Nursing school at 23. Is it too late for me?

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I've always wanted to be a nurse! I just took a little detour instead of going straight to College. I got married and started a family! I've taken my placement test and placed out of all of the pre reqs. Now its just getting my CNA in the spring and applying for the nursing program in the fall. I'm really nervous and I seem to be having a hard time remembering what I learned in High School. I feel like this is going to cause me a few problems when I start my classes. I would just like to hear from others who waited a few years before going to school and see how things worked out for them.

thanks!

Melissa

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Too late? Are you kidding? Even though you have a family, you will do MUCH better because you are more mature and disciplined.

There's a thread on here from a 50-year-old who was asking if she was too old. NO!

I went back to school myself at age 23, and graduated when I was 30. (I'm a pharmacist.) NO WAY could I have handled those heavy-duty classes when I was 19; those few years made all the difference. It was much easier for me because I was single and childless, but trust me, it CAN be done.

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Too late? Are you kidding? Even though you have a family, you will do MUCH better because you are more mature and disciplined.

There's a thread on here from a 50-year-old who was asking if she was too old. NO!

I went back to school myself at age 23, and graduated when I was 30. (I'm a pharmacist.) NO WAY could I have handled those heavy-duty classes when I was 19; those few years made all the difference. It was much easier for me because I was single and childless, but trust me, it CAN be done.

I was trying to find a way to delete this post and put it in the right place! Thank you for the quick reply!

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

TOO LATE!!! GET SERIOUS :lol2:

You're still a baby - go ahead and browse through some of the posts in the 'student' forum. You 'll see people in the 55+ range that are excitedly counting the days until graduation.

Seriously, take a good look at your birth certificate. There is no fine print that says "..... can't learn anything after age ..." Some things get better with age - including your ability to learn and study.

If you want some perspective, begin keeping a journal. You'll be amazed at how much your viewpoints change from year to year. The one thing I have heard just about every "old" person say? "if I knew then what I know now".

Best of Luck in school. Be kind to all of us (real) old folks that will be in your class.

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Oh, hooohaaaahahahahah! :lol2:

Wait a minute, I have to collect myself.

You are SO young. SO YOUNG. I went back at 52.

Your life is just beginning.

:)

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.

My first thought was CHILD puleeze. LOL

Seriously now, the average age of the nursing student is about 27ish depending on the school. Community colleges are especially full of "older" nursing students.

I went to nursing school in my early 30's.

Check this out: https://allnurses.com/forums/f200/anyone-start-their-career-late-life-125963.html

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Tee hee hee! Get back in school! Like Tweety, I went to nursing school in my early 30's. Heck I'm not even old now and I'm probably older than your parents!

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Specializes in DOU.

You'll probably be amongst the younger students. I am 42, and there are at least 10 students in my class that are older.

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hi. I am going to enter the nursing school and now i am 25 years old. Thank you for this posting. Actually i feel very shy and scared coz i am not sure whether i want to further or not in this nursing world coz i was engineering student. When i quit from engineering, my dad said i am too caring to everyone and he ask and persuade me to apply nursing. All of the young nursing in my college here (malaysia) look at me very awkward and i thought maybe i am too old. After reading what all of type in this forum. I feel very happy until my tears down. Coz i thought it is too late for me. once again. thank you very much.

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Heck no! You are so young. I went back when I was 27 and I thought I was old. I was so worried and sometimes I lacked confidence because I let my insecurities get the best of me.

:chair:

Don't do that. I found that I was so much more focused and grasped concepts better than I would have at a younger age. For me, I was in the right place at the right time. I made so many friends of all ages and we are buds to this day!!! But take a look around in your classes, you will probably find someone just like you or maybe older. Go for it!

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Specializes in Mother Baby & pre-hospital EMS.

Hi Melissa,

Nothing wrong with detours. :nuke:

I'm the same age as you (your title drew me to this thread), but I had a 7 month break in between one degree to the next. I am in an accelerated BSN program, but me and another guy are the youngest in our clinical group. There are even people older than me in the traditional program, some married, and some with kids, too.

It was a little hard going from one degree program to the next (with not too long of a break) since I was a little tired of school (burnt out?) when I graduated. So maybe taking a break from school is a good thing. When you get back, you will be renewed and motivated to be a good student!

So I just wanted to let you know that you are not alone, and 23 is definitely not too late!!

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The mean age in our Masters Entry nursing program is 30 this year (the range is 22 - 54)

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