Afraid of starting nursing Pre reqs

goddess9 · Jul 15, 2014

I felt the same way. I'm 25, I feel older than some of the people pursuing a degree here. I went in with the idea that if I study hard enough, it won't matter... And sure enough, I aced my first class. Best average in the class and my professor said I was on fire. You just have to believe in yourself... You're smart enough and if you want it, you'll get it.

NurseGirl525, ASN, RN · Jul 15, 2014

I'm 38 and starting the program in August. It's normal to feel nervous but really, about half of my classes had people older than me. My sociology and psychology classes last semester were the ones where all of the kiddos fresh out of high school were from. But I got along fine with all of them. There weren't any issues and no one treated me like the old lady of the class. Lol. In my sociology class I had a 70 year old woman and in my psych class I bonded with a girl who was my age and going through a divorce just like I was and returning to school.

Just to add my cousins' other grandmother just graduated in May with her associate's degree at the age of 82!!! She is the oldest graduate from the Penn State Altoona Campus. She had gotten married at the age of 15 and dropped out of high school and had a family. Her husband died about 10 years ago and schooling was something she always wanted to do. We were so proud of her!! It is absolutely, never too late. And you are still super young!!!

PersnickityChick · Jul 15, 2014

What you are going through is perfectly normal. And what you choose to do about it is what will make the difference in your life. You can continue to question the what-ifs of things, and never go forward, or you can stand up, and just do it. I am 37 years old, and I start nursing school this fall. For many years this was something I wanted to do, but like you I was paralyzed by the "What Ifs". Finally I realized that I just had to go do it, and stop worrying. I began the pre-reqs last summer with one class. I can not recommend starting classes in the summer. Doing a full term in 4 weeks is rough. That said, I did fine in the class, and went on to take 2 full time semesters. I had assumed it would take me a couple of years to get through the pre-reqs. I made it in less than a year, and this summer I am working on co-reqs.

One of my biggest "What Ifs" through the journey was about my job. I worked as an assistant in Special Education for 10 years. I loved my kids, and loved my job, but in order to go to nursing school I would have to quit my job, and step out into the unknown. Again, something I'm not terribly good at. But, I did it. I let the school know that I wouldn't be back.... and now I am unemployed (for the time being).

To offer you a little encouragement along a more... practical line, consider this. You are older, you are wiser, you are hopefully more mature. These three things present you with an enormous advantage. Best of luck with your new adventure!

NeoNatMom · Jul 16, 2014

OGM!!!! Have NO fears! Most ppl in my program, both previous cohorts and mine, are older than you are LOL. :) Be happy cus you are in the prime!!! I am 25 and felt old because I saw many in my prerequisites who were younger. But most of them didnt get into the program. I think a lot of it has to do with how many of us are parents or need it that bad that it becomes super competitive to those fighting hard enough. You will rock. Just make smart choices about how much time you have to dedicate to you credit hours. plan ahead for the time and you will be fine :) Since I was new to the sciences, I waited to take them last, by themselves, and saved illustrations and pictures to explain processes of physiology out loud.

Hope this helps, Best wishes!

nurseD1994 · Jul 16, 2014

I have the same feelings and I'm currently on my summer break! I have those thoughts all the time, plus it does help me when my advisor is telling that i wont succeed in the nursing field. I also have failed a class a i'm going to retake it in the Fall all we can do is pray and do our best. I understand where you are coming from. I hope you the best in future. Also I know people that I attend school with that are older than you. It is never too late to go back to school!

mery_ay · Jul 16, 2014

I am have the same feeling, im hitting 30 years old, still working on my GED so i can get a job while in collage, since i have a lot of bill to pay, im also have 8 months old baby, im thinking to start prereqs but in so scared.

GingerRN17 · Jul 16, 2014

Its normal. I started this right after my 29th birthday. Pre-reqs stink at times but they will help you build the skills you need for nursing school! Just take it one semester at a time. :)

TIffany1579 · Aug 10, 2014

Almost everyone is nervous when they start classes. Your age also wont matter when starting classes because the ages of your classmates will be diverse. I was nervous about started my ore requisites and I'm only 19. I befriended a girl in my class who is also going a ore nursing student and she was nervous and had kids older than me. You will be fine. Once you actually start classes you will see you were worried for nothing.

TLizS · Aug 10, 2014

I didn't read through the replies yet sooo if I am repeating whats already been said...I apologize.

I am 29.....I was 28 when I went back to school to get my nursing pre reqs done. I had the exact same worries....I'm not in the position to fail at what I am doing...or to go to school for a degree that will be worthless to me after school. I am paying for my own school which is very different than the position I was in the first time I went to college. It's natural to be worried about all of those things...the more I read the more I worried. My biggest worry (from reading online) was not being able to get a job after graduation. I calmed that fear by checking all the hospitals within a reasonable driving distance and saw the number of RN positions listed on their websites.....that cured my biggest hold back (and I am by no means under the impression that I will walk into a dream job easily after graduation but the number of positions out there comforted me that I could eventually get where I wanted to be) eventually I decided if this is what I wanted to do I needed to quit worrying so much......quit reading all these things online that fueled my worries and buckle down and do it.

It's completely normal to have these fears when venturing in a new direction but don't let it discourage you. I think being a nontraditional student gives you that many more worries...you have enough life experience to know that things don't always work out just because you WANT it .....and to be cautious.....but this is totally do able with enough hard work and dedication

julzgarcia · Aug 10, 2014

I just turned 30 in june and have not been to school since I was in high school. I have felt more than once that i'm not going to be able to do this. Honestly, being on this site has def kept me motivated (as well as watching a lot of discovery health). My husband is awesome and has become my own personnel cheerleader which helps put me at ease.

We all had something that pushed us in this direction of getting into an ADN program, we just have to hold onto that motivation when it becomes overwhelming with our own thoughts!