Too young/ early in life to be in Nursing Program?

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I wish I would have stayed in school when I was younger. Years ago I went to college for nursing but met my husband so I put school on the back burner now 8 years later I'm going back to school for nursing again.

I think it's great your following your dreams!

Fireman767

231 Posts

Specializes in Oncology, Critical Care.

Let me just say i can understand the schools thoughts on this matter. As a 23 year old and in nursing school i did see about half the class fail, and many of them were either young and unprepared for nursing school at 18 or older and couldnt stick out the material. Let me say that is not the case with everyone, there were a few students who were 18 who were successful, however a majority of them weren't. With that let me say you may be that one in a bunch that can do it and thrive in NS. I noticed many of the younger students didn't study, didnt try hard, and skipped classes or partied excessively. Yes its college, but nursing school is more challenging than psychology or business management. That said, the reason physician assistant schools are so successful (the ones that are direct BS to Master in physician studies) is because they require 1000-2500 hours of medical experience, something that takes most people 4-6 years to do, and in most cases that makes them become much more mature. Some NS are even beginning to accept this practice and its an excellent practice to accept.

I do wish you the best of luck and hope you are that one in a hundred younger students who excels in NS.

zoe92

1,163 Posts

I do wish you the best of luck and hope you are that one in a hundred younger students who excels in NS.
I think saying one in a hundred is quite an exaggeration; not every 18 year old makes it through nursing school but it is not nearly that low either. Have a little faith in the younger generation. We really aren't that terrible.

Fireman767

231 Posts

Specializes in Oncology, Critical Care.
I think saying one in a hundred is quite an exaggeration; not every 18 year old makes it through nursing school but it is not nearly that low either. Have a little faith in the younger generation. We really aren't that terrible.

I didnt mean to be on the low side, i was just making a statement that it isnt as common as people think, yet it's not as rare as i said it was.

zoe92

1,163 Posts

I didnt mean to be on the low side, i was just making a statement that it isnt as common as people think, yet it's not as rare as i said it was.

I understand & know you weren't being exact.

I think one of the factors is that many unsuccessful students do not do their research & realize how intensive the schooling is. They think it is just another major. Older students are less likely to do this.

Fireman767

231 Posts

Specializes in Oncology, Critical Care.
I understand & know you weren't being exact.

I think one of the factors is that many unsuccessful students do not do their research & realize how intensive the schooling is. They think it is just another major. Older students are less likely to do this.

In addition, the older students tend to understand that they don't want to work at mcdonalds or a supermarket. They realize that education isn't cheap so doing something over again costs much more to them. Plus they realize the importance of success.

PMFB-RN, RN

5,351 Posts

Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
Hi all,

I'm currently a sophomore in a BSN program. I will be 20 years old this march. I went straight from high school to my college and started prerecs, got accepted into NS first try and now I'm almost done with my first year of nursing school. I'm currently volunteering, but the only "real" job that I've ever had is fast food. I still live with my parents for now, to save money. We aren't rich by any means but they try their best to support me. I choose not to work during the school year because I know myself that it would be difficult for me to keep up with the program if I worked. I don't have my own car because I can't afford one... I use one of my parent's. Sometimes they have to give me rides to school and it's embarrassing because everyone else has their own cars and are on their own.

I can't afford a car because I don't work except for summers but that's what I chose to do because It's how I'm getting through the program.

My question is... am I too young/inexperienced to be in Nursing school? Most of my classmates are older than me, very many with cars and their own homes and children etc, and here i am still at home with my parents helping me get through school so that I can be a nurse. I know for a fact that some of them look down on me because I'm not "independent" and my parents are helping me get through this.

I even heard a few older students talking and I guess they didn't realize that I was there, but they said that they wouldn't let people straight out of high school get into nursing school... they should get out for a few years and be more experienced and then go and be a nurse. How true is this?

Will I not be as good as a nurse because I am young? Because I don't have much life experience? Isn't the fact that I can pass nursing school what really counts? I've talked to my friends and parents and they say that it's best to get it done while you're young. But I'm insecure and I feel like I'm out of place... and I'm starting to wonder if maybe they're right.

*** Your not too young. A few years ago I precepted an 18 year old new grad RN in the SICU. She is 23 now and in the second year of CRNA school. When I was in the army and a 19 year old sergeant I was making decisions that could (and did) get people killed. Tens of thousands of other young servicemen and women have been, and are today, holding very responsible jobs.

From reading your post I think you are a responsible and thinking young person. I am sure you will do fine.

Specializes in Hospitalist Medicine.
Hi all,

I'm currently a sophomore in a BSN program. I will be 20 years old this march. I went straight from high school to my college and started prerecs, got accepted into NS first try and now I'm almost done with my first year of nursing school. I'm currently volunteering, but the only "real" job that I've ever had is fast food. I still live with my parents for now, to save money. We aren't rich by any means but they try their best to support me. I choose not to work during the school year because I know myself that it would be difficult for me to keep up with the program if I worked. I don't have my own car because I can't afford one... I use one of my parent's. Sometimes they have to give me rides to school and it’s embarrassing because everyone else has their own cars and are on their own.

I can't afford a car because I don't work except for summers but that's what I chose to do because It's how I'm getting through the program.

My question is... am I too young/inexperienced to be in Nursing school? Most of my classmates are older than me, very many with cars and their own homes and children etc, and here i am still at home with my parents helping me get through school so that I can be a nurse. I know for a fact that some of them look down on me because I’m not “independent” and my parents are helping me get through this.

I even heard a few older students talking and I guess they didn’t realize that I was there, but they said that they wouldn’t let people straight out of high school get into nursing school… they should get out for a few years and be more experienced and then go and be a nurse. How true is this?

Will I not be as good as a nurse because I am young? Because I don’t have much life experience? Isn’t the fact that I can pass nursing school what really counts? I’ve talked to my friends and parents and they say that it’s best to get it done while you’re young. But I’m insecure and I feel like I’m out of place… and I’m starting to wonder if maybe they're right.

I wish the 18 - 20 year olds that were taking pre-reqs in our classes were as diligent as you. I can't count the number of times they didn't come to class or dropped out of a course because they were too busy partying to care about school.

I think it's great that, at your age, you have figured out what you want to do with your life and you're taking steps to achieve that goal. Don't let other people make you feel bad about yourself!!! No one cares that you're getting dropped off at school or that you don't own your own car & live with your parents. Are you making it to class & clinicals on time? That is what matters!

You have your whole life ahead of you and you'll be able to have a well-paid first job when you're done with school. You'll be so much more ahead of other people your age. What a great start in life! Be thankful you have such a supportive & loving family :) Don't let gossiping harpies make you feel down!!

Heck, I'm 43 and have the opposite experience. I'm spending my life savings to go to nursing school. In my pre-reqs, people would whisper "Hermione Granger" every time I answered the professor's question. I wasn't trying to be Miss Smarty Pants, but if no one else was answering, I'd chime in. At first, it hurt my feelings that people would act like that, but now...I take it as a compliment. Hey, at the end of the day, it all comes down to your individual performance and not what every one else thinks about you or your perception of how they view you. Hold your head high, girl!!! :)

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN

1 Article; 20,908 Posts

Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

I was 18 years old when I graduated nursing school with a ADN (child prodigy ;)) that was 35 years ago. Which would be impossible today because many facilities wouldn't let me in clinical these days.

It is all about the person and not the age.

nyteshade, BSN

555 Posts

Specializes in Legal, Ortho, Rehab.

OP, your classmates are full of crap. I became a nurse young too. In fact, younger than you (at 18) due to a duel high school/nursing program. No regrets, no second thoughts, move forward, and congrats on everything you've done thus far in life.

i♥words

561 Posts

I wish the 18 - 20 year olds that were taking pre-reqs in our classes were as diligent as you. I can't count the number of times they didn't come to class or dropped out of a course because they were too busy partying to care about school.

I think a lot of people go to college right out of high school because their parents want them to or because they are pressured by society. The push to go to college these days is pretty extreme. Many believe the lie that just because you have a college degree you will get a well-paying job within months of graduation. Maybe people don't think that as much now, but it is still a prevalent belief. Nursing is one of those degrees that might actually guarantee you a job as compared to, say, a degree in history, but that's debatable.

As far as partying and slacking goes, well... What do you expect from kids who have been brought up to be dependent suddenly to be thrown into independence? It's the "college experience." Add to that the constant infiltration of "be who you are," "use your college experience to find yourself," and "have fun; you have your whole life ahead of you." My classmates who are most responsible are those who have been taught to be responsible and who stay away from the party scene, those who are working multiple jobs trying to pay for their education, and those who are older, non-traditional students. I fall into the first category. I started a BSN program right after high school. I'll be 20 when I start the nursing program in the fall.

jen4243

1 Post

I am 30 years old and will be finishing my LPN Feb 2014. My advice is to continue what your doing if it works for you. I go to school Monday-Friday and work 16 hour shifts every saturday and sunday. It is very hard juggling school, work, and all the other every day events. I hardley ever see my boyfriend and miss out on all family activities. I wish I wouldve done this when I was still living at home with my parents.

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