How many much older (40+) students out there starting classes? (I'm 47)

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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Hi, everyone. Just wondering how many older students like me are starting nursing classes this year? I'm 47 and just finished most of my pre-reqs; starting nursing classes in the fall and am extremely excited! Second career for me after doing data entry for over 25 years and never having gone to college before, but I love it! I don't feel like I could have done this when I was younger - didn't have the determination I do now. And now that my children are grown, there's only my husband and I left so I have plenty of time for studying. This is happening at the perfect time in my life. My ultimate goal is to work as a L&D nurse. I became interested in that 3 years ago when my granddaughter was born and I noticed the nurses helping my daughter through her labor. I thought that was such an interesting and rewarding career. My goal is to have my RN by the time I turn 50! Never thought in a million years my life would take this turn, but soooo glad it has.

Specializes in LTAC, ICU, ER, Informatics.

I'm 42, will graduate this December (knock on wood) with an AAS and I'll be 43. If it's what you want, go for it. While there's something to be said for young bodies that don't ache or squeak, there's also something to be said for business and life experience.

Best of luck!!

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I'm 53 and still working on some pre-reqs but also working as a full time Flight Attendant. This will be the second career that I had always wished had been my first!

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I'm 44, and I am finally going to begin working on the prerequisites this summer (starting with microbiology). I have been working as a pediatric physical therapist for over 20 years and also have my MS in Child Development, but I have thought about going back to school for nursing for probably the past five years or so. I have three kids (the youngest is two - yep, not only am I an older student, but I am also an older mom!), and I decided to try taking a class this summer to see how things go. It's nice to see so many other 40-50 year old students out there!

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Hi Everyone! Add me to the mix. I am 46 , been in LPN school since feb, will graduate Jan 2013. Also a second career for me. It is exciting, grueling, fun, frustrating, and any other emotion you can think of. For me it isnt like college at all, no learning and dumping here, as you can sometimes do in college, not everything is absolutely important. It has been a rough 3 months so far. NS has taken over every aspect of my life, not a bad thing, just a reality. Some days I feel like giving up because it IS so intense, but I still plug along, we can all do anything for a year right? be prepared to study alot, read , go to clinicals, be organized.

Best of luck to all, we should be proud of ourselves for choosing this path! It isnt easy to begin again at 46!

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I'm 40+ - recently finished my pre-regs and starting nursing school in the fall. It's a lot of studying but it helps to learn that we are learning for our future occupation.

Lots of older students out there. I found that people are often too busy studying and trying to do well in classes to worry about age. My microbiology partner was 19 and I didnt' even know til the end when we were talking about plans for the future. All we cared about was trying to learn and get a great grade

Good luck to everyone in their education

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Specializes in MA 6yrs, CNA 2yrs.

Good luck to you. I just turned 43, a 1 yr. LPN, about to take the entrance exam to the RN program by September. My 2 children are graduating from high school in June.. You are not alone.. ??

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Specializes in Hospitalist Medicine.

Count me in the group! I'm 42 and switching careers after putting my dream of being a nurse on hold for the past 18 years. I cannot wait to get started! I'm doing my pre-reqs this summer and fall and will apply for the nursing program in January. If I get accepted, I'll either start in Fall 2013 or Spring 2013 (depending on which cohort they assign me to).

In between the pre-reqs and waiting to get in to nursing school, I'm going to work towards any classes I'll need for the BSN to cut down on time after finishing the RN. I'm also getting my phlebotomy certification so I can work in the local hospital while waiting to get into school.

While I feel like I'm probably going to be older than most of my classmates, I also know that this is exactly what I want to do and I'm VERY focused on making this my priority. I think we older students can really show our maturity and professionalism when we get into the clinical setting.

Best of luck to all of us 40+ students :D

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I turned 49 yesterday and in a Nursing Assistant program at the school where I hope to continue on to nursing. The only "problem" I have is that I still have a son at home, who is 10. My mommy guilt is running rampant! But I am also sure that when there is a will, there is a way. I've been wiping out the cobwebs from my brain. The more I study, the more I look ahead to nursing! I've been a medical transcriptionist for over 23 years. It's been a career that I never really liked. (Transcriptionists are dropping like flies since the electronic medical records technology has been implemented in lots of hospitals.)

Nice to see some other "more mature" students!

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I am 39 and just starting my prereqs at a local community college and then will apply to a BSN nursing program. I am very excited but also very nervous because it has been a long time since I have been in school. I work full time as a medical transcriptionist so it will probably take me a little longer than usual to finish my prereqs but I don't really mind because it will all be worth it when I have my BSN! I work from home so my schedule is pretty flexible so that should help. Good luck to everyone...we can do it!

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Hello,

I am not 40+ but I am 36 with three kids and an Ex husband LOL. I have completed all the classes required for clinical this fall. It has taken me about 3.5 years to complete all the pre classes. In my second anatomy class, there was a lady in the class who kept telling us, "she could be our mother." Funny part was she would have been pregnant at 10 years old to be my mother

Good luck!

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Specializes in CNA/LPN.

In my first semester of the program there were four others in my class that were in their early or late 40's and there were two that were in their 50's. There are even more coming behind us in that age range for the program at my college. :)

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Hi, I'm 57 and just graduated. It's my second career, and really wished it had been my first. I am waiting to take the NCLEX, and then I can start my career. It is definately doable as you can see. I took a long time to decide what I really wanted to do, but I found it. I wish all of you luck, and remember no matter how hard it seems, you can do it!

Thank you for this! I am going to be 53 next month and will be applying for nursing school in fall of 2013. I only want to go as far as RN, BSN would just take too long and I am fine with RN. I was so afraid this chance had passed me by. I have always wanted to be a nurse and thougth I was too old, but you are never too old. I am loving school. I just hope and pray that I am accepted into the nursing program, I feel like I have one good shot so I have to make it.

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