Right out of high school.....

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Nov 28, 2007

I was rather mature at age 18, and could appreciate the value of human life. Some 18 year-olds are mature, whereas others are not. Some 18 year-olds would make wonderful LPNs/LVNs due to their maturity and caring, while others would be better served by different options.

Perhaps a psychological test should be conjured up to ensure that the future LPN/LVN has enough emotional maturity to handle the job in the real world of nursing.

suzanne4, RN · Nov 28, 2007

If you look at how things were done in the realm of the RN for years, RNs got their training right out of high school and then two years later were an RN.

Whether someone gets their training their senior year or attends school the following year really does not make a difference. As long as they have attained the required number of hours for both clinicals and theory then it should not matter.

Some practical nursing classes does not get someone a license, they need to complete and approved program.

harley007 · Nov 28, 2007

I graduated high school @ 17y/o went directly to LPN school graduated @18y/o. I worked one year as a LPN and then to RN school graduating an "older" student @23. Still working 36 years later.

MedicalLPN, LPN · Nov 28, 2007

I went through a CNA course when I was a junior in high school then began an 18 month LPN course through the vocational school when I was a senior, I'm 19 now and an LPN. It was a wonderful opprutunity for me because I knew nursing was my calling and I was able to work part time as a CNA while finishing high school and the LPN program, also due to family finances it would have been extremely difficult for me to have gone to college to become a nurse. At least now I can support myself and my way through school. I love nursing and have no regrets in the decisions I have made. It's funny though because I'm the youngest nurse on my unit so I get teased for being the baby nurse lol

Katnip, RN · Nov 28, 2007

Back when dinosaurs roamed the Earth, my high school had the same type of program.

In junior and senior years we could take vocational training, and if we wanted, additional academic classes. On graduation you could sit for the state licensing exam for LPNs.

There were other vocational programs as well. I think cosmetology and auto mechanics were popular at the time.

It seemed to me that those who went into the nursing program were mature for their age and willing to take on a lot of responsibility at the time. And some were 17 when they became licensed because they were that young when they graduated.

joprasklpn · Nov 29, 2007

Sure, why not. If they take and pass the exam and can prove basic skills they should get a chance. In this day and age jobs are hard to come by and nursing sure needs help. I wish this would have been around when I was in high school I could have saved alot of money.