Any advice for a soldier reclassing to 68C with no prior medical experience?

2017-08-30T21:55:49-04:00

Reclassing to 68C next may and I'm looking for some any advice that may help, maybe some things to know before I arrive to the schoolhouse? Phase 2 will be at ft Gordon if anybody knows how those days go that would be helpful as well. Thanks in advance!

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 30 at 2017 10:20 PM

2017-08-30T22:20:13-04:00

I would invest in a stethoscope. You don't have to go all out and get something crazy expensive either. ADC has some good ones on Amazon that work pretty well. Read the textbooks! Not all of the information is in the power points like in phase one. Knowing medications can be the difference between passing and failing (a lot of people in my class failed exams for that reason). When doing any practical exams, IE nursing assessment or drug administration, follow the grading rubric they give you. 68C is a school that's not too difficult if you study correctly. I know that's a generic statement, but it's true. Study every night so you don't have to cram for the actual exams. If you want a leg up, just read ahead on the material before that particular subject starts. For instance, if you're going to be going over Neuro on Tuesday, read up about it the day prior. I suggest getting an NCLEX-PN book before taking the actual exam. The practice questions will give you an idea on how tricky some questions will be worded. Remember, this course can set you up for future success in the medical field both in and out of the military. Best of luck!

-SGT S

Response by CPL Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 30 at 2017 11:37 PM

2017-08-30T23:37:55-04:00

I did Phase two at Gordon. I heard they did away with that post as a phase two spot. My advice would be to get the NCLEX by Mosby and study study study. Take the pre tests religiously and first learn physiology then once you know how the body functions normally then you are ready for the pathophysiology part. You'll dig it. It is rewarding. Hope this helps.

Response by MSG Mark Million made Aug 31 at 2017 9:42 AM

2017-08-31T09:42:56-04:00

I would say that you should find a few web sites on doing drug calculations and study that (it's mostly basic math), for phase 1. I did phase 2 at Ft. Sam in 96 and I know next to nothing about Ft. Gordon. My best recommendation is to pay attention in class and above all else take good notes. Your only job will be PT in the mornings and class each day for a year, attention to detail will be key. Having qualified to go, you should have no problems as long as you pay attention and study. Good luck.

Response by SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 31 at 2017 11:21 AM

2017-08-31T11:21:36-04:00

I am currently at phase II at JBLM (second to last rotation 2 months away from NCLEX). Fort Gordon is still an active phase II site. From what I can tell from my friends at Gordon, it is far more relaxed than JBLM. So long as you stay focused the course is easy. The only people we've had fail out either did so to reclass, or because they spent too much time getting wasted/fraternizing to focus. Do no buy a NLCEX book as one will be given to you. Phase I was hard at first but looking back at it now, it was easy. The hardest part about phase II is the drug knowledge. We're basically pharmacy techs for the first 5 months of phase II. If you can make it past the half way point you'll be golden.

Response by SP5 Peter Keane made Aug 31 at 2017 12:44 PM

2017-08-31T12:44:49-04:00

Just asking for info, not giving any. Back in days of yore, you needed to be in the top 10 % of your class at what was 91B to be considered as an applicant to C. Is this no longer the case ?

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 9 at 2017 12:14 PM

2017-09-09T12:14:55-04:00

Study as much A&P as possible! I just graduated phase II at SAMMC. Just stay focused and study hard and you will be fine

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 19 at 2018 12:59 PM

2018-02-19T12:59:57-05:00

I went to Charlie school with no medical knowledge. Keep your head in the books regardless if some other people get the information easy. The books will help re inforce the information especially if u know the patho behind diseases are acquired. I went to phase 2 in Washington and I started preparing for my nclex 6 months out I used UWorld it looks exactly like the nclex I'd do about 10 questions a day and read for understanding. So when the nclex did come I wasn't stressing over it and was the first in my class to take it and got 85 and out! So my biggest advice is to prepare a little bit out ahead further then other people that have medical experience good luck!

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 14 at 2018 1:39 PM

2018-04-14T13:39:44-04:00

I had loads of medical experience before going (M6) 68C. I also did phase 2 at Fort Gordon. It was a very nice and quiet post. You will PT each M,W,F at 0500 if nothing has changed. Your days will end between 1600-1800 typically. My advice, 1. Join a study group with half the people being smarter than you. 2. Don’t have a ton of fun at phase one. It moves too fast. You need to save your retests for phase two where things are less black and white. 3. Study study study. If you master A&P and pharmacology, you can critically think your way through most problems you don’t know the answer to. That is not a free ticket to slack off though. 4. Don’t chase tail or get married while you are there. 5. Try to get Walter Reed when you graduate. It will suck while you are there but it will build the foundation you need to be “the” expert. Every assignment after that will be very easy. Good luck. And if you can, Excelsior College does credit by exam for nursing courses if you are already a LPN. After you graduate and pass the NCLEX-LPN, do every nursing course exam Excelsior requires as quick as you can. You will probably pass most or all of them the first time without much effort. Then knock out some electives after that, finish off with the Clinical Performance Nursing Exam, and you will be catapulted towards an associate degree in nursing.

Response by Chai Deas made Aug 8 at 2018 1:29 PM

2018-08-08T13:29:43-04:00

What if you failed the NCLEX but passed the ait 68 C, after you chose LPN to reclassify to

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Mar 26 at 2019 8:25 PM

2019-03-26T20:25:28-04:00

I can't help you with the specifics of the program, however, it'd help to know more...any college you've done, AP credits in high school, associates, bachelors, grades, GPAs, specific STEM coursework you've taken till now...also, what further ambitions do you have? BSN? RN? I gather, I think, that 68C is basically the Army equivalent of an LPN, unless I'm wrong...have you done any EMT, AEMT, and/or paramedic stuff at all? What kindled your interest in being on the clinical side? Would you ultimately want senior enlisted? Warrant? Commissioned? I can suggest various texts for you, that aren't all that expensive, and might possibly be of use...also, what area are you aiming for? Ward-level nursing? Critical care? OR? The more you relate, the more I and others can suggest, honest, I have an interest in such career/educ questions...also, go into your hobbies, interests, reading tastes, sports incl martial arts, such stuff helps give a more complete view of your mind...I'd wanted to be on the clinical side when I went in, everything got totally bollixed up, I'd wanted to have been a flight surgeon (yeah, like that was ever gonna happen)...I'd gone doctoral level allied health, we shut my license off sevl yrs ago, I'd wanted to go back in through the USPHS Commissioned Corps, I'll send you stuff on that, and related stuff that might further kindle your clinical interests, I trained under a USPHS O-6 who'd been one of my externship rotation attendings, I was really close to eligible for a surgical board certification eligibility when my disability happened, so, if you'd care to chat, I trained in numerous teaching hospitals in three different states, incl VA, I treated in externships and residency some 10000 patients, rotated extensively under physicians, and assisted with some 200-300 surgeries, in mult areas, I can point you to some useful stuff, if you'd care to chat, I just don't want to overwhelm, obviously, admin and others on here tell me I tend to do that at times, so, if you'd care to hear more, beyond the initial stuff I'll try to send you, lemme know, no rush, whenever you want, OK?

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Mar 26 at 2019 8:27 PM

2019-03-26T20:27:48-04:00

http://www.usphs.gov

Look up their Jr and Sr COSTEP, their analogue to ROTCs, also their page on nursing, you might also care to call their recruiting toll free phone line and chat with them, if you have an interest, they also have a program to let psych-related USPHS clinical staff seek to be assigned to Army, Navy, and USAF, if you'd want psych-related nursing at all, I don't know if you'd have to be RN/BSN, you likely would be, minimum, look up the page, I'll try to send it, OK?

www.usphs.gov

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Mar 26 at 2019 8:29 PM

2019-03-26T20:29:02-04:00

http://www.usuhs.edu/gsn

This is a doctoral-level nursing program, I think a DNP, not a PhD, you'd have to definitely be RN/BSN, maybe even NP/MSN, plus do a couple of tours to have a chance at it, though I didn't know if you knew about it at all....

Uniformed Services University

The mission of the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences is to educate, train, and comprehensively prepare uniformed services health professionals, scientists, and leaders to support the Military and Public Health Systems, the National Security and National Defense Strategies of the United States, and the readiness of our Uniformed Services.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Mar 26 at 2019 8:32 PM

2019-03-26T20:32:28-04:00

http://www.rnfa.org/aprn-rnfa/

This about RNs called RN-FAs, FA for first assist, they're granted higher privileges, I'd learned in OR, they're generally allowed to close surgical sites, after doctoral-level clinicians leave an OR, quite often, the certification is called CFA, it's linked typically to an RN license, I think the 2-yr RNs are being phased out a good deal now, I'd heard that, I didn't know if it's true, 4-yr is likely to be the norm, as opposed to LPN, which still exists in NY where my wife and I are...I'm unsure if being an NP/MSN minimum is needed, you'd likely need to ask about that to try to find out....

APRN RNFA - RNFA

New AORN Position Statement on Advanced Practice Registered Nurses in the Perioperative Environment The APRN practicing in the perioperative environment as a first assistant at surgery: “…is required, as of January 1, 2016, to acquire the knowledge and skills needed to provide safe, competent surgical first assisting services by completing a program that covers the … Continue reading "APRN RNFA"

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Mar 26 at 2019 8:35 PM

2019-03-26T20:35:24-04:00

https://search.aol.com/aol/search?q=army%20interservice%20pa%20program%20ft%20sam%20houston&s_it=loki-tb-sb

I didn't know if you might want this at all, however, it'd be silly for you to not at least be aware of it, I'd thought, you know?

army%20interservice%20pa%20program%20ft%20sam%20houston - AOL Search Results

Find best value and selection for your 1912 Ft Sam Houston Texas Pennant US Army Souvenir RARE search on eBay. World's leading marketplace.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Mar 26 at 2019 8:37 PM

2019-03-26T20:37:16-04:00

http://www.excelsior.edu

This used to be part of NYS govt, they privatized, they're regionally accredited, well thought of by the svcs, I got a 2nd bach in math from them, a friend got his bach in math, and went Navy OCS using it...they have their own exam program, I'm fairly certain they go up to MSN level, NP I don't know about, they're quite well known in nursing, also very svc-friendly, I assure you....

www.excelsior.edu

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Mar 26 at 2019 8:37 PM

2019-03-26T20:37:48-04:00

http://www.tesu.edu

This is NJ govt run, they have an online DNP for doctoral level, look at it also, OK?

College Degrees for Adults at Thomas Edison State University

Thomas Edison State University provides opportunities for adults to earn a college degree. Explore our programs, online courses and flexible transfer credit policies today.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Mar 26 at 2019 8:38 PM

2019-03-26T20:38:24-04:00

http://www.charteroak.edu

This is CT govt run, I think they have nursing also....

www.charteroak.edu

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Mar 26 at 2019 8:39 PM

2019-03-26T20:39:20-04:00

https://www.charteroak.edu/

Here's the exact link....

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Mar 26 at 2019 8:43 PM

2019-03-26T20:43:23-04:00

https://search.aol.com/aol/search?q=williams%20wilkins%20board%20review%20series&s_it=loki-tb-sb

This is one of the very best review text series in multiple clinical areas I ever found, I relied on these quite heavily in my doctoral program....

williams%20wilkins%20board%20review%20series - AOL Search Results

Save 25% on Popular Lippincott Titles This Month When You Buy Direct from LWW! Shop Thousands of LWW Books & Peer-Reviewed Journals Direct from the Publisher.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Mar 26 at 2019 8:44 PM

2019-03-26T20:44:41-04:00

https://search.aol.com/aol/search?q=williams%20wilkins%20national%20medical%20series&s_it=loki-tb-sb

The last one was the Board Review Series (BRS)...this is the Natl Med Series (NMS), on a somewhat higher level, denser print, however, also extremely good, I assure you....

williams%20wilkins%20national%20medical%20series - AOL Search Results

Save 25% on Popular Lippincott Titles This Month When You Buy Direct from LWW! Shop Thousands of LWW Books & Peer-Reviewed Journals Direct from the Publisher.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Mar 26 at 2019 8:45 PM

2019-03-26T20:45:56-04:00

As I'd said, look through all that, if you want more, or care to chat at all, just ask, no rush, whenever you want, OK?

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Mar 26 at 2019 8:48 PM

2019-03-26T20:48:47-04:00

https://www.usphs.gov/aboutus/dod-hhs.aspx

Here's that USPHS page on the whole DoD thing about psych-related USPHS serving with the Army, Navy, and USAF...USPHS also goes with USCG, if that might possibly interest you as well, USCG has their own PAs, I gather, though their other clinical staff is USPHS, normally....

Military mental health services at USPHS Commissioned Corps

Military behavioral health, mental health services. USPHS Commissioned Corps

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Mar 26 at 2019 8:50 PM

2019-03-26T20:50:41-04:00

https://search.aol.com/aol/search?q=usphs%20detailed%20to%20uscg&s_it=loki-tb-sb

You might care to look at these also...if you have any flight interests, possibly for aeromed nursing, that could also be a good area, if it might interest you at all....

usphs%20detailed%20to%20uscg - AOL Search Results

Defense Threat Reduction Agency 8725 John J. Kingman Road, MS 6201 Fort Belvoir, VA 22060-6201. DTRA-TR-10-26. TECHNICAL REPORT. Personnel Radiation Exposure Associated with X-Rays Emanating from U.S. Coast Guard LORAN High Voltage Vacuum Tube Transmitter Units

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Mar 26 at 2019 8:52 PM

2019-03-26T20:52:43-04:00

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=army+vocational+nursing

Some YouTube videos are actually quite good about svc stuff, I was able to find these, I'm sure there must be others as well....

army vocational nursing - YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.