68C Career Guide
68C: Practical Nurse
Career transition guide for Army Practical Nurse (68C)
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Top civilian roles for 68C veterans, with average salary and market demand data.
Registered Nurse (RN)
Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
Skills to develop:
Medical and Health Services Manager
Skills to develop:
Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) or Paramedic
Skills to develop:
Healthcare Administrator
Skills to develop:
Salary estimates from VWC career data
Hidden Strengths
Cognitive skills your 68C training built — and where they transfer.
Rapid Prioritization
As a 68C, you constantly assess patients' conditions, determining who needs immediate attention and which tasks can wait. This happens in fast-paced, high-stress environments.
This translates to the ability to quickly analyze situations, identify critical needs, and adjust plans on the fly – a valuable skill in dynamic work environments.
Team Synchronization
You work closely with doctors, nurses, and other medical personnel, requiring seamless coordination to provide effective patient care. This is especially true during emergencies.
Your experience in synchronizing efforts within a team translates directly to coordinating projects and tasks to achieve common goals. You understand how to communicate effectively and keep everyone on the same page.
Situational Awareness
You maintain constant awareness of your surroundings, including patient conditions, available resources, and potential hazards. This helps you anticipate problems and react quickly.
This heightened awareness allows you to quickly assess complex situations, understand the needs of different stakeholders, and anticipate potential challenges before they arise.
Procedural Compliance
As a medical professional in the Army, you adhere to strict protocols and procedures to ensure patient safety and maintain standards of care. Following guidelines is paramount.
Your strict adherence to standards and protocols in the military will make you a highly reliable and trustworthy employee, which is invaluable in many industries.
Non-Obvious Career Matches
Emergency Management Specialist
SOC 11-9161.00You've been trained to handle high-stress situations, prioritize needs, and coordinate responses effectively – all crucial skills for emergency management. You can anticipate potential problems and work with a diverse team.
Healthcare Administrator
SOC 11-9111.00Your experience managing wards, clinics, or units means you already understand healthcare operations. You've been responsible for resource allocation and team coordination, which are key aspects of healthcare administration.
Pharmaceutical Sales Representative
SOC 41-3031.00You already possess a strong understanding of medical terminology, treatments, and procedures, making you well-equipped to understand the science behind pharmaceuticals and present them effectively to healthcare professionals.
Compliance Officer
SOC 13-1041.00Your commitment to following procedure means you are detail-oriented and understand the importance of adherence to regulations. Your background makes you the perfect candidate to ensure your company is in compliance with federal and state laws.
Training & Education Equivalencies
Medical Education and Training Campus (METC), Fort Sam Houston
Topics Covered
- •Anatomy and Physiology
- •Medical Terminology
- •Basic Nursing Skills
- •Pharmacology
- •Patient Assessment
- •Wound Care
- •Emergency Medical Procedures
- •Infection Control
Certification Pathways
Ready to Certify
Partial Coverage
Requires additional education in areas such as advanced physiology, pharmacology, and specific nursing specialties. Also requires passing the NCLEX-RN exam.
Requires additional training and experience in healthcare management principles, financial management, human resources, and regulatory compliance.
Requires deeper understanding of healthcare quality improvement methodologies, patient safety, risk management, and data analysis techniques specific to healthcare settings.
Recommended Next Certifications
Technical Systems Translation
Military systems you've used and their civilian equivalents for your resume.
| Military System | Civilian Equivalent |
|---|---|
| Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) Guidelines | Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) and Basic Life Support (BLS) protocols |
| Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems like MHS GENESIS | EHR systems like Epic or Cerner |
| Medical Communication for Combat Casualty Care (MC4) | Telemedicine platforms and secure messaging apps for healthcare professionals |
| Blood product storage and handling equipment (e.g., combat refrigerators) | Medical-grade refrigerators and freezers with temperature monitoring |
| Various diagnostic tools such as portable ultrasound devices | Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) systems |
| Medication administration systems including automated dispensing cabinets (ADCs) | Automated medication dispensing systems such as Pyxis or Omnicell |
| Patient movement tracking systems (e.g., TRANSCOM Regulating and Command & Control Evacuation System - TRAC2ES) | Hospital patient tracking and bed management software |
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