10th grader w/ a few questions?

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Hello everyone, I'm new to this site lol. I'm in the 10th grade and I have a few questions. First off before I ask anything, please don't say anything like 'you're too young to be thinking about your future like this'. I have a perfectly normal life and I just want to have a plan for the future hehe.

So, this coming fall I'm going to be doing a dual enrollment program at my school (which is when you do college classes at your nearby community college) and I spoke to one of the counselors at the college. I asked her if I can do any nursing programs at the school and she says I can do a nursing program and graduate with an ADN (I already completed the prerequisites), and I'll be eligible to take the NCLEX-RN when I graduate high school. My goal is to become a CRNA, and I know you need to have a BSN to do it, so this is where my questions come in.

-I know that most jobs want RN's that have at least 1 year experience in a health facility, so will volunteering for 1 year at a local hospital fulfill that requirement?

-After I graduate, what do I do? Should I get a job while doing an RN-BSN program or focus on school?

-I heard most RN-BSN programs are online, so would I be enrolled at a college/university but just do my courses online?

-After I get my BSN, would I just go into a CRNA program?

-Can I get my BSN while doing a CRNA program at the same time?

I know I sound like a tense 16 year old, but trust me I'm not lol. I'm really confused and I asked my counselor these questions and she's just as confused as I am so I want to hear advice from people who actually have an idea about what I should do.

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Congrats on starting early.

Try to get your first job in an ICU as a new graduate RN. ICU experience is required for admission to CRNA programs. If you live in an area where hospitals hire associate degree nurses, that is a great benefit. If the hospitals only hire BSN, you may need to relocate for a job or start your BSN program as soon as able.

If hired as an associate degree nurse, do your BSN online while gaining experience working in the field. You must have a bachelors degree completed before admission to CRNA school.

CRNA schools require at a minimum: bachelors degree, and 1 year ICU experience. Make those your immediate focus. Volunteer experience does not count. You must be an actual employed ICU nurse.

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Hi there! Congrats on starting early and planning ahead! However, I don't think you can begin nursing school before you graduate high school and I also think you have to be 18 for legal reasons to start clinical. I suggest you check with your nursing school for clarification.

This is what I would suggest:

* 1) Shadow an RN in the ICU to see their role, 2) Shadow a CRNA to see if it's what you want to do.

* Take all the prerequisites in high school and get straight A's (I'd also recommend taking what prereqs are required for the RN-BSN program would you do later on - like history, advanced composition, statistics, nutrition, etc).

* Get CNA certified in high school

* Start the Associates program right after graduation

* Get a CNA/tech job in an ICU that you want to work in after graduating.

* Graduate by 19-20, start working in the ICU as an RN.

* Start an online RN-BSN program (I would suggest waiting 1 year after you become an RN so you can completely focus on work).

* Meanwhile, join the American Association of Critical Care Nurses, get certified in critical care, ACLS/PALS certified.

* After you have enough ICU experience, see if you can be a relief charge nurse and also precept new nurses.

* By this point, you will have finished the RN-BSN program (about 1.5-2 years), and also have about 3 years of experience.

* Apply to CRNA school. You would be around 22-23 years old by this point, meaning you could be a CRNA by 25.

Best of luck!!! And I hope this helps.

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Wait, so I just read and re-read your post. When you said that you'll be eligible to take the NCLEX when you graduate high school, at first I thought you were mistaken and/or confusing it with some nursing program admissions test... but now I'm wondering, since you somehow already have prereqs completed for the nursing program... did the community college say that they are actually going to let you start in the nursing program/complete clinical, etc. while still technically a high school student?

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Ill give you an outline of the fastest case scenario.

Graduate HS at 18 with your ADN.

Work for 1 year in an ICU while completing your ADN-BSN online, and shadow a CRNA.

During your 2nd year as an ICU nurse, complete Acls/Pals, CCRN, and become a competent ICU nurse, as well as good employee so that your manager will write you a kick ass letter of recommendation. Joining a few committees wont hurt. Towards the end of your 2nd year, research and apply to CRNA programs.

Continue working in your 3rd year as a nurse until your start date at CRNA school.

So, if everything goes right you could start CRNA school when your 20-21.

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