How to get there?

[CNAstudent2411]

As you can see by my user, I'm not even a CNA yet. I go to clinical this month and then in January I take my test :) But I'm confident I can do well. My ultimate goal, as suggested by many nurses when I myself was in the hospital, is to work as a psychiatric RN. but I have negative clue what courses I even need to take. Is there anything I can do in high school (like a AP psychology) to help? Obviously I'm taking a nursing course in college, but would a psychology class be needed too? I'm sorry I'm so clueless, but I am only fifteen. I would ask my teacher but I'm too shy and my guidance counselor just kind of sscares me. Help?

[kubivern]

I teach in Practical Nursing and Associate Degree Registered Nursing programs in Idaho and we highly encourage individuals wanting to become nurses but are still in high school to take dual credit classes (you receive both high school and college credits at the same time). I have had several students graduate high school and be able to go directly into our Practical Nursing program because of the dual credit classes he or she has completed. Another advantage is that dual credit classes in high school are often significantly less expensive than college courses.

I believe you live in Kentucky based on your posting - the Kentucky Department of Education has a website that talks about dual credit - Kentucky Department of Education : Dual Credit

What you may consider is to look up the prerequisites for the college nursing programs you would like to attend - for example, I just googled Kentucky nursing programs and went to the University of Kentucky's nursing program and they have a web page for high school students looking to get in their program - Home

Print the information off so you have it available.

(Just a note, apply to as many nursing programs as you can to give you choices - don't forget community colleges, and even though you want to be a registered nurse, look at becoming a practical nurse then going to a registered nursing program - again, you always want to look at choices because sometimes life, and money, can get in the way).

Although high school guidance counselors can be scary (it is part of their job description), take the counselor the information you printed off and just tell them to help you get as many prerequisites done in high school as possible. That way the counselor has something to work with and can't mess with you. If you really don't like the counselor, you may try to see if a teacher will help you - it isn't hard to find dual credit courses.

Look at scholarships too - I often have students that don't apply for scholarships when he or she would qualify and sometimes the scholarship money doesn't get used because no-one applied!

Good luck - you will not need it if you just work towards your goals!

[MrChicagoRN, RN]

Good for you.

Psychology courses may certainly help. I'm going to post a bunch of mental health links soon, but you can start with

Home - American Psychiatric Nurses Association