Oklahoma Teen Becomes Registered Nurse at 18 Through Accelerated Program

Hailey Cannon completes nursing degree in just one year after earning associate's in high school.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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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. Cannon earned her associate's degree while still in high school and then completed her nursing degree in just one year through the university's accelerated program.

Why it matters

Programs like the one Cannon completed are seen as a way to help address the growing need for nurses, as many qualified applicants are turned away from nursing programs due to faculty shortages and limited clinical instruction capacity. With an aging population and many experienced nurses nearing retirement, the demand for new nurses is expected to continue increasing.

The details

Cannon started working towards her associate's degree when she was 13 years old through the Epic Collegiate Academy. She graduated with both her associate's degree and high school diploma at age 16. She then enrolled in the accelerated nursing program at Oklahoma City University's Kramer School of Nursing, completing her nursing degree in just one year. The accelerated program covers the same curriculum as the traditional nursing program, but in a much shorter 12-month timeframe.

  • Cannon started her associate's degree at age 13.
  • Cannon graduated with her associate's degree and high school diploma at age 16.
  • Cannon enrolled in the accelerated nursing program at Oklahoma City University in 2025.
  • Cannon graduated with her nursing degree in 2026.

The players

Hailey Cannon

An 18-year-old from Oklahoma City who became a registered nurse through an accelerated program at Oklahoma City University's Kramer School of Nursing.

Janice James

The assistant dean and director of the Meinders Simulation Center at Oklahoma City University.

Oklahoma City University's Kramer School of Nursing

The nursing school at Oklahoma City University that offers an accelerated 12-month program to earn a nursing degree.

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What they’re saying

“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.”

— Hailey Cannon (98online.com)

“I love a challenge, and I thought, what better way to do twice the amount of work in one year?”

— Hailey Cannon (98online.com)

“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 timeframe.”

— Janice James, Assistant Dean and Director of the Meinders Simulation Center, Oklahoma City University (98online.com)

“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.”

— Janice James, Assistant Dean and Director of the Meinders Simulation Center, Oklahoma City University (98online.com)

“I feel very competent, I feel very comfortable going and working as an RN.”

— Hailey Cannon (98online.com)

What’s next

Cannon plans to begin working as a registered nurse after completing her accelerated program.

The takeaway

Programs like the one Cannon completed at Oklahoma City University demonstrate innovative ways to address the nursing shortage by fast-tracking qualified students into the field. However, broader challenges remain, such as a lack of nursing faculty and clinical instruction capacity, that limit the ability of many nursing programs to accept all qualified applicants.