Graduating High School with ASN

RN9742 · Jun 16, 2014

These are questions you would have to direct to the college you wish to attend. Most dual credit classes however in my experience will only get you a general associates degree so you have less work to do toward a bachelors. Generally they do not work with degree programs. The closest i have heard is a program that allows you to get your CNA, and them transfer into the ADN program after HS graduation.

ATBStudent · Jun 16, 2014

It may take 2 years to get an associates in nursing, but for most people it takes an additional year or two to take all the prerequisites. Take a look at some of the requirements for the programs around you and take those as part of your duel enrollment. Also, it's not just "preferred" to have a BSN...in many places it's required. If time and money is an issue, you're better off spending 4 years on a BSN than taking a year of pre-reqs, 2 years of nursing school, and then 2-3 years for the RN-BSN... Just go all in from the start

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Jun 17, 2014

Something else worth finding out, from the associated college's nursing admissions office, is whether a minor would be allowed to enroll in clinicals. If you would be under 18 years old, I imagine the paperwork/consent nightmare would be a significant obstacle. You have to be able to sign legal documents. And I know you cannot be under 18 years old and obtain a professional license (you would HAVE to be an adult, legally, to be responsible for it).

applesxoranges, BSN, RN · Jun 17, 2014

Well, if you haven't started now the odds of graduating high school as an ADN is slim even if they do let minors into clinicals which my school would not due to the liability to both the minor and the patients.

First would be to find out a realistic time frame for when the school admits students. Most will not automatically admit a student and instead want the student to complete a series of classes beforehand such as anatomy and physiology I & II, microbiology, comp I, comp II, and sometimes there are few other classes such as lifespans, med terminology, and CNA classes but it varies from school to school. Some schools operate under a points system whereas others still use a waiting list. A waiting list could be years long! My original spot on the waiting list was 4 years from my application date but it was moved up constantly till it was about a year and a half because the school was eliminating the waiting list in favor of points system.

My school's points system involved giving points for As and Bs in micro, a&p I, a&p II, comp I, comp II, and lifespans. C grades get zero and it was the first grade not any retakes. Then they gave points for overall GPA. Then the ACT test. Then they gave points based on the TEAS test. I think there may have been one or Then depending on how many points you had, then they ranked everyone. If you ranked high enough they gave you a spot for the next semester months from the ranking date so if you were ranked in January, you were accepted for the fall or in June they ranked for the spring semester. If you did not get accepted, you reapplied.

I know it seems like you would be able to get into the associate degree program before the fall but the odds of that happening are slim. If they do not have a waiting list, they probably have already accepted the students for the fall so the earliest start date would be January. However most colleges and universities I know of either have long waiting lists or they admit based on a similar points system off of the other general education credits and pre-reqs.

A BSN is preferred in most areas. However, a BSN is not a guarantee of a job. I have an ADN and most of the nurses I hired in with have an associate degree. I received two job offers in November before I graduated in an ICU and an ER. I hated the ER job and quit after four months of working and now I am starting an ER job. I was offered other jobs like at a very well known cancer hospital's infusion center which I wanted and I am still receiving calls for interviews.

My advice is to take anatomy I, anatomy II, and microbiology at either the university or at the community college. Make sure it is the level needed for nursing school as there are usually different levels for majors. Take them one at the time so you have plenty of time to study to get the best grades possible. If you want to two classes at the same time, take comp I and comp II. Those grades can make or break getting into nursing school so you really want the best grades. So do it when you don't have to take a full courseload to be viewed as a full-time student and instead can take high school classes at the same time.

meanmaryjean, DNP, RN · Jun 17, 2014

These 'associate degree/ high school diploma' hybrid programs lead to a general 'liberal arts' type diploma.

They do NOT allow you to just enroll in any/ all associate degree programs- particularly unavailable are ALL of the competitive entry programs.

Ziggy2 · Jun 20, 2014

If anything, spend the next two years completing your pre requisite courses for the actual nursing program. Take developmental psych, microbiology, anatomy & physiology, and English. Then you could possibly start nursing classes right after you graduate high school.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Jun 20, 2014

The answer is no. YOu can check but that would be highly unlikely.

You will not be able to continue high school, meet high school graduation requirements, and go to clinical. Today you must be of legal age...18...to obtain licensure. However if your school participates in such a program you will be able to finish most if not all of your prerequisites for nursing school and you might have an associate degree but you will not be able to site for boards without the clinical requirement. You can then go to a nursing school and get your clinical requirement with a lighter class load.

In my area there is a ADN school that allows this and upon completion of high school will allow you to enter the clinical portion of your nursing degree.

happyinmyheart · Jun 20, 2014

I'm assuming this would not work. Most LPN, ADN, and BSN programs have graduating from high school or having a GED as a requirement. However, you could get a huge start on nursing pre reqs!!! if you get enough pre reqs done, I would recommend going straight to a BSN school :)

Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN · Jun 20, 2014

I agree, it wouldn't work. Not only would clinical sites have liability issues with a minor, but nursing school itself is a nearly full-time job when you factor in clinicals and study time. Plus, the clinicals--esp. final internship--could be in violation of labor laws for full-time minor students. Initially you'd have full days in clinical during the week when you're supposed to be in school (high school building). Later when you do the internship, you'll be required to work with your preceptor whenever he/she works--this could be a 12 hour shift, or an 8-hour evening shift after school hours, or an overnight shift before school hours. My mom is an assistant manager for a grocery store so employs a lot of high school students, and she always has to be careful about how many hours she schedules them for during the week.

My advice is to find out what prerequisites the nursing program requires--A&P, microbiology, technical writing, etc.--and get whatever you can taken while in high school. Trust me, you'll be ahead of the game this way! :up:

Spangle Brown · Jun 21, 2014

I don't think it can be done in 2 years. The actual Nursing School will be at least 1.5 years ( 5 terms, including summer) and doesn't include the course required before applying. I just finished completed everything I need to apply to my ADN school, and I only need 1 term to finish my AA. I will finish my AA this fall, and hopefully enter Nursing school for 18 more months. ANd then I will have my ADN

Many of my classmates will be skipping the ADN school and going straight to the local university for their BSN. It will only take them 6 months longer by this route.

applesxoranges, BSN, RN · Jun 21, 2014

Just a word of advice, find out if it will affect your financial aid to graduate with an associates degree before going to nursing school. I know some people have had issues with getting financial aid due to a previous degree. I would talk and get it in writing before graduating.