"Why does a nurse have to go to college?"

2 "Why can't she just work with another nurse and learn what she needs to know?"

This is the question posed to me by a friend whose children are homeschooled and live somewhat "off the grid". (The teen daughter is very interested in nursing and is academically quite competetent. She would like to be a missionary.) My friend is a self-described "rebel", well educated himself at the masters level. He rejects almost all state regulation, licensure, social security, insurance, etc. Nothing I could say convinced him that formal education and licensure for nurses has value.

I'd love to see his daughter attend some type of nursing program when she is old enough. Any ideas of what might convince him that it is a good idea?
You can't change peoples thinking. At best he might permit his daughter to hang out with people in community who follow his ideals. I seem to recall one of the Duggars' daughters wanted to be a midwife and was going to hang out with unregulated/unregistered crowd to learn the trade.The old hospital based training might have just met his criteria.

Have you explained to your friend just what, exactly nurses do?He seems to have the idea that we are pillow fluffers and bed makers. Perhaps you could show him a ventilator and the math required to administer vaso-active drips.If he wants her to perform missionary work and provide basic nursing skills to an uneducated community, that could work. After all, who's gonna sue her when she makes a mistake?

Tell him that the guild system of preparing professionals went out a long time ago. She can learn anything she wants to learn in any way she can, but she won't get a license to practice in the civilized world unless she attends an accredited college and passes a licensure examination. Note: to get full impact of this message, it should display in Comic Sans, green. Thank you.

Nothing may change his mind. But ... in dealing with him, I would emphasize that it is not just "what you know" that counts. It is your ability to document what you know so that the public (who don't know your personally) can be assured of your basic competence before they put themselves into your hands. Any idiot can claim to know something and/or be good at it ... but I am not going to trust my health care to anyone who hasn't been formally "checked out" by the representatives of society responsible for assuring public safety.Seriously, would you (he) let some stranger operate on his kids without first checking that the self-proclaimed expert had actually demonstrated that he knew what he was doing? As the ANA says, "Credentials matter." They are not just meaningless letters after our names -- they are the documentation that we have demonstrated our knowledge and skill and been proclaimed by society as being qualified to practice.

Quote from GrnTeaShe can learn anything she wants to learn in any way she can, but she won't get a license to practice in the civilized world unless she attends an accredited college and passes a licensure examination.

The days of apprenticeships are over. Colleges and trade schools own that part now. The entrance to a profession and at least a middle class lifestyle for a lot of us includes a college education.I suspect your friend is not interested in anything that contradicts his point of view; people with extreme views are often not curious about opinions that differ.

I appreciate all the great responses. Yes, you are correct that my friend is rather closed in his perspective, but I sure would like to see that kid get a chance at a nursing education! I may present some of your thoughts to his wife; she may have a better chance at reaching him .

Quote from bookwormomI appreciate all the great responses. Yes, you are correct that my friend is rather closed in his perspective, but I sure would like to see that kid get a chance at a nursing education! I may present some of your thoughts to his wife; she may have a better chance at reaching him .

Quote from bookwormom"Why can't she just work with another nurse and learn what she needs to know?"

Quote from Been there,done thatHave you explained to your friend just what, exactly nurses do?He seems to have the idea that we are pillow fluffers and bed makers. Perhaps you could show him a ventilator and the math required to administer vaso-active drips.

If your friend feels that a formal education is a waste of time there are other options. They could work in the state of Illinois in a physician office as a Medical assistant. In Illinois a certification isn't even required. As a Registered Nurse Licensed, I find this frustrating and wrong. . .but it is legal. If you find a physician willing to train from bottom up you can learn quite a lot. Working in the fast paced clinic setting not only will you learn Medical terminology, but basic procedures including triage and administration of Medicine under a physician supervision. I find it insulting to all who have spent years learning and perfecting our Nursing intervention being substituted by those without any certification at all. I also do not feel it is fair to the patient that thinks the "Nurse" giving them an injection is a Licensed Professional. This is to only get worse as commercials advertising careers in nursing all the time. These commercials are talking about Medical Assisting. Putting on a uniform and carrying a stethoscope does not make a nurse. Looks are deceiving at first, however most patients notice the difference immediately. If only the physicians would give the benefit of employing an RN some credit and appreciation.

This guy sounds like one of those militant anti-government extremists. Remember the Ruby Ridge shooting? I'd say not being able to attend nursing school is the least of his daughter's worries.