I'm 16 with a GED

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Hi, I'm 16 with a GED and I want to become a licensed practical nurse. However, I have to wait until I'm 18 to go to school to be one. I was wondering what should I do until I'm eligible to be apart of a practical nursing program? Should I take lpn prerequisites or would I still be too young to start an lpn program once I finish the lpn preresquites?

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Specializes in Nursing Management.

I would start at a junior college and take pre requisites in the mean time. Why LPN vs RN?

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Hi, I want to go to school to be an lpn not an rn. Would the preresquites take 2 years to complete so I could be apart of an lpn program right after I complete the preresquites?

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Specializes in School Nursing.

Hello,

I am an LVN working in a high school. I know you have your GED, but you might be able to start a C.N.A program at another school through a ROP class or something. While it's not required to be a C.N.A before LVN, it is recommended to get your start there to be exposed to patients and just how the medical field works. It looks really good on your applications to say you started out C.N.A and went on to LVN. Where I am from, it's alot of competition to get hired as an L.V.N.

Good luck :)

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I've been looking into C.N.A programs to do in the mean time.

Thank you for your reply and help. :)

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

Many states you must be 18 to be a CNA & work as you cannot agree to confidentiality agreements until age 18. You could spend the next two years doing pre-reqs for an RN program and start at age 1&

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I will look into that also.

Thank you for replying and giving me some advice í ½í¸Š

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Many states you must be 18 to be a CNA & work as you cannot agree to confidentiality agreements until age 18. You could spend the next two years doing pre-reqs for an RN program and start at age 1&

I will look into that also.

Thank you for replying and for your help :)

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Specializes in Reproductive & Public Health.

I'd encourage you to consider going for your RN, because you are young and have plenty of time. LPNs are awesome, but an associate's or bachelor's degree in nursing will make it easier for you to advance your education/career in the future, if you choose to do so. It will also give you many more job opportunities and greater earning potential.

Whatever you decide, I second the idea of getting CNA training (if your age allows, I have no idea). Also, lots of programs give weight to community service/volunteering, so that would be a good thing to consider. We have high school students volunteer in my LDRP unit frequently- they answer the phone and help families find their way around, put together charts, file papers, fetch things from other units, etc. You could get certified in CPR and basic first aid. Getting prereqs done is the most important thing. You could be halfway to a bachelor's degree by the time you are 18.

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I'd encourage you to consider going for your RN, because you are young and have plenty of time. LPNs are awesome, but an associate's or bachelor's degree in nursing will make it easier for you to advance your education/career in the future, if you choose to do so. It will also give you many more job opportunities and greater earning potential.

Whatever you decide, I second the idea of getting CNA training (if your age allows, I have no idea). Also, lots of programs give weight to community service/volunteering, so that would be a good thing to consider. We have high school students volunteer in my LDRP unit frequently- they answer the phone and help families find their way around, put together charts, file papers, fetch things from other units, etc. You could get certified in CPR and basic first aid. Getting prereqs done is the most important thing. You could be halfway to a bachelor's degree by the time you are 18.

Hi, I looked into going to a local university for a Bachelor's degree in nursing and the minimum age requirements were 18. They also said since I was a traditional age student and I haven't been out of school 5 years or more with a GED, I couldn't attend the school. I checked a technical school to get a associates degree in nursing but I have to wait until I'm 17 to apply. I will be 17 in a few months so that is something I will definitely consider.

Thank you for replying and giving me some advice :)

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Specializes in ICU, trauma.

I would encourage you to start school right now starting with your prereqs. This would be if you go the BSN route, maybe you could pick up a biology/psych minor or even major since a lot of the classes over lap

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Specializes in Flight Nursing, Emergency, Forensics, SANE, Trauma.

You could try to get a certification as an EMT. Check your state's DOH and see what the minimum age is. I started the class when I was 17 but I think you can practice at that age.

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