Does this bother you?

[Gods child]

I read an article in the local paper about a proposal from a prospective governor to create a five-year high school plan in which a student could graduate from high school in five years with an associate degree. In the article it made mention of how nursing could "lend itself" to the five year program, and that being an RN is great if you want to work. For some reason when I read that it really bothered me, and I don't understand why. I don't want to say that it cheapens the title of RN (the proposal was for RN, not LPN), but if this is something one can graduate from high school with, it seems like it would cause our profession to be looked down upon even more so. It just makes me think about all of the people who struggle to get in an RN program at the CC or university explaining to others how competitive it is to be accepted in a program (and how challenging nursing can be), just to have them open one up at a local high school. To top things off the only profession they mentioned was nursing, they made no mention of other associate degree programs being "added" to high school curriculum. Is it unreasonable to feel this way? Am I making a big deal about nothing? I can definitely see the benefits of this type of program, but somehow it seems to take away from "something" (can't put my finger on it).

I actually wish that sort of program was available when I was in school. I could have possibly been in CRNA School by age 21 (with ICU experience and everything). It would have been great to graduate at 18 or 19 and start out making 30-40,000 a year. Maybe I'm just jealous. :)

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

Fla Orange--but there is a big diff between a 17 year old LPN and a 17 year old RN.

You can be an RN at any age, but they usually require you to have gotten your HS diploma or GED before taking the boards. If you can graduate by then, and take the program....well....it'd take a certain type of person to not only accomplish that, but to be ready for it as well.

Actually, no. In NYS, you must be at least 17 to become licensed as an LPN, but at least 18 to become licensed as an RN.

There's far too many holes in this proposal to see this work, IMO.

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

I graduated from high school at sixteen; despite my academic successes, I can't imagine having been mature enough to be a 17-year-old RN, even if that were legal (is it?).

Not in NY. A minimum age requirement is 18, and that's with documentation of having already graduated from an accredited program, yada yada. Frankly, never heard of an 18 year old RN. Too many qualifications to meet prior to sitting for NCLEX to reach that goal by 18.

I don't see this program covering all that, don't see it happening.

If you're going to be held legally accountable for pushing meds, don't you think you should be old enough to sign a legal document?

Yeesh, we make kids wait until they're old enough to vote at 18, and even THAT's debatable .

[UM Review RN, ASN, RN]

I vote no.

LPN yes, but RN, no. Even with an Associates, too many of us are coming out of school with too little preparation for "real world nursing."

Imagine the devastating effect that nursing's "firsts" would have: there you are, dealing with growing up to leave Mom and Dad, and you have your first patient death? Med error?

Not something I'd want my 17-year-old to be dealing with.

[lisamc1RN, LPN]

That would be a huge responsibility to put onto a teenager. If that were to be put into effect, there would have to be strict screening processes so that most of the teens out there wouldn't even qualify to take the classes! I just can't see most of them being mature enough to handle it. That being said, I suppose there is the rare teen who would be an excellent candidate for such a program and I don't see holding them back as a positive thing.

[Gods child]

I find this very hard to believe. Although it's true that the majority of Associate's degrees can be earned in two years, your RN degree requires several semesters of prerequisites before the two year program even begins. Surely they are not dismissing the prereqs! I imagine the nursing program to which they are referring is an LPN program, not an RN. Otherwise it would not make any sense at all.

http://www.wkrn.com/nashville/news/ap-ap-interview-bredesen-says-5year-schools-could-stem-dropouts

I wouldn't just make this up. That was my whole reason for posting, I couldn't believe it either. It is indeed for RN, not LPN.

[jschut, BSN, RN]

Fla Orange--but there is a big diff between a 17 year old LPN and a 17 year old RN.

I still wouldn't feel comfortable with a 17 y/o having a LPN license. I simply do not feel that they are mature enough to handle the responsibilities that being a nurse brings, whether LPN or RN.

[UM Review RN, ASN, RN]

http://www.wkrn.com/nashville/news/ap-ap-interview-bredesen-says-5year-schools-could-stem-dropouts

I wouldn't just make this up. That was my whole reason for posting, I couldn't believe it either. It is indeed for RN, not LPN.

Thanks for the link. After reading the entire article, I'm convinced that the governor is completely ignorant about what nurses do and the conditions they labor under.

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

I still wouldn't feel comfortable with a 17 y/o having a LPN license. I simply do not feel that they are mature enough to handle the responsibilities that being a nurse brings, whether LPN or RN.

I find it scary, too, IMO, but it's already legal! 17 is the minimum age for LPN

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

Thanks for the link. After reading the entire article, I'm convinced that the governor is completely ignorant about what nurses do and the conditions they labor under.

You're not kidding. What an insult to RNs today, that this is a job anyone can do who is "willing to work". Wow.

Hey, got some time to kill at the end of high school? Might as well ding around for a bit and get that handy RN--never know when McDonald's might have a hiring freeze, and THEN where would you be? That is, as long as you are "willing to work".

Wonder what he'd feel like if his child were being cared for by someone who got an RN this way--as an alternative to "dropping out"??

[smoo]

I was 22 or 23 when I started LPN school, and am 28 returning for my RN. It was rough then and is rough now. I couldn't imagine trying to do all that in high school. Most teenagers don't even know who they are yet, as they are too buys hanging with the crowd and doing what everyone else is doing. I just don't see a 17 year old walking in to a pt's room and saying I'm your nurse......some of those pateints would just freak out. We see it now with 20 yr old nurses. Don't get me wrong, I realize that there are a few teens who could do and come out awesome nurses, but what about letting a kid be a kid while they can. The world is a cruel harsh place and why place that responsibility on someone so young. It's rough for us old people many days. Not something I would want for my kids. Just my:icon_roll

[NoWaNrN, ASN, RN]

I dont think high school kids have enough responsiblity to be able to do that it just seems crazy they would even try that! I know the vocational schools have CNA, and like dental assistant programs. I am an LPN, I'm not sure what all a medical assistant does but maybe that would be better than the RN. I start school for my RN in Sept The way I have went without some things financially during my LPN program, I don't think thats fair for kids to just be handed this opportunity. The more you have to work for something the more you want it. I dont think this would have a very high sucsess rate IF they could pass the classes, Could they pass the NCLEX? Not when so many adults struggle, and they really study because they have just sank thousands of $ into this.

[NoWaNrN, ASN, RN]

I just have a little more to say. What about the nurse eat there own thing. I am a young LPN (just recently passed boards MAY 26) and some of the nurses are not the friendliest. I dont think 17 and 18 yo RN's could handle this, sometimes I don't feel like it. Why are nurses so mean to each other? I feel really confident in what I do, I don't ask dumb nursing questions, most of mine questions are about facility policies or where do they store this, not anything that makes the other nurses inconvienenced.