Opinions please, am I too old??

Shamrock, BSN, RN · Jun 6, 2003

Well, if you decide not to go ahead you will be 51 without a

degree!! Go for it! Good luck. :)

RNIAM, BSN, RN · Jun 6, 2003

I agree. Why not? You might find though that unless your in great shape you might tire easier. I'll be 38 and I am not in great shape and I get tired..lol Good luck though. I am going into my second year in the fall, well as long as I pass the summer semester.

sammycat · Jun 14, 2003

When I entered nursing school in 1988, I was 28 and I was the youngest student in my class. I met a man who had retired from the auto industry building cars and wanted another career. He went into nursing. At the age of 48, he graduated. Within 3 years, he was the head nurse at a busy ER on the north side of Chicago. You are never too old if it is something you want to do. I was the youngest of my class and I made it with 2 small kids and a drunk husband. I had to make it so I could divorce the bum! If you really want it, go for it and don't let anything stand in your way. :nurse:

Genista, BSN, RN · Jun 14, 2003

I worked with a gal who started nursing school in her early 50s. She's now in her 60s, working as an RN & says she adores it. She is a great nurse, and I was startled to hear she's only been an RN for a few short years (you would think it had been decades- she's such a natural). Go for your dreams! Don't let anything stop you.

Ann42 · Jun 16, 2003

Originally posted by Shamrock
Well, if you decide not to go ahead you will be 51 without a
degree!! Go for it! Good luck. :)

I agree with Shamrock here! Actually accomplishing something great, like becoming a nurse, can go a long way to improving how you look at yourself and decrease your depressibility.

I'll be 46 when I graduate, but originally I was going to wait and start school after my youngest graduated from high school. That would have been three more years! I would have been 49 at graduation then. No matter! I'd still be thrilled to go back to school.

I've been a hospital patient four times, once for an appendictomy, the other three times having babies. I hate to say this, but I actually felt "safer" with the nurses who looked a little older. Most of my nurses looked like they were still in Junior High! :roll

2banurse · Jun 17, 2003

The only one that can really answer that question is YOU! I think that being an older student (than traditional) you will bring in a substantial amount of experience. There will probably be many occasions when a "more experience" but young RN may need your input not having the opportunity to experience some of the things you have. If you can do it...I say go for it!

Kris

RNmomx6 · Jun 18, 2003

It seems to me that you have been nursing yourself or others for a long time without a degree. I say shoot for the moon and you may reach the stars... to pass on a quote. Greatest of luck

teeituptom, BSN, RN · Jun 18, 2003

Go for it, Im 50 and holding and holding etc. I plan to work untill Im 70 or dead whichever comes first

califrn · Jun 18, 2003

No one is ever too old to start something new--but I would consider what type of nursing to go into-some are way more physically draining than others and nurses have one of the highest rates of back injuries. Good Luck. I am 54 and have been in nursing for 25 years-and am starting a new job at a new hospital myself-so it certainly can be done!!

Ann42 · Jun 19, 2003

Originally posted by sprklplnty

I am a kind compassionate person and have been running an online support group for depression on IRC for the past 7 years having suffered chronic depression for the better part of my life. Happy to say that it has been controlled by medication for the better part of 6 years or so.

I'm sorry. I misread and thought you had been personally dealing with chronic depression, alas my previous post. Sounds like you will make a great nurse! Btw, I also have three daughters and my youngest will turn 15 in July! They are 19, 17, and almost 15.

PennyNickelDime_RN · Jun 21, 2003

Hi again,

Thank you all so much for responding.

I just returned from Florida where my 45 year old sister had brain surgery to remove a menengioma. Thank god she came through it fine, without a stroke and without damage to her optic nerve.

Ann42: you are correct about me having major chronic depression. That is how my support group online was born. I have had two major episodes in my life both of which lasted over a year. My depression has been under control for about 7 years with medication.

After having been in the hospital with my sister last week, I know more than ever that nursing is what I want to do. I met some of the most wonderful compassionate nurses there and really wanted to jump right in :)

Thank you all again.