16 Years Old : Want to be the first in my Family to Go to College

[Nurse Beth, MSN]

Dear Nurse Beth,

I am a 16 year old and am thinking about doing a degree in nursing. I am about to oversee a nurse in their field soon, but i think nursing is for me. I have a question about whether or not i should do a 2+2 program or a bridge program or a minor and a major? I want to know your opinion. I want to have a college experience, that is something no one in my family has, but is it a waste of money to do it?

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Dear Thinking About Nursing,

Education is not a waste of money. It is the best investment you will ever make. Get your college degree, and a BSN in nursing. Community colleges offer general education courses at very reasonable costs, and you can then apply to a BSN nursing program at a university. State universities are low priced as well.

So:

• Keep your grades up now
  
• Take your pre-requisites the first and second year of college
  
• Apply to a BSN nursing program.
  

You will change the standard and expectations for your family forever. Keep your grades up !

Best wishes,

Nurse Beth

[Ludie]

Dear 16 year old me, I wish I researched this and did what you are about to do...11 years later-I am the first to graduate in my family with a BSN!!! What Beth advised is what I did to get here. I graduated Aug 2016. Apply for scholarships, financial aid (ahead of time), keep up those grades-it's competitive to get in so grades matter. It won't be easy but if you set your mind to it, you will get there-Blessings!!!

[glb1960]

Hey 16 yo. I, as well as Ludi, wish I had had a plan like yours at 16 yo. I didn't earn my license until I was 40 yo. I have a couple of suggestions, if you are willing. Get into the health care field now. There are spots that only require a certificate that only require a few weeks to complete. Nursing assistant (but work in a hospital, not a long term care facility, too much burn out there), phlebotomist, IV start, transport, HUC. We speak English, but health care has an additional language of acronyms, meds, procedures and codes that you will learn in these supportive roles. I promise you that working in the hospital, in almost any role, will put you far ahead of any of your classmates that haven't. And it will look fantastic on your resume'. Summers, weekends and very part time is enough. Please don't schedule so many hours that you all important grades suffer.

Many states have programs that offer Post Secondary Options Programs that offer college level work that also fulfill high school credits. So, double credit for the same class, HS and college. I have a daughter and nieces/nephews that utilized this option in Minnesota. There are also Honors classes with college credits to possibly take. Start with your HS counselor. They should be a good place get started with the info necessary to take these courses. If your counselor isn't supportive of this idea(my niece had one that told her it was a bad idea, she used a different one and graduated HS with 24 credit hours at Inver Hills CC, started her junior year), find one willing to support you. Do not allow anyone to tell you "NO". Start developing a solid backbone now. It will serve you well when you are in the nursing field.

Lastly, as you are earning your degree/license, earn some extra nursing certificates. ACLS(Advanced Cardiac Life Support), PALS/PEARS( Peds Advanced Life Support), BLS/CPR, IV start courses which all will make you stand out from your peers.

Good luck, 16 yo.

Gary