? Is this the same accreditation that your local colleges have? It does make a difference!

Excelsior College is accredited by the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (http://www.msche.org/), 3624 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, 215-662-5606. The Commission on Higher Education is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).

Nursing Degrees -- Associate, Bachelor's, and Master's
The associate, bachelor's, and master's degree programs in nursing at Excelsior College are accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) (http://www.nlnac.org/home.htm), 61 Broadway, New York, NY 10006, 800-669-1656. The NLNAC is a specialized accrediting agency for nursing recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).



Yes, it is a legitimate option. Excelsior used to be Regents' College of the State University of New York. A degree must be recognized by NLN to hold any validity with state boards of nursing. It is a path also used by many Associate Degree Nurses to get their BSN.

I actually started the process of getting my BSN thru them, before I changed to University of Texas Medical Branch which offered an online approach for the BSN.

As a Nurse Practitioner, I feel that I have earned the right say this. "If you have an ADN and get your BSN, you have truly earned the degree in Bull S**t Nursing. There is a lot of research, etc. academics, philosopy of nursing, yada-yada"

Having said that - if I was going to do it all over again, I would get my BSN right out of the box instead of doing ADN. In this area (Houston), there is a shortage of spots for the number of applicants for the Nursing programs, so colleges pretty much do what they want. Most require that you have all your courses other than nursing done. A&P, micro, English, etc.,etc. It turns what is a 2 year degree into at least 3 yrs, if not 4 yrs. So, go for the gusto and get the BSN out of the box. Having said that, you better count on having a very good GPA to get into any program. A lot more applicants than spots in the programs.

Back to Excelsior - I worked with an RN who had done his ADN and BSN thru Excelsior. He was a Special Forces medic who had challenged most of the courses while he was still in. You can take the CLEP tests for free or minimal amounts thru the govt's programs - I think.

I was short of Humanities courses for my BSN which is what slowed me down and changed my mind. I CLEP'ed 6 hours of Humanities after studying a relatively simple study guide I obtained from someone. It wasn't rocket science and I still don't know a lot about Art, the Classics, etc. but I made an A.

I think the thing that moved me the other way though was the practical weekend that you had to do at a hospital set up the college. I had been a RN for 12 yrs or so and worked in the ER. You develop some short cuts that don't necessarily suit what the Med Surg nurses who were doing the testing would find acceptable. If you do Excelsior, you need to research the hospitals to find the ones with lower flunk rates for the practical portion. You don't develop a bad practice, just ways that are different that what is taught to nurses.

If anyone wants any info or has questions about nursing, you can PM me or just ask the question on the boards. I'll answer the question or find out the info.

[8404]

An excellent response and yes you earned the right!