[CHATSDALE]

been there, i don't think i looked any younger to be honest with you but i have always felt like a young sprout and i don't have to look at my self except to put on some makeup, as quickly as possible

[AtomicWoman]

Originally Posted by newtress

I'm currently two semesters away from graduating and 49 yo. I felt a bit uncomfortable at first being the only one in the classroom who had to don a pair of readers. I would panic when I discovered my glasses weren't in my bag for a big kahuna exam and had to sit away from my desk at a distance to accomadate just to struggle through the exam to read the material with classmates snickering. But now... I gave up the vanity notion and purchased the brightest and loudest red reading glasses I could find and wear them proudly every day. My 20 something classmates now tell me I'm "cool."

I'm 50 and starting NS in September. While I've been taking my prereqs, I have been a bit paranoid about my glasses on test days! One day, I brought 3 pairs of glasses with me, "just in case". Gad, I would be in deep doo-doo if I tried to take a test without my glasses!

[alyx]

This is a great one! I'm 43, just finished my first year in nursing school too. I ADORE it. I have a 16yo daughter at home and now a few 20 somethings in school that have adopted me and call me their "school mommy". I can't help but mother them all you know. We had a mother (50ish) and daughter 23 go through the classes together and last semester we had a GRANDMOTHER and granddaughter take classes together. It's so awesome and encouraging to see.
Kudos to all of us middle agers putting our life skills to good use. WERE GONNA BE GREAT NURSES!!!

[UdonNomi]

I've been a LVN for the past 20 yrs and when I graduate my ADN program this December, I'll be 54...just a step closer to retirement..

[delee99]

Last spring during my ATI Predictor Test I had to get the Moderator to adjust my screen because with or with out my glasses i was unable to read it.... she enlarged the print and wahla...Top score in the class. I was never worried about what the younger set thought. I was there for one thing one thing only. the become an RN!!!!!

[graymama]

It is so funny that this is in the news. I'm 40 and about to start an accelerated RN-MSN program for people with bachelor's degrees in another field. I really don't think of myself as old!!! It is strange to be around younger students, but it is also a constant reminder of how much life experience I bring to nursing. I have 4 kids ranging in age from 5-14. It will take 3 years full time schooling to finish as an NP - just hope to finish before my eldest starts college - these student loans will be out of control!

[irisheyes607]

Originally Posted by brian

Never too old to learnNursing graduate gets pulse on career at age 43

Becky Greiner refused to wear glasses around all those 20-somethings.

They made her look older, she reasoned, and she thought she could get by without them fine -- until the day exhaustion blurred the words on one of her tests. She pulled out an emergency pair she'd stashed in her sweatshirt pocket.

"I couldn't see straight," Greiner said and laughed. "I pulled my hoodie over my head and put them on."

On Saturday, the 43-year-old mother of three reached a goal she's had her sights on for some time: graduating at the top of her class from Gannon University's nursing program.

Full Story: http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/...WS02/805120426

I too am a "mature" RN. I graduated from nursing school one year ago at the age of 54! I had been a clinical lab specialist (Medical Technologist) and Lab Manager for over 30 years. I had worked in oncology for years and decided I wanted to be a chemo nurse. I am now, and I love it! There was also another gal in my class who was 57. The two of us were the top students in our class.

[irisheyes607]

I too am a "mature" RN. I graduated from nursing school one year ago at the age of 54! I have a BS in Medical Technology and had been a Lab Manager for many years. I have worked in oncology for a very long time and decided it was time for me to be a chemo nurse. I am now and I love it! There was another gal in my class who was 57. The two of us graduated at the top of our class!

[Miss_Chybil]

Originally Posted by graymama

It is so funny that this is in the news. I'm 40 and about to start an accelerated RN-MSN program for people with bachelor's degrees in another field. I really don't think of myself as old!!!

I stopped thinking of myself as "old" when I did my first semester clinicals in long term care. 90 is old. I'm 47 and I figure I'm just a hair over half way there!

[SweetnSour]

I had always said that I wanted to be a nurse when I grew up. Well, I graduated Aug '07 and got my LPN license in Oct '07. It only took me 25 years to make it to nursing school. I was 44 when i graduated. Imagine my disappointment when I never received the 1st call back from all the applications I submitted in my town and 3 surrounding counties. I must have done/said something wrong on those applications. I thought there was a nursing shortage. One day at the end of Dec I ran into an RN friend that was actually the same nurse who took care of me when I had my oldest son 23 years earlier. She was now the DON for the same nursing home that my mother was in while battling end stage lung cancer. I accepted immediately her offer of a job, Baylor shift, good pay and some self-respect that I was a nurse. Yes, I did it. I was employed as a nurse. I was so proud. My marriage to the med cart was a love-hate relationship. I was so disappointed that my job consisted of giving meds. Period! I soon found out that time spent with actual one on one patient care left me so behind that other nurses would have to help me catch up and the humilation I had was erasing the confidence and pride I had as a nurse. My nights at home after these 12 hr shifts consisted of ibuprofen 800 and our hot tub. You see, I had a bad knee from an old high school injury. Cortizone shots and ibuprofen helped me thru school clinicals but I was so anxious to work after i got my license, I put "me" aside and concentrated on the nurse part. To finally make this long story shorter....after many tears, I quit my 1st nursing job. 24/7 family care for our mother took priority until she died mid Feb. I received a total knee replacement on St patty's day and have just been released from my dr's care. YAY! But he still advises to strengthen and exercise for 4 weeks before I go back to work.
So here I am, the search begins again. I walk past my diploma and nursing license that my husband framed and put on our wall, wondering when I'm going to feel that pride again. He's so great that he says if I wanna continue my education and go back to school, he's all for it. Work or school, he'll support me whatever I choose. As of now, I've chosen to go back to work. But I don't have that giddy excitement inside me that I had before when I applied for jobs.
But this is where I'll take those words of wisdom from you experienced nurses. Anybody got anything??