I'm 22 with a BSc in Biology but want to do nursing..is it too late?

[barcode120x, RN, NP]

It's never too late to start nursing. If you got in now or within the next few years, you would be surprised at the age range and age gap of people going into nursing. One of my classmates was in her late 50s and made it all the way through.

As Horseshoe mentioned, there's no reason to compare yourself to others. If you want a job, get one. You can always do part-time while doing pre-reqs or waiting to get into a nursing program or during it. I didn't get my first job until I was 21. I have MANY friends that are your age that have not worked a job yet. My best friend is 26 and still has not worked a job (though, he's in pharmacy school so I'll give him that excuse haha ). If you're undecided, then maybe look for a job to keep yourself busy.

[NurseStelri]

Hi, I was in a similar situation as you when I was 22....and now I am 26 working on a Med-Surg floor in a crazy county hospital and I love it!

Like you, I had never held a job when I was 22 and had been in school my whole life. I was accepted into nursing school while simultaneously being drafted to play professional softball. I had no way to do either so I had to choose. I decided that I didn't want to be 26 and still wishing I had gone to nursing school so I hung up my cleats and went to school for 3 more years. While in school I sometimes thought that I am too old to still be in school and not in a career (especially when I saw my friends building their careers) BUT I was the youngest in my class and now that I'm working I feel silly for even having that thought because who really cares!? I am doing what I truly love to do and those careers I saw my friends pursuing right after HS or college really weren't for me.

I think if nursing is something you want to pursue then go for it! You will be so glad you did by the time you are finished. Is there a possibility of you working while going to school? I had a classmate who was a substitute teacher throughout our nursing program and many others worked call-in, per-diem or part time jobs (waiters, CNA's, coaching, etc) to help with tuition or get their foot in the door of a hospital for a later RN job.

Instead of looking at the present situation look towards where you want to be in life when you are 30 or 40. Then decide if becoming a teacher now or staying in school for nursing will help you achieve those life goals. :) Good Luck!!

[Horseshoe, BSN, RN]

I've been in school all my life.....graduated high school at 16, went to University right after and graduated at 21 with a BSc in Biology, minor in Chemistry. I've been home for a year looking for a job with no success so I decided to apply for nursing school and got in...but only problem is I'm 22 now and wondering whether I should still do it cause there's a possibility I might be getting a job as a high school teacher...all my high school friends are well into their careers and I never worked a day in my life ....I prefer to work but I really want to be a nurse...What should I do?

Well, where do you want to be in x years? Working a job you don't necessarily like but got into because "your friends" were all working? Or would you prefer to be celebrating your graduation from nursing school and getting excited about that great job you are about to start? Whether you do it or whether you don't, those years will still have passed, so the question is where do you want to be at the end of those years?

Now's the time to start living life on your own terms and stop comparing yourself to others. There will always be someone with more, with better, and on and on. And there will always be those far FAR less fortunate than you. It doesn't matter what others are doing. Don't sell yourself short for outside validation.

[Quota, BSN, RN]

I'm sorry but am I the only one shaking their head laughing at the idea of a 22 year old being too old to start nursing school? Or even better all their friends, presumably of similar age, being well into their careers already? At that age you are barely out of school, an entry level job is not well into a career.

Seriously, you are barely old enough to be an adult yet. Figure out what YOU want to do and go for it because you want it. Don't get hung up on what anyone else is doing.

[Rocknurse, MSN, APRN, NP]

Too old? Seriously? I didn't start nursing school until I was 24 and now I'm 49 and in grad school. You have your whole life ahead of you. If you want a piece of advice from and old fart, start thinking about where you'd like to be when you're 49. If I knew then what I know now I'd have done a whole lot more a whole lot sooner.

[michelleh913, NP]

I didn't start nursing school till age 25, graduated this past October at age 27. Working in a wonderful ER. You are never to old. I am so thankful I took the step and left my past career/ degree. If you are going to be working the rest of your life you may as well enjoy it as much as you can.

[bethtoby]

If your to old to start nursing school then I am ancient. I am 38 and have one more year of generals left. Now I am only a part time student right now but as soon as I get accept into a nursing school fall 2017 then I will go full time. Go for it now or it will take you a lot longer when you have family, work full time and go to school.

[lunita7]

I sure hope not.

I'll be 40 in a few weeks and was just accepted into a nursing program. I graduated from high school at 17, went straight to college, got married, had a baby, finished a bachelor's degree I'll never use (in that order), and have been a stay at home mom since. My oldest child is five years younger than you!

[crazydoglady89]

Too old? You gotta be kidding me. All your friends are "well into" their careers? Unless your friends are all in their 40's, I think that statement is a bit dramatic.

It's not too late and you aren't too old. I think when we are in our early 20's, we haven't seen enough of the world pass by yet to know that we really have our lives ahead of us. Go to nursing school. You'll blink, and be graduated before you know it. You'll look back in your late 20's and chuckle at this.

[SopranoKris, MSN, RN, NP]

I'm sorry but am I the only one shaking their head laughing at the idea of a 22 year old being too old to start nursing school? Or even better all their friends, presumably of similar age, being well into their careers already? At that age you are barely out of school, an entry level job is not well into a career.

Seriously, you are barely old enough to be an adult yet. Figure out what YOU want to do and go for it because you want it. Don't get hung up on what anyone else is doing.

No, you're not the only one. I went back to nursing school in my 40s. You're a spring chicken at 22

[Zipporah2]

Thanks for the encouragement! I'll see how things go :)