High School Grad wants to be a nurse

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Hey everyone, let me start off by saying i am absolutely delighted that i found this website out. It has given me a lot of answers to my oh so many questions.

Before getting into details on why i posted this new thread i would like to tell you all a little about myself. I am 18 years old and getting ready to graduate high school this Friday with a 3.2 GPA( i slacked off most of my high school career cause i didn't know what i wanted to do in life). I will be attending Community college this upcoming fall and which i will be receiving my a.a degree and also do all my pre-req for the RN program they currently have. Okay enough about me lets get down to the nitty gritty.

I will be voulenteering (have my interview june 1'st) at my local hospital and i will bring up the fact that i would one day like to work as a nurse and not only am i using this opportunity to help others im also using it to help myself. First question first, Would it be to ambigious for me to ask about becoming part of the staff (cause i really need a job and the experience)?

I also wanted to know about what it takes to become a CNA in the state of Florida, Would it be reasonable to apply at nursing homes without a license? is their even a point to that?

I appreaciate all the input everyone is able to offer me and will try to do my best to take them all into consideration.

Thank you for reading,

Goodnight and God Bless

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Specializes in DOU.

You are only 18! I suspect whomever you are interviewing with will expect that you want to move into a career in the medical field. I would tell them you plan to volunteer, and eventually be a CNA, and then plan to work your way through nursing school. It's great to see young adults with a plan!

Ask the hospital about CNA training. Some hospitals will do it, and if not, check with the college.

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Thank you very much for responding, and as a matter of fact i will make a note of telling them about eventually settling into a CNA position and hopefully that will lead to me asking them if they would help me train for such said position.

Thanks again, this website is helping me out already.

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The Red Cross does CNA training where I live so I'm sure they do it everywhere. If your hospital doesn't do the training you can call them. My class was 5 weeks, 800.00, and worth every cent!

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Specializes in OR.

its absolutely worth working in a hospital as a CNA.

above all else, it makes you more comfortable working with people and their basic needs. i'll be honest, i really hated changing patients and... well, you know... cleaning them up... but after my externship at a hospital, it was like second nature. i could carry on just small talk and also meaningful conversations while helping patients getting cleaned up and changed. it kept my mind off the grossness of things, and im sure it made them more comfortable knowing that i didn't mind doing it for them!

also, if you can get your foot in a door in a hospital as a CNA, chances are you'll be able to work there when you DO graduate nursing school!

good luck to you! enjoy the ride, its a fun and interesting one :p

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I didnt even realize red cross did that, is their a program in Sarasota or orlando florida? I went to their main website and it only provided information about courses taking place in Maryland.

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Specializes in ICU/UM.

Nursing homes are probably your best bet for free training but be aware it usually comes with a work commitment to that facility. You'll get paid to go to training instead of paying for it, though, at least around here. :yeah:

I took mine through the Red Cross, too. It was online with two weeks of in class skills and clinicals. Cost around $500. Google for your closest local office.

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I didnt even realize red cross did that, is their a program in Sarasota or orlando florida? I went to their main website and it only provided information about courses taking place in Maryland.

I went in person to the red cross near my house to get info and register. What I suggest is to look them up in the phone book to find one local to you and then call them or stop by to see when the next class starts.

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Welcome to the site! When I got certified as a CNA...a friend had told me about a nearby nursing home doing the classes. So that's what I did....I honestly don't remember how long the program was (this was 10 years ago...holy crap)....but I think it's like a couple months. It was paid training and then I went to the local technical school for the test. This was in KY (my husband was stationed there in the military). But back here in NY...they do the same thing....training is at various nursing homes and I think hospitals too. Good luck!

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Dude go for it

A 21 year old graduated from my school this semester, and she has a fellowship in ICU (before she actually got pinned) waiting for her

She has ALLLLLLLLLL my respect.

ALSO during clinical, one of the best nurses I ever worked with was this 23 year old. She was smart, she knew her stuff, and I could only hope to fill her shoes one day. She said when she was in school, she would ask for the most difficult patients to absorb as much experience before she graduated. Great nurse.

I attempted nursing school at 18, pre reqs kicked my ass, I almost lost my brother so here I am 7 years later finally getting there. I can smell the finish line.

I only wish I had the focus, and uhhh focus to do this sooner. Good luck to you.

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