Wanting to be a nurse

RunBabyRN · Jun 3, 2014

You tagged Canada, so I'm assuming that's where you attend school. I'm not sure if it's different there, but I can tell you how you can do that in the US, at least. One thing that can really help get the ball rolling is attending community college courses while in high school. You can even earn high school credit for doing so! I got two years' worth of high school English done in one semester! I wouldn't recommend taking any more than 2 college courses at a time, and you'll have to find out what the policy is where you attend. You'll also likely need permission from both schools to do this, but that also allows them to communicate about your credits.

Make sure that you keep your GPA as high as possible, because GPA is a MAJOR factor with nursing school, which is very competitive. You may want to meet with a counselor at the college to find out what is required for nursing as a specific degree. You'll need your general ed requirements met, as well as nursing prerequisites. These generally include anatomy, physiology, microbiology, chemistry, nutrition, psych, and a few others. You'll want to make sure you take the correct versions of these courses for nursing.

You're smart to think ahead the way you are! Best of luck to you!

rpnstudent199 · Jun 3, 2014

I dont think highschool students are able to take college courses in Canada, at least not in Ontario. I could be wrong though.

I don't know about the requirements for BSN or BScN university programs, but practical nursing generally requires grade 11 and 12 college or university level math, grade 11 and/or 12 bio, college or university level and chemistry grade 11 and/or 12 university or college level. It depends on the school whether they want both years. Yes GPA is very important and all nursing programs are very competitive to get into so try your best!

You have a couple years until you have to worry about all of that but I recommend taking sciences and math throughout school to prepare yourself for grade 11 and 12 when schools will be looking at your marks.

Good luck and I hope you get where you want to be! :)

tbbtpeach · Jun 3, 2014

VOLUNTEER AT A HOSPITAL!! Not only does it look GREAT on an application or resume, you get to experience a hospital setting. You will meet nurses and may even get to find some references for applications and other things.

You may have to wait until you're older, but you can get your CNA and start working in the hospital. I wish I would've thought of that in high school. It would have given me so much experience!

Take A/P, Biology, Chemistry, and any Advanced placement or Dual Credit courses your school may offer. This will save you time and money in college.

GPA is very important. Try to keep those grades up, volunteer and show that you really want to do this! You're young and I think it's great that you are asking these questions right now. Keep asking questions along the way too! Find someone who also wants to become a nurse or who is already a nurse and network with them! Good luck!

misty828 · Jun 5, 2014

My sophomore year of High School, I wasn't sure if I wanted to go into the medical field or not. So I decided to get my advanced CNA the following year. It was the best decision I have ever made. It made me realize that I did want to go into nursing. My senior year I took college level anatomy and physiology classes.

Currently I am in nursing school, and will graduate with my BSN in 2-2 1/2 years.

sblxo · Jun 11, 2014

I dont think highschool students are able to take college courses in Canada, at least not in Ontario. I could be wrong though.

Yup they are! I live in Ontario & I know some people that have done it :)

edimo · Jun 11, 2014

Your guidance counselor would be an excellent resource on what courses you need to take to apply and to also help with the application process when the time comes

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jun 11, 2014

Post has been moved to the Canadian Nursing forum to increase the likelihood of accurate advice from the country where the OP lives and attends school.

sam89 · Jun 11, 2014

It depends what province you are in and whether you want to be a RN or LPN/RPN(ontario)

I can give you the information for Ontario, but I'm not sure about the other provinces and territories. For the best answers talk to your guidance counselor

RN pathway (bachelor of science in nursing)

Grade 10: academic level courses (i.e science, english, math, etc)

Grade 11: the academic level transitions into "University/U"(courses that prepare you for university) or "Mixed/M" levels (courses that prepare you for either university and/or college" In grade 11 you will have to take 11 U chemistry(SCH3U), 11 U biology (SBI3U), 11 U Math or M level(MCF3M), or (MCR3U), 11 U English (ENG4U), and 2 other M or U level courses.

Grade 12: You need 6 M or U level courses, which has to include 12 U Chemistry (SCH4U), 12 U English (ENG4U), 12 U Biology (SBI4U), most BscN require a 12 U math (MHF4U), (MCV4U), or (MDM4U).

If you are interested in being a Registered Practical Nursing/Licensed Practical Nurse in Ontario

Grade 10: Majority of your courses can be applied or academic

Grade 11: Applied level transitions into "College/C" level. You will need to take at least 11 C Biology (SBI3C), 11 C Math (MBF3C), 11 C English (ENG3C) and the rest of your courses should either be at the "C", "M" or "U" level.

Grade 12: You need to take at least 12 C Chemistry (SCH4C), 12 C Math (MAP4C), 12 C English (ENG4C), and the rest of the courses should either be C, M, or U level.

Pathway/Workplace level science, math, and english courses are not enough to get into the Practical nursing program.

chickpea7 · Jun 12, 2014

Your best bet is to go to each university's website and search for their nursing program. There you will find the high school prerequisites, and any other requirements there might be. They will be similar from program to program, but there can be some differences so I suggest writing it all down.

mitchie123 · Jul 25, 2014

if you are in Ontario, you can get duel credits now for both high school and colleges credit ( wish I had this when I was going to high school), we hade grade 13. ask your principal and guidance person. I know science math, biology and chemistry are major courses for any nursing program. I am not a nurse yet but have went a different and long route try to go back to nursing school. good luck

theRPN2b · Jul 28, 2014

What province are you in? I'm in Ontario and I will be starting a nursing program in September.

You will definitely need English, Math, and 2 sciences (Bio for sure, and then Chem or Physics).

If you want to get into an RN program you will have to take these courses at a University (U) level in grade 11 & 12.

If you want to get into a practical nursing program you can take these courses at either a university or a college/mixed level.