[gdsgrl]

Hi Mary, Congratulations on going back to school. I am 47, kids are gone, and am starting my 4th quarter of nursing school on Monday. In my school, some things were on the test that weren't covered in class but were included in our readings. Good Luck with your classes, I am encouraged to see another "mature" student.
Stephanie

[merrywhiterose]

Hi Stephanie!
There are many people in my classes that are 40 and over. I'm glad to see this trend. We will help fill in the gap necessary in nursing. Also, we bring something the younger ones don't have--life experience.
Good luck!

[jennjenn013]

Hi! My name is Jenn and I'm 20 years old. I'm in my 3rd semester and I graduate in May (wooooohooooo!).

[Me, SN]

I'm Della. I'm finishing my 4th quarter of an 8 quarter ASN program. I'm 25, married and I have a 3-year-old.

To be completely honest (hope I don't get flamed for this) I have never wanted to be a nurse and I'm just trying to get through this. I wanted to go to a large nearby university for Pre-Med (for which I was accepted), but my husband said it was too far to drive everyday. So I got stuck at a community college for RN. As soon as I finish, I'm getting rid of him and doing what I want to do. I'd do it now, but a $35/hour job does make things easier.

[oldskool61]

Hey All!
I'm Haydee, 47 years old- It's GREAT to see so many fellow-matured students! (NEVER say "OLD"!)
Single mom to three awesome young adults, (26, 21, 17 yrs. old))
a 21-year LPN, returned to school at age 45, and just finished my BSN program, planning to take NCLEX boards in Dec.-Jan. It's been a long road, but well worth the trip...
Currently working as an occupational health nurse for the past 4 years.
I will be getting back into in-patient work at a local long-term acute care hospital, next week! that'll be "home" until I sit for boards.

[msfb]

Hi!!

My name is Jen. I'm from Northeast PA. I'm 34 yrs old, married and have 2 cats, named Phoebe and Scout. My step-daughter doesn't live with us anymore because she is in college too. But it's nice when she does have time to visit. I'm making a career change from IT/computers to Nursing and I am so excited.

I am embarking on my final semester of a BSN program. I decided on the BSN program opposed to the other options because the nights/weekends program fit my schedule best and let me continue working at my day job full-time. Since I already have a BA, those credits transferred and I was 75% of the way to the BSN already - not to mention it was essentially pre-paid! I only needed some Bio, Psych and then the nursing classes! Otherwise, I would have gone to community college, gotten more clinical focus and saved a lot of $$$$!

I have a greater appreciate for learning this time. With age comes wisdom, right? Anyway...I have made such amazing friends in my nursing program. So much more so then when I went to college the first time. I know that these women (and a few men) will be my friends for life. We have a true bond.

This forum is so great too. Best wishes to all!

[josiah0814]

Hi my name is Germaine. I graduated May of 2006, but have been whom since raising two toddlers. I will be sitting for boards in October.

[Aquamarine]

Originally Posted by merrywhiterose

I'm Mary, 51, kids grown and out of the house. I'm in my first semester of Nursing school (Lincoln Univ.). I took my first test last night, and am waiting for results. There were several things on the test that we never went over, or was in our assigned reading. I don't know why they test us on it, when it wasn't part of our learning. Anyway, I think I did well. Anyone else in the classes find tests to be this way?

I started RN school when I was 54. I didn't think the academics were hard but the time...and my lack of sleep the hardest to get com;peated.
I am now 61 and going strong. Good luck

[Me, SN]

Originally Posted by merrywhiterose

I'm Mary, 51, kids grown and out of the house. I'm in my first semester of Nursing school (Lincoln Univ.). I took my first test last night, and am waiting for results. There were several things on the test that we never went over, or was in our assigned reading. I don't know why they test us on it, when it wasn't part of our learning. Anyway, I think I did well. Anyone else in the classes find tests to be this way?

When I first started my ADN program, I did think that too, but they kept saying, "You were supposed to get THIS out of THIS...critical thinking...yada, yada, yada." It probably won't make sense for a while, but you'll get by until something just "clicks" in your brain and you figure out what they mean. Until then, I highly recommend an NCLEX test book with NCLEX-style questions. You probably will NOT know the answers to many of the question (unless you have other medical-field experience, but even that won't garantee you know much), but reading the way the question is written, and what the best answer looks like, and the rationale REALLY helps. I doubted it for 3 quarters, but now I study the night before the test and get As because all I ever study are NCLEX questions pertaining to the subject and read the rationales. It's important not only to know the right answer, but WHY it's the right answer.

Best of luck to you. You'll get it. Give it time, and keep faith in yourself.

[Practicalone]

I thought I'd let everyone know, I graduated on July 12, passed my boards on Aug 7th and I've got a great job. Thanks for all the support