[SteveSD]

Just joined this great website. I'm been working in some capacity in hospitals for the last 12 years. At 47, I'm deciding to go to nursing school. Starting Jan. 31st at San Diego City College. Got some pre-req's. to get out of the way, but shouldn't take too long. I'm trying to figure a way to support myself through nursing school as I've heard it's almost impossible to work while doing any sort of clinical rotation. If anyone has any ideas, please let me know. I'll be checking back frequently. Thank you all for any advice. Take care.

[CHATSDALE]

try to get certified as an orderly....will give you some hand on experience...give you an income..many hospitals will pay part or all of school expenses if you agree to work for them for a certain length of time after graduation..be careful what you sign, if you agree to this they may have legal recourse for recovery if you decide that nursing is not for you after all
there is usually quite a time between starting school and getting into clinical

[RNORTT]

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Originally Posted by SteveSD

Just joined this great website. I'm been working in some capacity in hospitals for the last 12 years. At 47, I'm deciding to go to nursing school. Starting Jan. 31st at San Diego City College. Got some pre-req's. to get out of the way, but shouldn't take too long. I'm trying to figure a way to support myself through nursing school as I've heard it's almost impossible to work while doing any sort of clinical rotation. If anyone has any ideas, please let me know. I'll be checking back frequently. Thank you all for any advice. Take care.

[Debbie_LPN]

You can do it! I just graduated in june of 2004, and we had a 62 year old man with us. He worked 2 doubles on the weekends, and he survived. Good luck to you, and most importantly, don't give up!!!

[RNORTT]

Originally Posted by Debbie_LPN

You can do it! I just graduated in june of 2004, and we had a 62 year old man with us. He worked 2 doubles on the weekends, and he survived. Good luck to you, and most importantly, don't give up!!!

that was not mine. I was tring to respone to someone elses post. Thanks anyway. I've been a nurse for 20+ years. good luck to you.

[cheerfuldoer]

Welcome Steve!

Don't let age stop you! Nurses have no age cut-off. The hospitals only see able bodies. Eventually, we all get battered and bruised...comes with the territory, so age is just a number in nursing.

Look past your age, and see RN behind your name in a couple years or so. I wish you nothing but the best! As for employment ideas...working in a hospital doing anything will at least expose you to patient healthcare, and the ins and outs of it all. You could be a patient transporter or patient care tech (the hospitals train their own patient care techs...all you need is a high school diploma).

[Marie_LPN, RN]

Welcome to All Nurses

[RNPATL]

Originally Posted by SteveSD

Just joined this great website. I'm been working in some capacity in hospitals for the last 12 years. At 47, I'm deciding to go to nursing school. Starting Jan. 31st at San Diego City College. Got some pre-req's. to get out of the way, but shouldn't take too long. I'm trying to figure a way to support myself through nursing school as I've heard it's almost impossible to work while doing any sort of clinical rotation. If anyone has any ideas, please let me know. I'll be checking back frequently. Thank you all for any advice. Take care.

Congratulations on your decision to go to nursing school! I lived on student loans and working part time to get through school. I pay my student loan payment every month without a problem because this was the only way I could make it. I was raising 3 kids on my own and going to school. I applied for every single scholarship I could also. I applied for the single mother scholarship (I was a single father) and believe it or not ... I was awarded .... of course, they took issue with the fact that I was a man, but after my appeal, they approved me.

I also asked for help from community agencies when I needed it. I had paid into the system my entire life and felt no guilt or problem asking for help while I was in nursing school. I knew that in the end, my contribution back to the community and society in geneal would more than make up for what I asked for. In most cases, community agencies were very helpful. After I graduated, I volunteered hours to some of these agencies and even help set up free health clinics for some of them.

It can be done. There is an excellent book out there called Follow your heart, the money will come .... I think that is the title. It is about following the direction of your heart and things work out .... I am a firm believer in that.

Whatever the case, believe in yourself and keep your eye on the goal .. it can be done. Good luck to you.

[hypnotic_nurse]

I worked full time throughout my clinicals and classes. If you are a good student, you should be able to manage it; if you are working, you won't get much study time. It can be done, though.

I was lucky in that my employer was very supportive and allowed me to arrange my hours to fit my nursing schedule.

After your first semester you could work as a CNA in any of the hospitals there; they should work with your schedule.

I also was a "normal control" for gastric studies, which was very icky but paid very well (if you are interested in going the guinea pig route, California is a good place to participate in research studies). The studies paid for my tuition for 2 semesters.

Best of luck!

[adw_nurse]

Originally Posted by SteveSD

Just joined this great website. I'm been working in some capacity in hospitals for the last 12 years. At 47, I'm deciding to go to nursing school. Starting Jan. 31st at San Diego City College. Got some pre-req's. to get out of the way, but shouldn't take too long. I'm trying to figure a way to support myself through nursing school as I've heard it's almost impossible to work while doing any sort of clinical rotation. If anyone has any ideas, please let me know. I'll be checking back frequently. Thank you all for any advice. Take care.

I also am a nurse and a student. I work at the hospital that I will be attending for the majority of my clinical rotation. A lot of the students work there as aids or lpns. Our boss is very accomidating, will work around clinical schedules and such. But mostly I just sacrifice sleep!!! Good Luck!