Does this bother you?

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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. :)

Specializes in Med/Surg, Geriatrics.

It's a very bad idea but it is clear that the governor is badly mistaken about the education required to become an RN. I don't see how you can reasonably combine a high school education and an associate's degree. As it has already been pointed out, there is a certain amount of maturity necessary in being a successful nurse. It's not going to happen.

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Specializes in Day Surgery/Infusion/ED.
It just sounds funny. Saving lives and giving medications (sometimes narcs) but you still have 2 or 3 years left before you can legally drink.

LOL! You can also take a bullet for your country, but you can't have a beer.

New teen nurse, talking to a friend:

"So I was like taking care of this man last night? Who had a bad heart? And I walked in his room and I was like 'Oh my God! He looks bad!' So I got another nurse and she was like 'Call a code!' And I was like 'What kind of code!' And she was like really mad? Because I didn't know? And then all these people came running to the room yelling and then one guy shocked the man and I was like 'Oh my God!' It was like, way cool."

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We can thank the nursing professional organizations and boards of nursing for this plan not becoming a reality. Nurses prepared this way will still have to fulfill the required course of study laid out by the board and pass the NCLEX. And if they can create a plan for teens to do this in five years -- well, more power to them. (Imagine what they attrition rate for this program would be if standards were maintained, or the NCLEX failure rate if they weren't.)

I'm still not clear why the governor thinks this is a good idea. He should be supporting accessible, inexpensive community colleges, not extended vocational high schools.

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Specializes in Education, Acute, Med/Surg, Tele, etc.

I do think there is a level of maturity needed in Nursing that you definately don't have being a high schooler. Sure there are some very mature high schoolers, but still...there is something to be said of experiences as you mature that are definately in your favor as a nurse.

For instance, when I was in high school I was still learning about myself! And I really needed a very strong foundation in and about myself in order to become the strong nurse I am today! I needed to know my personal goals, my limitations, how I learn, my feelings on death/dying/medical ethics...and believe me, it was enhanced the more I matured! I had to learn to CHOOSE my battles rather than just blindly confront them, I had to learn to be a good advocate and know which hoops to jump through in order to help pts through this world of rules rules rules. I needed experience with medical issues and ethics in order to form my opinions, and maturity enough to know that my own opinions are flexible and can change! AND...that you don't become a nurse studying books...you becomes one with experience~!

I just don't feel that high school students have that much maturity within them to sucessfully take on the world of nursing at that age. There is something to be said of being a bit more mature and older ;).

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We can thank the nursing professional organizations and boards of nursing for this plan not becoming a reality. Nurses prepared this way will still have to fulfill the required course of study laid out by the board and pass the NCLEX. And if they can create a plan for teens to do this in five years -- well, more power to them. (Imagine what they attrition rate for this program would be if standards were maintained, or the NCLEX failure rate if they weren't.)

I'm still not clear why the governor thinks this is a good idea. He should be supporting accessible, inexpensive community colleges, not extended vocational high schools.

Amen.

Now that I think about it, I think I just felt a little insulted by the governor's comments. There were several different newspapers that published that article, so I'm sure there were many people who don't know much about the profession who read it. To me, it just reinforced the ideas that the general public has (at least where I live) which are A) Nurses are barely educated. B) The education requirements for nursing are undemanding, just as the occupation itself. C) Nurses are lucky to get paid as much as they do because- see A and B.

I don't think it is feasible, but a few people I have talked to (non-nurses) think it is a great idea to help kids stay in school. Only time will tell and I'm pretty sure this won't come to pass, but just the thought of it concerned me.

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Specializes in Peds Cardiology,Peds Neuro,Pedi ER,PICU, IV Jedi.
It just sounds funny. Saving lives and giving medications (sometimes narcs) but you still have 2 or 3 years left before you can legally drink.

Why's that??...Army medics have been doing it for years:rolleyes:

Now back to the topic...

Baaad idea. And what better way to justify lowering the pay of RNs than to say that it can be done with little more than a HS education.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

It is clear from the article that:

1. the Gov has no idea the educational requirements that go into being an RN. The Gov was talking off the top of his head and any feasibility study would rule this out.

2. He is pushing a political position for his re-election campaign and the whole mention of RNs is politics that has nothing to do with RNs. If you want to sell a program, you aim high. If elected, I can get your children 50k/yr jobs right out of h.s. Sounds like politics, eh? In a weird way, it's a compliment. When this Gov thought of the best way to push his program, he thought about RNs.

~faith,

Timothy.

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It is clear from the article that:

1. the Gov has no idea the educational requirements that go into being an RN. The Gov was talking off the top of his head and any feasibility study would rule this out.

2. He is pushing a political position for his re-election campaign and the whole mention of RNs is politics that has nothing to do with RNs. If you want to sell a program, you aim high. If elected, I can get your children 50k/yr jobs right out of h.s. Sounds like politics, eh? In a weird way, it's a compliment. When this Gov thought of the best way to push his program, he thought about RNs.

~faith,

Timothy.

Good points. My feelings aren't as hurt now.

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Specializes in LTC, MDS Cordnator, Mental Health.

one of the reasons it is so hard to get into a school to become an RN is the shortage of qualified teachers. that needs to be address 1st.

we had a fairly decent RN program but the College made it manditory to have a masters Degree to teach in that facility it decimated the program.

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I'm 22yrs of age in my pre-nursing RN studies. My mom has been in health care for a long time. She thought it would be best for my 17yr old sister who just graduated out of highschool to start a LPN program. My sister is having a baby in Jan. So my mom thought it would be best to start after she has her child. If she finishes the LPN program she will only be 19 with boards done as a LPN. I agree with you guys as far as maturity and nursing. I don't believe my sister is mature enough to make it through schooling. I mean what 17-19yr old on the average will study? Its not many,exactly! I know when I was 19 I was still trying to find out what I wanted to do in life. At 20 is when I started developing college credit. Now that I'm 22 I'm more ready for a RN lincense than ever. The course work,coming to class,and studying wont work for any average teen. I'm sure we don't have to worry about this being a effect. Many won't make it,lol.

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Specializes in Telemetry, OR, ICU.

I wonder what stance the National League of Nursing [the accrediting body for nursing education programs] is going to take regards to this Govenor's idea?

I can see this being doable for programs like MAs, Scrub Techs, EMTs, and maybe LVNs. However, the idea of a 17 or 18 year old RN working in something like critical care is a little far fetched, IMHO.

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Specializes in Medical Telemetry, LTC,AlF, Skilled care.

I have to admit I can see both sides of the story, I just turned 18 two weeks ago am half way through the LPN program and am a CNA working two jobs. I love nursing, every aspect of it. I just recently was hired at a local hospital for a flex time CNA position and I'm SO excited but one thing I am nervous about is that with me being so young that I'll be shunned from other staff members. That really isn't fair, yes many teenagers are irresponsible and hell raisers but some of us can be just as caring and deliver just as good of patient care as older nurses/nursing assistants.

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