[brian]

Never too old to learn
Nursing 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

[HM2Viking]

Good for her......It shows you can definitely succeed in nursing school regardless of age...

Funny thing is my 21 year old daughter is a Bennie in nursing school...

[oramar]

"I can't just sit around on the back porch drinking tea", two thumbs up for this nurse. I remember being a real ball of fire in my early 40s. Alas, twenty years later I feel that drinking tea on the back porch is a pretty good idea.

[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."

[Harparia]

You ladies have spirit! I think you're cool.

[linzz]

No way, she is not too old. Sounds like she has more energy than some twenty year olds. Obviously employers are fine with her age as she already has a job interview. Good for her.

[traumahawk99]

good for anyone achieving the opportunity to enter this profession as an rn. she worked hard for it, and i'm sure she'll be great.

[rntoben2008]

I will be 43 when I graduate this December. There are other gals and men in our program older than I. We do fine, and we bring life experience with us to our new career. I am loving it, and looking forward to graduation/working. I noticed in most of my clinical rotations that most nurses are 40ish and older, so we should blend in just fine.

[RuthieRN2008]

In my class we had someone who was 50, unfortunately, he had to withdraw due to medical reasons. Either way, I think it is phenomenal that people do not give up on their dreams and career choices because of their age!

[Miss_Chybil]

I'm 47 and just finished my first semester of nursing school. I wear my readers around my neck so I can find them when I need them. I'm not ashamed of my age. Aging is part of life. There's only one way around it and I'm not ready to go, yet!

There are several people in my class over 30, including two men over 50. I would be impressed by the article posted here if was about a grad who was 80-something!