Help! Looking for information.

rosethorn · Apr 8, 2003

Hi richbtwo! Just wanted to let you know that I am 36 yrs. old and just graduated from R.N. school. The average age in my class were in their mid 30's. Some were in their 40's and 50's!

Don't let age stop you from choosing a new career. If your up to the challenge, then go for it!!!!!

The pay is good, but the work is hard. If you are going into nursing just for the money, then you will be disappointed. The real satisfaction comes from helping those who are sick and doing your best to make a positive difference in someone's life.

richbtwo · Apr 8, 2003

Originally posted by rosethorn
Hi richbtwo! Just wanted to let you know that I am 36 yrs. old and just graduated from R.N. school. The average age in my class were in their mid 30's. Some were in their 40's and 50's!

Don't let age stop you from choosing a new career. If your up to the challenge, then go for it!!!!!

The pay is good, but the work is hard. If you are going into nursing just for the money, then you will be disappointed. The real satisfaction comes from helping those who are sick and doing your best to make a positive difference in someone's life.

Thanks for the reply! I'm not doing this just for the money....my mom passed away from cancer and the care she received was great. I also want to do for others what the staff did for her.

I've never been married and have no children so starting over for me will be a bit easier. What state are you from and how is the job market? Money in Maine starts around 23 dollars an hour at the major hospitals in Bangor and Portland. Is that a decent starting wage? They are also working 3 12's for shifts.

Thanks again!

sbic56, BSN, RN · Apr 8, 2003

Money in Maine starts around 23 dollars an hour at the major hospitals in Bangor and Portland. Is that a decent starting wage?

richbtwo

Good luck on your nursing venture, but are you sure about your figures? In central Maine (Waterville) it is more like $17-18/hr to start and maybe after about 4 or 5 years you can make what you quoted. Maybe I need to head north or south? (Kidding..I am pretty well planted here, but still curious!)

angiebaby · Apr 21, 2003

Hey, go for it!!. The truth of the matter is, We need the help, If you want it bad enough, just get busy and do it. It may take you several years to get through it, but you are going to get older no matter what you decide to do.

jadednurse · Apr 21, 2003

richbtwo, you may want to look into an accelerated BSN program, if you're able to go to school full-time that is. My accelerated BSN program in Chicago took 15 months to complete and a good number of the students who were in the program were in their 30's/40's and starting new careers too.

Kayzee · Apr 21, 2003

I went into nursing at 40. Your never too old to learn. Go for it! :)

Care Assistant · Apr 29, 2003

Hello I would like to reply to this. I am only 27 years old, but I have been in Elderly care for over 10 years. I first started doing ELDERLY CARE when I was 16 years old just as work experience.

But I ENJOYED IT so much I decided that I wanted to do Elderly Care as my career. I have worked in several care homes for the elderly.

I feel that to go into Nursing you go into it for the LOVE of the job not the money. I live in Engalnd so the wages may vary here from then in America. I have heard that for the job that I DO IN ENGLAND THE MONEY IS better for the SAME job in the states.

Good Luck with your new choice of career. Let us know how you get on.

Care Assistant · Apr 29, 2003

Hello I would like to reply to this. I am only 27 years old, but I have been in Elderly care for over 10 years. I first started doing ELDERLY CARE when I was 16 years old just as work experience.

But I ENJOYED IT so much I decided that I wanted to do Elderly Care as my career. I have worked in several care homes for the elderly.

I feel that to go into Nursing you go into it for the LOVE of the job not the money. I live in Engalnd so the wages may vary here from then in America. I have heard that for the job that I DO IN ENGLAND THE MONEY IS better for the SAME job in the states.

Good Luck with your new choice of career. Let us know how you get on.

healingtouchRN · May 20, 2003

awesome carreer choice & with a service back groung you'll be a perfect condidate. You already know about documentation, how unruly some people can be after a drinking binge, how domestic relations work, how the job is never really done until they are discharged, then it's someone elses turn! Go for it. But sad to say, I barely make $23/hr & I've been out of school 14 + years.....

gingerzoe · May 21, 2003

Dear Richbtwo,

I was an LPN for 14 years and I went back to RN school. I was 32 years old. When I graduated I was 35. I am 43 years old now and am very glad I did it. Personally, I do not think age should be a consideration when contemplating going back to school. I feel since I was older I was able to concentrate more and I really enjoyed some of my classes in college. There were quite a few "older" students in classes with me. I also had quite a few younger ones. I enjoyed being around them also. They had so much enthusiam and high hopes for the future. I believe you are never to old to learn something new. Go for it!!!!!!! Good Luck

LauraF, RN, ASN, CNA, LPN, RN · May 21, 2003

I say jump in. I'm 38 and doing pre-req's for my RN. I have a family with two toddlers one is disabled. I'm also keeping a 4.0 gpa. You can do it if you want it bad enough. We had two 60 somethings in our graduating class in LPN school.