[hootnhollerin]

Sandy,

I was just accepted to a nursing program for Fall 2008. I'm proud to say that I will be turning 43 next week.

[vanurse08]

44 is not to old. My mom is 47 and I have been begging her to go back to school for nursing. If your passionate about it go for it. Best of luck.

[Sandy_dfw]

Thanks so much for the info and support. I feel like I am in the majority instead of the minority now.

Sandy

[indysmom]

I am 47 and am applying to nursing school! I will be 50 when I finish. (I turn 48 in a month). I think nursing is a career that really rewards maturity. I think my life experience will really enable me to handle patient and family interactions much better than younger students. Also, I think you are better able to handle stressful situations as you get older. Actually, there are lots of reasons why we, as older women, will make better nurses.
The only thing I'm concerned about is not being able to see to put in iv's! I need to get some magnifying glasses!

[Hotflashn]

Originally Posted by indysmom

I am 47 and am applying to nursing school! I will be 50 when I finish. (I turn 48 in a month). I think nursing is a career that really rewards maturity. I think my life experience will really enable me to handle patient and family interactions much better than younger students. Also, I think you are better able to handle stressful situations as you get older. Actually, there are lots of reasons why we, as older women, will make better nurses.
The only thing I'm concerned about is not being able to see to put in iv's! I need to get some magnifying glasses!

You had some good points, and I tend to agree. I do worry that I am less physically capable than I would have been 20 years ago, in terms of being able to help patients move around, etc. There is no getting around the fact that I am not as strong now.

As for the IVs, much foe that is actually more by feel, rather than sight, so take that off your list! I know what you mean though - my trouble is going to be reading the fine print. Though I just got some no-line bifocals (oldie-focals!) - look out!

[southlandshari]

I'll be 39 next month and am starting nursing school in September - it will take me seven semesters to finish the extended program - fewer classes per semester so I can work full-time and take care of my daughter - so I'll be at least 42 by the time I graduate.

Thanks for this thread, Sandy!

[HopefulRN007]

Originally Posted by southlandshari

I'll be 39 next month and am starting nursing school in September - it will take me seven semesters to finish the extended program - fewer classes per semester so I can work full-time and take care of my daughter - so I'll be at least 42 by the time I graduate.

Thanks for this thread, Sandy!

What school are you going to that has an extended program? All the schools I've looked at make you go full-time once you get into clinicals, and I would like to still be able to work full-time and take care of my son, too.

[GizmosMom]

I'm giving nursing school a very serious think. Oh to be only 42 - or 52 - again

[southlandshari]

Originally Posted by HopefulRN007

What school are you going to that has an extended program? All the schools I've looked at make you go full-time once you get into clinicals, and I would like to still be able to work full-time and take care of my son, too.

I had no idea how rare this kind of "delayed" ADN program was until recently and feel really blessed to have one here and to have made it in on my first try. I also didn't know how few openings there were prior to applying (I'm glad I didn't know or I would have been a nervous wreck). One class accepted per year, this year they had only 16 slots.

I hope you can find something similar close to you - it sounds like you're in the same boat as me in terms of having to work full-time and having a child to care for. Because I already have a college degree (in an unrelated field) and I've spent the last year taking prerequisite classes (A&P I and II and Microbiology), I'll only have nursing classes left when I officially start in the Fall - nine classes/clinicals over seven semesters.

More info on the program I'm in here:

http://www.suscc.edu/PDFFiles/ADN_De...nfo_Feb_08.pdf

I hope this helps. The vast majority of nursing students I work with at the hospital work part-time, 16-32 hours per month. I don't begrudge them their schedules, it just isn't something I can afford to do.

Good luck!

[HopefulRN007]

Originally Posted by southlandshari

I'll be 39 next month and am starting nursing school in September - it will take me seven semesters to finish the extended program - fewer classes per semester so I can work full-time and take care of my daughter - so I'll be at least 42 by the time I graduate.

Thanks for this thread, Sandy!

Originally Posted by southlandshari

I had no idea how rare this kind of "delayed" ADN program was until recently and feel really blessed to have one here and to have made it in on my first try. I also didn't know how few openings there were prior to applying (I'm glad I didn't know or I would have been a nervous wreck). One class accepted per year, this year they had only 16 slots.

I hope you can find something similar close to you - it sounds like you're in the same boat as me in terms of having to work full-time and having a child to care for. Because I already have a college degree (in an unrelated field) and I've spent the last year taking prerequisite classes (A&P I and II and Microbiology), I'll only have nursing classes left when I officially start in the Fall - nine classes/clinicals over seven semesters.

More info on the program I'm in here:

http://www.suscc.edu/PDFFiles/ADN_De...nfo_Feb_08.pdf

I hope this helps. The vast majority of nursing students I work with at the hospital work part-time, 16-32 hours per month. I don't begrudge them their schedules, it just isn't something I can afford to do.

Good luck!

Wow, yes you are very fortunate. I have not found anything like this where I live. We have an evening/weekend program which would allow me to keep working, but my husband is military and I would have no childcare after hours during times when he deploys or goes on missions.

But I'm just starting my pre-reqs, so I have a ways to go. I also have a BA in another field which I took no science courses for, but at least I've got the Eng comp, soc and college math out of the way. I have 5 science course pre-reqs to take before I'll be ready to start clinicals, so who knows where we will live by then. Maybe I'll luck out and there will be more programs like yours available by then.

Anyway, thank you for the information, and good luck to you!!