Can you become an RN at age 19?

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If it is possible,how?

Interesting...I know high schoolers can take college courses for their junior and senior year around here (MN). Our babysitter started at 16 and will already have two years of college completed by the time she graduates high school, so she will be able to graduate with a 4-year degree by the time she's 20 if she stays on track.

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In the US, it depends on the state regulations; in Florida, you have to be 20 or 21 (old lady with less-than-perfect memory here). There is also the problem of legal majority, with all the attendant rights and responsibilities--I'm not sure a minor could participate in clinicals, what with privacy and ethical issues, to say nothing of being exposed to adult nudity; in other words, not likely--you probably wouldn't have time to complete the coursework.

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.
Fun fact: ESME and I went to nursing school together! Boiler up! Gotta love Boilermakers!

Unfortunately in today's world it is highly unlikely to graduate any program under the age of 20 to 21 and that is still a stretch. Most schools today require a year of prerequisite courses before you start clinical rotations so even a "Two year ADN/ASN program" is really 3 years.

The program that meanmaryjean went to was a unique opportunity when the programs were leaving the diploma based programs and transitioning to new "new" 2 year college based entry nursing degree. Our program was tough as our clinical experience was close to the same clinical hours as a diploma program AND....it was concurrent with all the other college and prereq. courses. We worked like dogs.

Our nursing program is no longer in existence as it was as it is now the accelerated (with a difficult reputation) BSN program. Our program had one of the very few nursing faculty that was doctoral prepared. Dr. Ellis died of cancer years ago (RIP...you were a great lady) and she took a chance on a young, wide eyed, innocent, smart girl. Thank you Dr Ellis.

I graduated high school VERY YOUNG!!! I was in the "gifted" program and technically never went to second grade and started kindergarten at age 4 (December birthday I turned 5). I was....18 when I graduated nursing....going to nursing school was, shall I say, "enlightening!"...LOL. It was a LONG time ago.

I got out my trascript for some reason or another and noted that the term we took Med-surgII (a TEN credit class) I had three other 3-credit classes. That's right kids ,19-credits plus clinicals. Oh,I was also pregnant and working as an LPN.

The 'good old days' kinda sucked.

Dr. Ellis was a rock star. What was the name of the Army nurse on faculty? She was a hoot.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
I got out my trascript for some reason or another and noted that the term we took Med-surgII (a TEN credit class) I had three other 3-credit classes. That's right kids ,19-credits plus clinicals. Oh,I was also pregnant and working as an LPN.

The 'good old days' kinda sucked.

Dr. Ellis was a rock star. What was the name of the Army nurse on faculty? She was a hoot.

We worked our asses off!!!!!

Instructors.....Oh Lord...really? There was Ms. Givens and she always wanted everything to be pacific....with her southern accent. There was that other one who wore that bow in her hair. We later de-bowed her...LOL. I remember Pat Kelly and our nursing legalities and a pharmacy type class....she was a pain...but I learned a ton.

Remember Dr W----- for micro and Biochem? He stood in the front of the class and said "My job is to weed out you nurses in my class" I remember once to Diane W (her dad was a math professor) asked a question and his answer was "Why don't you ask your daddy" He never taught the nurses micro after our official complaint. He had Nobel prize for his rare Orchids.

I am friends with Liz Q on FB I have to ask her now....LOL Update coming!

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Specializes in Trauma, Teaching.

I had a 17 year old in my Assoc. program, homeschooled then community college for high school, did her GED and had great grades. So, got into our Assoc. program and did great. Narcs didn't seem to be a problem.

I was legally giving narcotics as a student under the age of 21 as well. Couldn't buy myself a glass of wine, but I could push Demerol and Morphine!

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I know a nurse who got licensed at 19 in 2008 or so. She graduated HS at 16 and was doing her pre-reqs her last year of HS. So graduated w/ associates at 19 and went into the ER as a new grad.

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.
We worked our asses off!!!!!

Instructors.....Oh Lord...really? There was Ms. Givens and she always wanted everything to be pacific....with her southern accent. There was that other one who wore that bow in her hair. We later de-bowed her...LOL. I remember Pat Kelly and our nursing legalities and a pharmacy type class....she was a pain...but I learned a ton.

Remember Dr W----- for micro and Biochem? He stood in the front of the class and said "My job is to weed out you nurses in my class" I remember once to Diane W (her dad was a math professor) asked a question and his answer was "Why don't you ask your daddy" He never taught the nurses micro after our official complaint. He had Nobel prize for his rare Orchids.

I am friends with Liz Q on FB I have to ask her now....LOL Update coming!

I took micro at IU Gary one miserable summer. But the instructor was one of the team that found the link between honey and infant botulism- really interesting stuff. That drive to Gary all summer sucked as the Borman was- as usual- under construction and a hot mess.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
I took micro at IU Gary one miserable summer. But the instructor was one of the team that found the link between honey and infant botulism- really interesting stuff. That drive to Gary all summer sucked as the Borman was- as usual- under construction and a hot mess.
....It still is under construction...LOL Lucky girl to miss Dr.W. He was a real treat.:banghead:
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I think you can. Other countries Do not have middle school in their educational system unlike the US so many of the kids graduate high school at around 15/16 years old. If they went straight into nursing school, they would graduate at 19.

When i was doing my prereqs i met a fresh foreign high school graduate who was 15 at the time and full time college student but wasnt in college for nursing.

Also, now high schools have dual enrollment programs. many high schools partner with colleges or universities and the kids can take college classes as they go to high school so by the time they graduate high school, if they were diligent enough, they would have enough credits for an associate of arts which makes college shorter for them.

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I did it.graduated from high school at 17, started college that fall and took my prereqs simultaneously with nursing program.I took CLEP exam for one course, a summer semester and a couple of night classes along the way.graduated two years later at age 19, had my first son 10 days later :)

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Specializes in Ortho/Med-Surg, L&D, Observation/ER.

I think it is kind of unheard of, but not impossible to achieve. I graduated with my ADN 3 months after I turned 20. I took most of my pre-reqs my senior year of high school. I turned 20 in February of '08 and graduated in May and started working at the hospital in July. I worked on an Orthopedic unit so I was giving narcotics on a daily basis, when I couldn't even legally drink a glass of wine to wind down after a long day! And I was the youngest nurse on the unit by several years. That being said, I would not change anything.

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Had one in my class, graduated high school at 17 had her associate's at 19. Easy.

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