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. :)

Wow....I am so upset about this. I have been trying to get accepted into a damn school for so long now for a RN program. I am now trying to decide if I should become a LPN or build up the my GPA to get into a school. This really upsets me.

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Wow....I am so upset about this. I have been trying to get accepted into a damn school for so long now for a RN program. I am now trying to decide if I should become a LPN or build up the my GPA to get into a school. This really upsets me.

Don't let it upset you. This featherbrained idea going to die a quick, quiet death. You watch.

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i don't think this will go through, so i am not upset about that...i'm annoyed at the way society sees nursing. i have never meet anyone that has said "wow you're in school for nursing!"...like it was impressive. most people have no idea how hard it is to become a nurse and how hard it is to be a nurse. i feel like people see it as a "lower" profession..like if you were really smart you'd be a doctor....that kind of mentality. :eek: uuugh.

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Specializes in ORTHOPAEDICS-CERTIFIED SINCE 89.

Hey it took me 12 years after HS to become an RN. :)

I don't think the 5th year of high school is a "good" idea for something as technicaly/professionally and maturely challenging as being a Nurse.

We too used to have LPN vocational schools in high school. I think they've all given way to the Jr College/Tec schools.

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As I've posted previously, I don't see this going anywhere, either. Way too much against it.

But the thing that gets me most of all, when recalling that Governor's words, was that he saw this as a way of stemming the rate at which students drop out of high school. As an alternative to dropping out!

I can see the school guidance counselors now: "Hey, you don't have to drop out of school, stick around for just a bit more and you can be a nurse!"

Hmmm, Burger King or hospital nurse....decisions decisions....

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Specializes in NICU.

I don't think the governor meant it that way, though. I remember being in high school and how bored I was. It felt like I was wasting my time and just being babysat because it was mandated by law. (And I took Honors and AP courses.) I really think that if they spent more time teaching trades/vocations to those who are bored and don't feel that their lives are going anywhere, those kids might stay in school and out of trouble.

Now, having said that, I still don't think they should be offering RN programs in this venue. There are lots of things that can be taught this way and I can see it being successful if it were done correctly with the right programs. Wouldn't you love it if more teenagers felt like they had a purpose and were really moving toward independence? Right now, a lot of them feel like their choices are Burger King or college/trade schools they can't/will never afford or qualify for.

DeLySh

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I think it is great that there are healthcare classes in high school that allow you to become a CNA. I don't agree with the 5 year high school..............

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Specializes in LTC, MDS Cordnator, Mental Health.
I don't think the governer meant it that way, though. I remember being in high school and how bored I was. It felt like I was wasting my time and just being babysat because it was mandated by law. (And I took Honors and AP courses.) I really think that if they spent more time teaching trades/vocations to those who are bored and don't feel that their lives are going anywhere, those kids might stay in school and out of trouble.

Now, having said that, I still don't think they should be offering RN programs in this venue. There are lots of things that can be taught this way and I can see it being successful if it were done correctly with the right programs. Wouldn't you love it if more teenagers felt like they had a purpose and were really moving toward independence? Right now, a lot of them feel like their choices are Burger King or college/trade schools they can't afford.

DeLySh

I agree100% ... this would work for is LPN, MED Assist. Surg Tech. I am sure there are More, We do this in MN. with Post secondary, We had one High school Student Graduate as an LPN and High School the same month. My son recieved 2 diplomas from College and and graduated from high school the same Month. the state pays for it. They are now offering college level classes in the high school that offer college credit.

and i do agree that RN would not work. I am also sure that the Gov. is not aware of the level of knowlege needed to become an RN as well as the level of maturity. MY 2 cents.

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NO it would NOT work for an LPN. Many other vocations yes...say accounting, or computer tech...CNA would be about the only medically involved thing I can think of.

We lost a mother of 5 in clinicals cause she tried to give insulin in muscle. Lost another because she gave a double dose of heart meds and 1/2 dose of B/P meds. Not because of the med errors, but because she was unconcerned...with an "o well" attitude. Good Grief, I can't imagine having kids being responsible for lives. Isn't that why they can't buy alcohol? They are not responsible enough to be able to trust with a can of beer, why on earth would we put them in charge of life maintaining drugs???

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Specializes in EC, IMU, LTAC.

I'm all for high schools offering A&P I&II, microbiology, psych, and other prereq classes at the AP/IB level, but not past that.

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Specializes in LTC, MDS Cordnator, Mental Health.
NO it would NOT work for an LPN. Many other vocations yes...say accounting, or computer tech...CNA would be about the only medically involved thing I can think of.

We lost a mother of 5 in clinicals cause she tried to give insulin in muscle. Lost another because she gave a double dose of heart meds and 1/2 dose of B/P meds. Not because of the med errors, but because she was unconcerned...with an "o well" attitude. Good Grief, I can't imagine having kids being responsible for lives. Isn't that why they can't buy alcohol? They are not responsible enough to be able to trust with a can of beer, why on earth would we put them in charge of life maintaining drugs???

THAT suprises me as our Clinical instructers stood right beside us and watched our every move. These kids have to be the top of their Class and they have the same stringent standards that every other college student. she is now 18 and works at the same Nursing home that I do and she is very presice. the other Older nurses complaine because she finds there mistakes. we have an RN Graduate that has not taken her boards yet and I Cringe when i have to work behind her she is very sloppy and her only goal is to get done as fast as possible. AND if High School is turned into a five year program then these LPNs will be the same age as alot of them now. so that is a moot argument. This is my Experience

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I don't think the governer meant it that way, though. I remember being in high school and how bored I was. It felt like I was wasting my time and just being babysat because it was mandated by law. (And I took Honors and AP courses.) I really think that if they spent more time teaching trades/vocations to those who are bored and don't feel that their lives are going anywhere, those kids might stay in school and out of trouble.

Now, having said that, I still don't think they should be offering RN programs in this venue. There are lots of things that can be taught this way and I can see it being successful if it were done correctly with the right programs. Wouldn't you love it if more teenagers felt like they had a purpose and were really moving toward independence? Right now, a lot of them feel like their choices are Burger King or college/trade schools they can't/will never afford or qualify for.

DeLySh

What you say is true. I just want to make sure it is clear that I was not refuting the fact that there are benefits of certain vocational skills taught during high. I was simply stating that the idea of RN programs being offered at high schools was unexpected. I don’t think the governor intended to purposefully insult RNs with his uninformed comments… but that does not change the fact that his statements can be interpreted as slightly disrespectful to the nursing profession (depending on how you look at).

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