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WITH THIS SHORTAGE OF NURSES NATIONWIDE THAT WE HAVE TOLD YOU ABOUT, THE NEED FOR THE NEXT GENERATION HAS NEVER BEEN GREATER. ONE OKLAHOMA STUDENT IS ALREADY AHEAD OF THE CURVE. NEW TONIGHT KOCO KYLIE THOMAS INTRODUCES US TO THE 18 YEAR OLD REGISTERED NURSE AND TELLS US ABOUT THE PROGRAM THAT GOT HER THERE AT JUST 18 YEARS OLD. HAYLEY CANNON IS ALREADY A REGISTERED NURSE WORKING IN OKLAHOMA CITY. A DREAM AND FAST TRACK PLAN THAT STARTED IN MIDDLE SCHOOL WHEN I WAS ABOUT 13 YEARS OLD. IN THE NINTH GRADE, I STARTED MY ASSOCIATE’S DEGREE AND I DID THAT FOR TWO YEARS THROUGH THE EPIC COLLEGIATE ACADEMY. THE PROGRAM, AND AT AGE 16, I WAS ABLE TO GRADUATE WITH MY ASSOCIATE’S DEGREE AT THE SAME TIME AS MY HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA. AFTER GRADUATING, SHE ENROLLED AT OKLAHOMA CITY UNIVERSITY’S KRAMER SCHOOL OF NURSING. IN THEIR ACCELERATED PROGRAM, AND JUST ONE YEAR LATER, SHE GRADUATED WITH HER NURSING DEGREE. I LOVE A CHALLENGE, AND I THOUGHT, WHAT BETTER WAY THAN TO DO TWICE THE AMOUNT OF WORK IN ONE YEAR? SCHOOL LEADERS SAY PROGRAMS LIKE THIS ARE ONE WAY TO HELP ADDRESS A GROWING NEED FOR NURSES. OUR ACCELERATED PROGRAM IS JUST 12 MONTHS LONG. THEY HAVE THE EXACT SAME CLASSES. THEY DO THE EXACT SAME CURRICULUM AS OUR TRADITIONAL STUDENTS. THEY JUST DO IT IN A MUCH SHORTER TIME FRAME. BUT EVEN WITH STRONG INTEREST, MANY FUTURE NURSES STILL CAN’T GET INTO PROGRAMS. A LOT OF QUALIFIED NURSING APPLICANTS NOT JUST HERE, BUT IN OTHER PROGRAMS ACROSS THE NATION, ARE BEING TURNED AWAY EVERY YEAR BECAUSE WE DON’T HAVE THE FACULTY TO TEACH THEM. AND WE ALSO NEED CLINICAL INSTRUCTORS. WITH AN AGING POPULATION AND MANY EXPERIENCED NURSES NEARING RETIREMENT, THE NEED IS ONLY EXPECTED TO GROW. FOR CANNON, THE INTENDED PROGRAM PREPARED HER FOR THE REAL WORLD. I FEEL VERY CONFIDENT. I FEEL VERY COMFORTABLE GOING AND WORKING AS AN RN. TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ACCELERATED PROGRAM, FIND THIS STOR
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Oklahoma teen becomes registered nurse at just 18 through accelerated program
Hailey Cannon of Oklahoma City has become a registered nurse through an accelerated program at just 18 years old
Hailey Cannon, an 18-year-old from Oklahoma City, has become a registered nurse through an accelerated program at Oklahoma City University’s Kramer School of Nursing, showcasing a fast-tracked path that began in middle school.”When I was about 13 years old in the ninth grade, I started my associate’s degree, and I did that through the Epic Collegiate Academy. And when I was 16, I was able to graduate with my associate’s degree at the same time as my high school diploma,” Cannon said.After graduating, she enrolled at Oklahoma City University’s Kramer School of Nursing in its accelerated program, and just one year later, she graduated with her nursing degree. “I love a challenge, and I thought, what better way to do twice the amount of work in one year?” Cannon said.School leaders say programs like this are one way to help address a growing need for nurses. “Our accelerated program is just 12 months long,” said Janice James, assistant dean and director of the Meinders Simulation Center at Oklahoma City University. “They have the exact same classes; they do the exact same curriculum as our traditional students. They just do it in a much shorter timeframe.”But even with strong interest, many future nurses still can’t get into programs. “A lot of qualified nursing applicants, not just here but at other programs across the nation, are being turned away every year because we don’t have the faculty to teach them, and we also need clinical instructors,” James said.With an aging population and many experienced nurses nearing retirement, the need is only expected to grow.For Cannon, the intense program prepared her for the real world. “I feel very competent, I feel very comfortable going and working as an RN,” Cannon said.
Hailey Cannon, an 18-year-old from Oklahoma City, has become a registered nurse through an accelerated program at Oklahoma City University’s Kramer School of Nursing, showcasing a fast-tracked path that began in middle school.
“When I was about 13 years old in the ninth grade, I started my associate’s degree, and I did that through the Epic Collegiate Academy. And when I was 16, I was able to graduate with my associate’s degree at the same time as my high school diploma,” Cannon said.
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After graduating, she enrolled at Oklahoma City University’s Kramer School of Nursing in its accelerated program, and just one year later, she graduated with her nursing degree.
“I love a challenge, and I thought, what better way to do twice the amount of work in one year?” Cannon said.
School leaders say programs like this are one way to help address a growing need for nurses.
“Our accelerated program is just 12 months long,” said Janice James, assistant dean and director of the Meinders Simulation Center at Oklahoma City University. “They have the exact same classes; they do the exact same curriculum as our traditional students. They just do it in a much shorter timeframe.”
But even with strong interest, many future nurses still can’t get into programs.
“A lot of qualified nursing applicants, not just here but at other programs across the nation, are being turned away every year because we don’t have the faculty to teach them, and we also need clinical instructors,” James said.
With an aging population and many experienced nurses nearing retirement, the need is only expected to grow.
For Cannon, the intense program prepared her for the real world.
“I feel very competent, I feel very comfortable going and working as an RN,” Cannon said.
