Become a Nurse without Nursing School

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Anyone know of any opportunities abroad to become a nurse thru apprenticeship rather than thru traditional education?

(I'm fed up with looking for accelerated programs, having to meet bogus requirements, etc. I'd rather just do on-the-job training for 3/4 the pay in some other country. Anyone know of anything like this?)

Specializes in SICU, trauma, neuro.
Hospital-based diploma programs used to be common in the US, but they were more rigorous than today's university/tech school programs (based on how I've heard their graduates describe them.) They did have classes, anyway.

Input from our diploma colleagues here pretty well illustrates my initial comment. I personally only know one diploma RN--my late great-aunt. She worked in public health for a rural WI county and made home visits, so had to function extremely well and independently. She didn't have much for references on her iPad, either. :sarcastic:

Back when I first started nursing school, she said that back in the day, the university educated would look down on the hospital educated. She said she would say, "I beg to differ. We were taught as much nursing as you were, except we didn't get summers off." :laugh: Makes sense though, if you compare a year-round full-time 3 yr program to a traditional 3/4 of the year 4 yr program.

I get nervous just hearing from her and here on AN, what those programs were like!

Specializes in Telemetry, OB, NICU.

Which decade and which country?

Let's be honest. If you aren't interested in going to school and being educated, then you just aren't. You can't become anything that requires schooling. This includes nursing. Go get a job somewhere else that doesn't need a degree. Or you can become a PCA in some healthcare facilities after on the job training. No school, less money than nursing. PCA is a part of nursing, afterall. This is what you asked right? On your initial post. There you go.

Specializes in HH, Peds, Rehab, Clinical.

OP created the thread and hasn't been back since. I suspect he never will either...

Which decade and which country?

Let's be honest. If you aren't interested in going to school and being educated, then you just aren't. You can't become anything that requires schooling. This includes nursing. Go get a job somewhere else that doesn't need a degree. Or you can become a PCA in some healthcare facilities after on the job training. No school, less money than nursing. PCA is a part of nursing, afterall. This is what you asked right? On your initial post. There you go.

Specializes in Mental Health, Gerontology, Palliative.
"You must be joking, Mr. Feynman."

You might be able to find one...but you'd never be able to work in the US with it.

Or New Zealand, or Australia, or England.......

Specializes in OB/women's Health, Pharm.

[quote=Cafelattee;855422

So the op can head to Britain

Not so fast. . . Even then, they will be expected to know A&P, Pharm, child development, nutrition, and more, without which they will have low odds of passing the registration exams.

Letting persons become nurses and care for today's critically ill, diverse, complex patients with minimal education and on-the-job training is a disaster in the making. Even most third world countries have higher standards than this.

Specializes in Med nurse in med-surg., float, HH, and PDN.
"You must be joking, Mr. Feynman."

If Mr. Feynman was still alive, I'd be his groupie. I love a brain like his! First time I read his stuff I crushed something wicked.

Is the OP coming back?

Specializes in Operating Room.

I'd much rather just drop out of nursing school and head straight to the hospital to wing it at being a nurse with 3/4 the pay. that would probably balance out considering how those student loans pile up :laugh:

Specializes in ED.

Doubt it, he's made a new thread already to troll over.

Is the OP coming back?
Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.

If he did, he's either using a new user name or it's been pulled, because I see no other threads started by the OP.

As an ICU nurse and one of 30 years, I'm offended that you think nursing is something you just learn on the fly. It takes immersing oneself in rigorous study to come to the point where you can perform, recognize a patient who's labs, vital signs are trending in a detrimental direction. To be able to know when to call the Dr, because you understand what is happening to your patient and you know his med dose needs changing or he is experiencing any number of altering changes of condition. You understand the physiology of anatomy, microbiology and pharmacology. You are able to catch a dr's mistake or pharmacy. You are the patient advocate. You are the most responsible as you are the one who is closest to the patient.

Specializes in kids.

I wish we had computers........

+ Add a Comment