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

beckyboo1, BSN, RN · May 17, 2012

I'm there with you all! I'm 45, have 2 semesters of pre reqs behind me. The only classes I have left to get before applying to RN bridge are physiology and human lifespan psychology. I'll be ready to apply for the class that starts Jan 2014. I plan to have everything out of the way but nursing classes by the time I get in. We should revive this thread periodically to encourage each other!

mrsmctee · May 17, 2012

Loved reading everyone's posts. Like many of you, I am preparing for a second career. I have been accepted to the spring 2013 class but I will be petitioning to go "out of sequence" in hopes of starting in the fall of 2013. I will retire from a 35 year teaching career in May of 2013 so I can't start in January 2013:) I am 56 years old.

StarofLifeRN · May 17, 2012

I'm glad to be in such good company! I'm 46 and left a 21 year career in higher education last fall to focus on my prereqs. I was accepted to a master's entry program (adult nurse practitioner track) for this fall and am very excited for the chance at a second career.

stickabug · May 17, 2012

[color=#8b4513]i love this thread!

[color=#8b4513]i turned 42 a few weeks ago, and will be done with my pre-reqs at the city community college toward a bsn next spring (i live in chicago). i am changing careers from it after 20 years. i plan to enter into a nursing program next fall (2013). i actually went to an open house presentation at isu a few weeks ago, and at first felt intimidated because i was the only "mature" student. however, after settling in after a few minutes, it felt good. so, isu will be on my application list of next fall/spring.

good luck to all of you! :)

rubato, ASN, RN · May 17, 2012

[color=#8b4513]i love this thread!
[color=#8b4513] i actually went to an open house presentation at isu a few weeks ago, and at first felt intimidated because i was the only "mature" student. however, after settling in after a few minutes, it felt good. so, isu will be on my application list of next fall/spring.

i completely understand that feeling. when i first started my prereqs, i felt out of place and obvious. but, i found out that it's okay that i'm noticeable. my professors remember me.

i'm glad to see there are so many of us. good luck everyone!

Exhaustipated, ADN, BSN · May 17, 2012

[color=#8b4513] i actually went to an open house presentation at isu a few weeks ago, and at first felt intimidated because i was the only "mature" student. however, after settling in after a few minutes, it felt good.

i was so nervous at the new student orientation, because i was certain i was the oldest there. it's intimidating! once i started classes, though, it stopped mattering to me. i was there to learn, dagnabbit! i concentrated on that, and stopped worrying about whether or not some students would look at me as if i were too old.

it might just be my school, but i've noticed i'm the lone "mature" student in some classes and just another fish in the sea in others. in both my english classes, i was the oldest (even older than the instructor in 1101), but in my sciences, i'm just one of many older students.

i'm also starting to notice that some programs have an older population than others do. i don't know if that means anything, but i found it interesting.

michelle24 · May 17, 2012

Hello everyone, Just wanted to put it out there! I had a goal for myself too! Career by the time I was 20 and i did it. I have been a cna for 20 yrs. My next goal was to be a nurse by the time I was 40! Well needless to say I start lpn school at the end of Aug. this yr. and ( cough) I will be turning 40 this Nov....I believe that's Goal almost complete:yelclap:. To everyone on this thread, keep up the great work! Knowing that we are all in this together, will be my inspiration.

watashi · May 18, 2012

I also am 56. I was an engineer for 20 years, then homeschooled my children for 10. I have just finished pre-reqs and will start nursing school (ADN) in the fall. I took all my classes online except for labs. It was definitely uncomfortable going to classes at first. I was surprised, though, at how many older students there were. I was always the oldest, but there were many in their 30s and 40s. My first lab instructor, 30ish, couldn't bring himself to call me by my first name - it was always "Miss C..."!

The thing I am most worried about is the schedule. Even when I was working, I was on flex-time and could come and go pretty much as I wished as long as the work got done, and for the last 13 years I have had almost total control over my daily schedule, so I'm afraid nursing school (and nursing) will require a huge adjustment.

leenak · May 18, 2012

I'm turning 37 this month. There are a lot of older students in my pre-reqs. I've been working in IT for 14 years and I desperately need a change. It is scary but exciting.I'm with you watashi. I have a very flexible work schedule. I'd say I have an ideal job in terms of pay and flexibility but I am tired/bored of the work.

LindaBright, MSN · May 18, 2012

I didn't start my career in nursing later in life, but, I have quite a few friends right now that are in their 40s and either switching careers to nursing, or coming out of the stay-at-home-mom part of their lives, and nursing is their first career. They're really excited about the opportunities, and most of the time, they say that their instructors seem to prefer the older students because they're more serious about studying and learning. Congratulations!

leenak · May 18, 2012

Linda, that is what my A&P teacher said. She prefers teaching night classes because the students tend to be older and more serious.

rubato, ASN, RN · May 18, 2012

Yep, I've had at least 3 professors pull me aside now and tell me the same thing. They love the older, non-traditional student. We know what's at stake and most of us have a serious timeline.