18 y/o RN!

[PMFB-RN]

Last week while at work I met a very bright young woman. I noticed how young she looked and that her name badge said RN so I had to ask.

She is 18 years old. She graduated at age 17 from a 2 year LPN program her high school had. She then went directly to one of Wisconsin's technical colleges and got her ADN in 9 months. She currently works in a critical care unit of a large hospital and tells me she is enrolled in an online RN to BSN program. She wants to become a travel nurse after she gets a couple years in critical care and her BSN. By then she should be the ripe old age of 20 with a BSN and two years critical care experience! Her long term goal is to become a CRNA or FNP.

I admire her ambition and wish I had had my act so together at such a young age.

[kito4149]

U GO GIRLS!!!!!! Wish I had that opportunity @ 18!!!!!:balloons:

[PMFB-RN, RN]

Last week while at work I met a very bright young woman. I noticed how young she looked and that her name badge said RN so I had to ask.

She is 18 years old. She graduated at age 17 from a 2 year LPN program her high school had. She then went directly to one of Wisconsin's technical colleges and got her ADN in 9 months. She currently works in a critical care unit of a large hospital and tells me she is enrolled in an online RN to BSN program. She wants to become a travel nurse after she gets a couple years in critical care and her BSN. By then she should be the ripe old age of 20 with a BSN and two years critical care experience! Her long term goal is to become a CRNA or FNP.

I admire her ambition and wish I had had my act so together at such a young age.

*** Just wanted to update you all on this young lady. She finished two years in our 24 bed SICU as well as an online RN to BSN and has been accepted to CRNA school. She starts in May 2010 (she will be 21 years old). She just left on a travel assingment in San Diego Ca. She plans to complete two 13 week travel assingments then take some time off before starting CRNA school in May. She is still single despite several surgical residents falling all over her for the last two years.

[SamAcct]

If I would have stuck with Nursing when I first started college instead of chickening out and changing majors, I would have finished at 19. But now looks like I should be finishing up and starting as an RN at 23 (with an unrelated Bachelor's degree under my belt as well) and I feel like a partial failure for finishing it so late.. If I had been determined enough the first time I would be done by now..

Some of us aren't as worried about partying as getting an education. I personally just love learning. I have gone to college every summer since my junior year of HS. Of course I have the occasional girls night out..But who doesn't?

I can relate, I'm in accounting and now going back to school to get my AAS-RN. It took me all this while (I'm 29) to finally "find" what I really want to do. I really admire people who know what to do from an early age, kudos to all of you RN young'ins!

[SamAcct]

I'm feeling extremely stupid right now.

lol! :chuckle Don't be, at least you have 12 yrs of experience!

[ChristyRN2009]

I admire her determination. I wouldn't have wanted to work in such a stressful and demanding field. I had too many social things to work out.

[invisigoth]

I'm feeling extremely stupid right now.

I'm glad I'm not the only one feeling that way right now.

[gt4everpn, BSN, RN]

thats awesome.. I was a 17 year old LPN 3 years ago.. next summer I will be graduating with my RN- BSN at 21 y/o YAY!!!

[diane227, LPN, RN]

Please don't take this the wrong way, but I do not want someone this young taking care of me. Her being so young and having so little experience just scares me.

[Dee_RN]

WOW!!!!! I thought I was young, Graduated at barely 21. Knowing this makes me feel better because I am very apprehensive of starting work, I hope that the patients/families trust me enough to care for them. I just have this crazy fear that when I walk into the patients room they will immediately turn me around. (Laughing at myself at how silly it sounds, but I still feel that way)

[One2gofst]

All you young grads, one piece of advice. I commend you on taking charge and getting everything squared away so young. You now have a tremendous opportunity in front of you. Be aware that you are making a good deal of money for someone your age.

DON'T SPEND IT. Of course you need to live, but if you are making $50k/yr you have a tremendous opportunity in front of you. Even if you are making less, you still do. The biggest factor in wealth at retirement is how much and how early you start conributing to your retirement. If your employers have matching contibutions in your 401k or 403b, definitely maximize this. In addition I would urge you to look at putting your $5k into a Roth IRA each year. With your young age, that will be worth significant amounts when you retire and the Roth earnings will be tax-free.

I understand it is easy to live the high life when you are young, have minimal obligations and are making good money. Have fun, but pay yourself first, right off the top.

Just for reference, I am 29 and about to start my ABSN. I thank God every day that, when I had a good job out of school, I invested in my retirement. Even in this downturn I have a nest egg of more than my former annual salary, which I fully expect to grow when the market gets stronger. The only regret I have is that I didn't put away more, and I still lived very well.

Congrats to all you go-getters. Keep up the great work and help yourselves in every way possible.

BTW, I know this OP is years old, but it was bumped and my advice is worth noting to any young person making a living. It has given me the opportunity to now go back to school and do something that really excites me.