CNA at 17 & RN at 19

ScrubGirl88, BSN, RN · Jan 29, 2015

A RN at 19?? What program are you planning on doing? That would be crazy fast, but if you can do it then do it girl. Don't let anyone stop you from what you want. it took me 2 years to get just pre reqs done and now I'm in a 16 month BSN program... so that seems really fast.

destiny moseley · Jan 29, 2015

A RN at 19?? What program are you planning on doing? That would be crazy fast, but if you can do it then do it girl. Don't let anyone stop you from what you want. it took me 2 years to get just pre reqs done and now I'm in a 16 month BSN program... so that seems really fast.

Yes thank you for the advice lol & im going to college to take it it's a 2 year program & I'll be 19 when I'm done

mrsboots87 · Jan 29, 2015

Have you already completed your PreReqs. A two year program does not usually equal a 2 year degree. There are almost always about 2 years worth of pre requisite courses to even be considered for an RN program. Then there are about 2 years of nursing courses to take. If you have managed to find a program that can condense the required gen ed courses, plus your sciences, plus your nursing core courses into two years all together, I would be very weary of going there. Make sure they are accredited and have good graduation and NCLEX pass rates. Also be prepared to have literally no life for those 2 years. The nursing core courses alone are a lot, but to have to do the gen eds and the sciences at the same time will be insane.

If you actually became an RN at 19 (which seems very unlikely, more around 21-22 is a more realistic timeline) it wont matter. As long as you are practicing safely and working hard, then age wont matter. Sure, some people might notice you are young, but most wont say anything and if they see the RN after your name should trust their care to you because they will know you completed your degree. GL

mrsboots87 · Jan 29, 2015

Also make sure the credits are transferable. They may incorporate the sciences into the core class and such and then you would not have a completed science course. If you go to on to continue your education, you would have to take those sciences or whatever other courses were not completed. Just be careful so you dont waste your money.

happyinmyheart · Jan 29, 2015

OK I have a question , long story short Imy a senior in high school & I will graduate at 17 like many others I am going to college to get my RN degree but 1st I want to get my CNA degree to get more experience & work on hospitals , the thing is I will be 17 when I complete my cna degree because I don't turn 18 until this December 2015, will people take me seriouslyou being a CNA at 17 & also a a rn at 19 ? Will this look good on my resume ?

I became a CNA at 17 years old during my junior year of high school. It was a great experience and I'm so glad I did it. I went to a four year BSN program straight out of high school. I'm taking heavy course loads and summer classes to finish my prerequisites in a year and a half. Then the Nursing program is two and a half years. (4 years overall) I won't be an RN until I'm 22!

Point is- most ASN programs usually end up being three years. The prerequisites can take a year, and the nursing program takes two years. Make sure you know all the requirements and what you're getting yourself into :) I don't think it will help or hurt your resume- but becoming a CNA is a great life experience!

Ps- none of my CNA credits transferred. Make sure you check and see if they will :)

Asystole RN · Jan 29, 2015

I knew a nurse who was licensed at 17. Home schooled, started college as a teen etc etc. Could not imagine making that kind of money when my peers would be working at Taco Bell.

I would HIGHLY recommend that you look into a BSN program OP. I went the ASN route initially...terrible mistake given the market today.

allnurses Guide · Jan 29, 2015

Not going to get into the particulars of how long it will take you to finish but yes, you can be poised and professional at any age. It's a matter of how you carry yourself. I started really young and worked on an adolescent unit where the 17 year olds weren't all that much younger than I was. Never had an issue. Best wishes!

desertlady · Jan 30, 2015

Yes it is possible, and yes people will take you seriously as long as you take yourself and your career seriously. There is a young gal of 18 in my cohort, graduating with her BSN in December with the rest of us. (She will be 19 by then) She is very capable and I would feel safe in her hands if she were my nurse. For those of you wondering about pre-reqs, in some cases, a junior and senior in high school could be taking community college classes and meeting requirements for an AA or AS degree while meeting requirements for diploma in HS. If they have pre-req's done when they graduate, it is not impossible to graduate nursing at age 19 if they enter a fast track program.

moki9204 · Jan 30, 2015

i was 20 when i got my RN license with BSN

NutmeggeRN, BSN · Jan 30, 2015

No one but HR would know how old you are unless you tell them. Of course if you cannot go out for drinks after work someone might figure it out!

mrsboots87 · Jan 30, 2015

Yes it is possible, and yes people will take you seriously as long as you take yourself and your career seriously. There is a young gal of 18 in my cohort, graduating with her BSN in December with the rest of us. (She will be 19 by then) She is very capable and I would feel safe in her hands if she were my nurse. For those of you wondering about pre-reqs, in some cases, a junior and senior in high school could be taking community college classes and meeting requirements for an AA or AS degree while meeting requirements for diploma in HS. If they have pre-req's done when they graduate, it is not impossible to graduate nursing at age 19 if they enter a fast track program.

I forgot all about that. Good point. Does make 19 seem like a much more reasonable age assuming acceptance into a program right out the gate. So I retract my age of 21-22 seeming more likely since 19 actually is a possibility. I do still agree that as long as OP is confident and mature, that age wont matter.