MS was initially licensed as a Practical Nurse in Missouri, correct? Anybody know what the basic educational requirements are for a PA in that state?
I am familiar with Community College Associates Degree to RN in Pennsylvania. A lot of what you need and how much time it takes to achieve the RN depends on what course of study you followed in Community College. In the early 90's pre-reqs for a basic RN hospital-based "School of Nursing" included college level Anatomy I & II, Physiology I & II, Pathology, Pharmacology, Human Growth & Development, Psychology, English, Public Speaking, Math, Chemistry, and Nutrition. And perhaps others I've forgotten. These all had to be completed prior to entering "Nursing School".
So, depending on what one had already studied, some classes would fit in, others would not.
I'm pretty sure LPN school does not take as long and does not include as many college level classes. I always had the greatest of respect for an experienced LPN. But I did notice that they often did not seem to have an in-depth knowledge of certain areas, especially Physiology and Pharmacology.