[denise0815]

Hi Sherie,
I am glad to see you had your first class..that is so exciting.
I think the hardest thing for me was to actually go and sign up for class...I have been thinking about it for so long that it was hard to take the first step., but I did it. Found out I need one more math before I can take Chemistry..so I will start in the Fall. I keep telling myself to just keep going forward, even though I am anxious. But like you said we can do it!!!! Good luck and study hard!!

[TLCinCICU]

I started my RN program at the age of 34. I had worked as a medical laboratory technician for nearly 13 years at that point. I enjoyed my profession, but just felt something of a "calling" to make the change. Automation had progressed to the point I really felt no challenge in my job. I played with the idea for several years, but would always go up on the floor to draw blood and smell where someone would have filled the bed with something smelling very foul. So I would think "Not for me!". I finally got to the point I decided to make the change, knowing that I would learn VERY quickly during that first semester of clinicals if I could withstand doing the most basic aspects of patient care. I loved it from that point onward. I first went into pulmonary/telemetry and eventually wound up in CICU. It's truly my niche.

I initially took a bit of a pay cut, going from one capped-out position to a new grad one. It was worth it, and since then, I've more than made up that ground.

[sml1970]

Originally Posted by denise0815

Hi Sherie,
I am glad to see you had your first class..that is so exciting.
I think the hardest thing for me was to actually go and sign up for class...I have been thinking about it for so long that it was hard to take the first step., but I did it. Found out I need one more math before I can take Chemistry..so I will start in the Fall. I keep telling myself to just keep going forward, even though I am anxious. But like you said we can do it!!!! Good luck and study hard!!

Hey=]
Imsoo happy for you too...we will be nurses! Im trying to keep propelling myslf forward too, but I admit sometimes I second guess myself .Its those times when I log onto allnurses , and then I can gain see my dream. I also hope to get into lpn class for 2009, it seems soo far away . But it will go fast=]. God Bless you , k.i.t.,and yes mam study hard!!! ~Sherie

[Candy671]

I'm 23 years old now and I only have my Medical Assistant Certificate. I'm married with 2 children, my husband works a fulltime job and both of my childeren won't be in school until 2012-1013 fpr pre-k and second grade so in the mean time I will start LPN September 2009 and finish aug 2010 then work overnight shifts until 2013, In 1013 I will start 4 year college for BSN in nursing (age 28) and finish about age 32 then I'm going back 2 years later to become nurse practioner (finish when I'm 37) Do you think I'm taking the right path or should I rethink this. I'm taking this route because my husband and I can't afford daycare

toddster
I would be happy to hear from anyone here that started their career late in life, perhaps Nursing is a second career. For a number of reasons, I am seriously considering changing careers, and for a number of reasons am looking at a career as a Nurse as a possibility. I am a 44/yo Male with a BA and a Masters degree, though not in life sciences, BA in business and Masters in Information Systems. I would be most appreciative to anyone with similar circomstances to share their experiences. I will be reposting this every few days so If I offend, I extend my humble appology in advance.

Thanks,

Todd

[mifantysi]

<P>Hi, I am new to nurses.com. I am 47 and graduated LPN in 07 and am now transitioning to ADN. I passed the transition test and took the transition class and have two more semesters to go. I have not worked in the field of nursing as of yet. The only medical experience I have is working as a unit secretary/monitor tech for quite a few years&nbsp;and as an unlicensed xray tech. I do, at times, worry about starting a career so late in life. When I finished school and passed the nclex for LPN, I was so proud of my accomplisment. I know I should be working to gain experience, but I wanted to wait til I finished school. My husband and I are only children and take care of our moms,&nbsp;his who&nbsp;is in the moderate stages of&nbsp;alzheimers and is 89, and mine who is 76 and has COPD. My daughter, who is 31 is now thinking about taking up nursing as a career! I know it won't be easy as a new RN&nbsp;and there will be alot of sleepless nights and probably tears, but I will prevail somehow!!!....lol</P>
<P>Good Luck to everyone...I may be getting old, but its much better than the alternative!! <IMG alt=0 src="http://allnurses.com/forums/images/smilies/nurse.gif" border=0 smilieid="30"></P>
<P>Cindi</P>

[nurse2b2010]

Originally Posted by mifantysi

<P>Hi, I am new to nurses.com. I am 47 and graduated LPN in 07 and am now transitioning to ADN. I passed the transition test and took the transition class and have two more semesters to go. I have not worked in the field of nursing as of yet. The only medical experience I have is working as a unit secretary/monitor tech for quite a few years&nbsp;and as an unlicensed xray tech. I do, at times, worry about starting a career so late in life. When I finished school and passed the nclex for LPN, I was so proud of my accomplisment. I know I should be working to gain experience, but I wanted to wait til I finished school. My husband and I are only children and take care of our moms,&nbsp;his who&nbsp;is in the moderate stages of&nbsp;alzheimers and is 89, and mine who is 76 and has COPD. My daughter, who is 31 is now thinking about taking up nursing as a career! I know it won't be easy as a new RN&nbsp;and there will be alot of sleepless nights and probably tears, but I will prevail somehow!!!....lol</P>
<P>Good Luck to everyone...I may be getting old, but its much better than the alternative!! <IMG alt=0 src="http://allnurses.com/forums/images/smilies/nurse.gif" border=0 smilieid="30"></P>
<P>Cindi</P>

I think you will do well especially with your knowledge in passing the exam for LPN -- it should give you an edge on some of your nursing classes. Nothing wrong with starting a career later in life. You've got life experiences that younger students don't have or may not have. I am 49 and entering into an ADN program in the fall. So, if all goes as planned, I will be 51 by graduation. We still have lots of good years left to provide loving compassionate care as nurses!

[finn11707]

I think 2nd career in nursing nurses are great---bringing enthusiasm and maturity to a profession which requires this but cannot always find it as easily in some younger people. I am 54 and have been a nurse since I was 21. It has been a good choice for me and many facets for different opportunities in Nursing. My mom who was a nurse too, thought her daughters would be wise to take nursing as a good profession to "fall back on...if anything happened to the husband..." I have so much more to offer to my patients now (maturity, perspective) than I did at 21. And, it takes great maturity to handle the sometimes difficult nursing politics. Good luck

[racheljan30]

Good Todd. We Need More Testerone In The Field.

[MimisMomLVN]

I love you all and admire you all. I too am 50, have been an LVN for only 2 l/2 years, just passed the LVN to RN bridge with an A (thank you Lord) and will be going into 3rd semester of the RN program in August. I too feel that us older nurses have life experience, understanding, compassion and a special sensitivity that alot of the younger ones may not have developed yet. I have a daughter 23 who is a new RN and she tells me she likes how I deal with situations with the patients and I just tell her you will get there with time. I hope to graduate with my RN June 2009. Time goes by no matter what, don't let your dreams go by without fulfilling them. I believe you can do anything you put your mind to. Follow your heart. God bless all of us "little bit older" nurses.

[Aurora77]

I'm 31 and looking at nursing. I've been feeling a calling to change careers and I think nursing is it. It's exciting and nervewracking at the same time. I haven't been to school in almost 10 years! Plus there's the added stress of a husband, a home, bills, responsibilities that I didn't have last time I was in school. Of course, it's his support that makes it possible for me to do this!