future_nurse_parent

Thank you all. These are exactly the kinds of responses I was seeking. I do believe a strong academic foundation will take him wherever he wants, so I'm leaning more toward him staying in his present school. He can take AP Biology, Anatomy/Physiology, Psychology, Microbiology, Nutrition, and some technical classes. I'm in the IT industry myself, but he has very little technical education. I believe no matter what field you enter, you need more and more computer skills and knowledge than the previous generation. There's so much that his current school offers that will provide him a more rounded education. I'll talk to him more this evening.

My son (age 15) has been talking about medical school for years and now Nursing. There is a vocational program offered at the highschool level that will allow them to be CNA certified after one year. That program can be taken Junior or Senior year. We're now trying to decide whether he'll jump toward that program (it's half a day for a year) or continue his other studies. He's in the TAG program, takes a lot of AP coursework, and excels in most subjects (not foreign language!). If he moves toward the vocational program, it will drastically affect his class choices. If he continues with his regular school, he'll keep harassing the counselor for AP Bio and Anatomy and Physiology. I'll think he'll have some Dual Enrollment opportunities in 12th grade, too. I'm trying to do everything I can to encourage him in these pursuits. I'm a single parent and quite literally in the midst of a fight for his life with the ex-family. He needs self-confidence and knowledge that he's going in the right direction. I know that he needs to be able to stand on his own asap to withstand family pressures to be unsuccessful at life. Yes, you read that right. So my questions - what direction should he take? From previous discussions, I don't think CNA is what he's aiming for. A lot of posting I've read online said CNAs land in nursing homes with low pay and butt wiping certifications? Hmmm. Is that typical? He hasn't read those postings, thank goodness. :) He has talked extensively about traveling, peace corps, doctors without borders, etc. Should he aim for an RN or other certification/degree? Is there a good site that lays out all the various certifications, typical skills used, % of day doing what, salaries, and more? We've talked a little about whether he might want to shoot for a Physician Asst degree/cert, too. He would not do well in a highly competitive area, so I don't think anything MD is wise. Finally, I'd like to keep him busy over the upcoming school breaks. What sort of volunteer or paid opportunities exist for his age? Maybe reading to patients in nursing homes? I'd like him to have some exposure to the atmosphere of medical workplaces.