[passitfoward]

It is so great to know that there are many others in my age group that have gone back to collage to pursue a career of their choice, no matter their age. During statistics class we were learning about outliers. the professor used the ages of the students in class, and my age was considered an outlier... I was the oldest in class. It was then I realized what my age would be when I finally graduate NS. I am looking forward to my new career and future.

[passitfoward]

It is great to know that there are others in my age group. It wasn't until my stats class that i realized my age difference from other students (never really thought about it before) the professor was teaching us about outliers. She used all the students ages, did the calculations and thats when I realized my age was an outlier. I am so looking forward to completing NS... still have a little time to go... and having the career I have dreamed of. Congratulations.

[TomLM]

Wow! the exact thing I wanted to ask about. I've been downsized, I've been outsourced. My current company has been bought and is undergoing a global reorganization. I am relatively secure in my job, this time around, but there are no guarantees moving forward. Oh yeah, I'm 51 (but I'm the youngest person my age that I know). I am looking at LPN programs in my area.

Thanks for all the words of encouragement.

[jbtampa]

I am 54 and took my NCLEX today, and was not the oldest in my class. The real challenge is getting the job you want, as I already learned, as a respiratory therapist, and is why I became a nurse.

[WDWpixieRN]

Originally Posted by TomLM

Wow! the exact thing I wanted to ask about. I've been downsized, I've been outsourced. My current company has been bought and is undergoing a global reorganization. I am relatively secure in my job, this time around, but there are no guarantees moving forward. Oh yeah, I'm 51 (but I'm the youngest person my age that I know). I am looking at LPN programs in my area.
Thanks for all the words of encouragement.

Been there; done that; escaped in time!

I worked for a major financial securities/brokerage company that had two fairly major layoffs by the time I started taking prereqs. I was sick of constantly worrying that security would show up in my cube one morning.

Thankfully, the fall the before I graduated they purchased by another securities firm (who was just in the headlines again this week) and when they did "displacements" this spring, my entire former team was given notice they would be let go. I graduated 3 months later. I know I will always have work in this field, and better than that -- options if I become tired of one particular area.

My income has been cut some, but hopefully I can pull a bit of overtime here and there (and here's something novel -- be PAID for it) and make up the difference when *I* want.

I wish you the best!! In my opinion, you'd be better served to try to find a RN program if you can rather than go the LPN route due to their limited job outlook, but only you can determine your best pathway to this new career!!

[medic6070]

Started college at 47. I have finished my general education requirements and have been accepted into the ASN program at Ivy Tech State College in Valpariso, In. for the fall semester (next month, I get more exicited every day). I turned 48 today and will hopefully graduate in May of 2010. Two months before I am 50. On the application they did not even ask for my age. I finished in the bottom third of my graduating high school class, however I have made the Dean's list for the last two semesters at college and am maintaining a 4.0 gpa. All while continuing to work full time as a Paramedic (26 years) and maintaining my family life. I believe that our experience in life gives us a different perspective and the work ethic of our generation sees us through. Good luck to you and push forward - hard and fast.

[TomLM]

Thanks for the encouragement. I said LPN, but it's actually a 1 + 1 program to get an RN-ADN.
Tom

[Bortaz]

Originally Posted by medic6070

Started college at 47. I have finished my general education requirements and have been accepted into the ASN program at Ivy Tech State College in Valpariso, In. for the fall semester (next month, I get more exicited every day). I turned 48 today and will hopefully graduate in May of 2010. Two months before I am 50. On the application they did not even ask for my age. I finished in the bottom third of my graduating high school class, however I have made the Dean's list for the last two semesters at college and am maintaining a 4.0 gpa. All while continuing to work full time as a Paramedic (26 years) and maintaining my family life. I believe that our experience in life gives us a different perspective and the work ethic of our generation sees us through. Good luck to you and push forward - hard and fast.

[cjcsoon2brn]

I think others will agree with me that if you really want to be a nurse then you shouldn't let anything stop you from being a nurse. Honestly, your age will affect you as a nurse and it will be part of what determines what kind of nurse you are and the rapport you have with your patients. Your age will allow you to draw from your life experiences and help you to empathize with patients in a way that a younger nurse many not be able to yet. Embrace your age and go back to nursing school. You may find that some of us younger nursing students really aren't that bad and make good study partners. Good luck!

!Chris

[jreed4]

I have a lot of non traditional students in my class