High school student wanting to be a nurse!

rph3664 · Jun 16, 2008

Bump!

I'm not a nurse but certainly know plenty of them, and since it's summer, you might want to contact your local community college and inquire about their CNA (certified nursing assistant) program. Around here, it's about 8 weeks and is mostly on-the-job training. Some employers will even pay for your training. This would be a perfect way to find out if it really is what you want to do. There is NO substitute for hands-on experience!

You also need to take plenty of science classes like biology and chemistry. Math is needed as well, and taking physics wouldn't be a bad idea either. If you can't fit them in your high school schedule, you can take them at any college once you get there.

elizabeth8503RN, MSN, EMT-B, NP · Jun 16, 2008

I started right out of high school too. It was difficult, but it is doable. Nursing is not for everyone. rph3664 is definately right, you should try to get your your CNA license and see if you like it. I was a CNA for 2 1/2 yrs, worked as an LPN for 7 mo, and have been an RN for close to 2 years now, and I have loved just about every min of it.

kdkout, BSN, RN · Jun 17, 2008

Hi;

First get a CNA (nurse assistant) job in an area of nursing that you think you may want to do, so you can see what the job is actually like....OR ....see if you can "shadow" a nurse for a shift to see what it's like. I've been a RN for 13 years and have my BSN. College is necessary but not very realistic; you learn on the job more than anything.

I love that I'm not bored and even if I do get bored, I just switch to an area of nursing that's new for me...it's like changing careers. I like that I can do overtime to earn more money (unlike teachers for example). I see tangible results for what I do - so I do feel like I'm making a difference. There are always jobs somewhere; job security is a good thing to have.

What do I not like? It's HARD working nights when you've been up with your kids all day and then have to work all night. It's hard getting yelled at by physicians who are supposed to be on the same team as you. It's hard getting yelled at by stressed out families. Your back will hurt. You risk getting scary diseases. Since nursing is still largely a female profession, sometimes it can be difficult working with women who can be catty when also under stress.

If you want to be a nurse, go for it....but do try to learn what you are really getting into before you spend all the time and money. There are times I really LOVE what I do and there are times that a job at Barnes and Noble sounds pretty good.

I do know that I make a positive difference which is basically why I went into nursing....but you have to know that inside of you. I can nearly kill myself caring for patients and families who never say thank you.

Good luck!

SunnyAndrsn · Jun 17, 2008

I need to have the desire, first of all, to help people. Everyone from the adorable good smelling babies to the crazy, smelly men who need help going to the bathroom--or actually need to be changed. Poo happens, especially in nursing.

Since you are young, you may want to think about working as a nursing assistant after you turn 18.

Nursing is a huge responsibility, and with that comes stress. You are a teacher to your patients, an advocate, you need to be able to stand up for your patients to their families. You'll be working with an entire team to provide comprehensive care to your patients.

What kind of nursing interests you? Do you want to work in a hospital? With children? Moms and new babies? This is just the tip of the iceburg with the kind of nursing that's available! Go to the Specialty area of this forum and just see what's out there.

It's also very rewarding, when a patient tells you "Bless you, I love you!" and very discouraging when patients says "You're all so stupid here!". Every helping profession has these aspects. You must have a heart for helping people.

:heartbeat

Hello all. I have been coming to these boards for the last few months, and have found them very interesting. I am currently 17 years old living in Michigan and very interested in going into the field of nursing after high school. I was wondering if some of you could help me by simply listing some pros and cons of why nursing would be a great field to get into. Also, it would be great if you could give an exaple of what you do on a usual day as a nurse. How flexible your working schedule is, how stressful nursing can be, etc. Any information would be useful. Thank you.

jessi1106, BSN, RN · Jun 17, 2008

Nursing duties/schedules/stress vary greatly depending on the job.

I would contact nurse recruitment at a larger local hospital and set up shadowing a nurse or nurses in your areas of potential interest.

We have had high school students shadowing on our floor.

Good luck to you!

ProLogic · Jun 17, 2008

Wait I'm confused.. Do you have to get your LVN before you get your RN degree? Can someone be kind enough to break it down for me?

kdkout, BSN, RN · Jun 17, 2008

Wait I'm confused.. Do you have to get your LVN before you get your RN degree? Can someone be kind enough to break it down for me?

NO....You CAN be an LVN first if you want to....then an RN

OR you can just go straight through to become an RN...either by ADN or BSN degrees.

greenjanell · Jun 17, 2008

i agree with getting your CNA. but when it comes down to it, go straight to RN school. being an LPN gives you a ton of experience, but if you want to be an RN, LPN school is expensive, and when you are done you will not want to go back to get your RN. (the thought of being a nursing student all over again is terrifying after you are finally done).

i was an LPN for 5 years before getting my RN. I graduated LPN school when i was 20. and then RN school when i was 25. those 5 years of experience made me a better nurse, but i would have had 5 years of experience anyway as an RN had i gone to school to be an RN first.

call your local hospital and ask to shadow an RN at the hospital and in what unit you are interested in (ER, ICU, Med surg, NICU, PICU, SICU, OR). most are willing to let you do that.

kdkout, BSN, RN · Jun 17, 2008

i agree with getting your CNA. but when it comes down to it, go straight to RN school. being an LPN gives you a ton of experience, but if you want to be an RN, LPN school is expensive, and when you are done you will not want to go back to get your RN. (the thought of being a nursing student all over again is terrifying after you are finally done).
i was an LPN for 5 years before getting my RN. I graduated LPN school when i was 20. and then RN school when i was 25. those 5 years of experience made me a better nurse, but i would have had 5 years of experience anyway as an RN had i gone to school to be an RN first.
call your local hospital and ask to shadow an RN at the hospital and in what unit you are interested in (ER, ICU, Med surg, NICU, PICU, SICU, OR). most are willing to let you do that.

I agree.

I was a CNA while in RN school and always had the nurses explain stuff and let me see stuff....that helped a lot. Doing a job shadow is HIGHLY recommended.....and do it in a few different areas of nursing if you can....there's really a difference between jobs.

SunnyAndrsn · Jun 18, 2008

When I started NS, I started in the winter term. There is an entire summer (2008) between my third and fourth semesters. Because of this, I decided to take my licensing boards so I could work as an LPN/LVN and increase my comfort with patient care, as well as keep brushed up on my skills.

At my school, you are eligible to take the LPN/LVN licensing boards after your first year is completed. It's not a requirement. Does that help?

Wait I'm confused.. Do you have to get your LVN before you get your RN degree? Can someone be kind enough to break it down for me?