How old is too old?!?!?

mama4linda · May 20, 2009

You'll do fine, our brains are more mature and we have alot of life experience and common sence to help us along.

I am 51 years old and will graduate this June ! In our class we have quite a few mature adults and a fellow class mate that is 56 yr. old and he did fine in our program and we all have job offers, we just need to decide where we want to work...

Think and stay positive,

you can do it:yeah:

elskedeen1 · May 20, 2009

You are not too old , I too started back in 1984 taking core classes for nursing. When I was finally done with everything my son was accepted to UCLA. It was him or me, so I put my dream off again. Then my mother shattered her tibia and ended up with a skin graft to go along with her fracture. I took take care of her throughout the healing process, again another delay. In the mean time my core nursing pre-requisites became outdated per the the policy of the nursing program I wanted to atttend. So I didn't finish and for 6 years I kicked myself wishing that I had just finished and gooten my RN. My friend Rena would constantly ask me inquire about the nursing program and finish my schooling. I would say okay but knowing that I wasn't ready to retake all of the nursing pre-requisites over again. I became motiviated to finish my nursing when someone in the operating room where I worked as the anesthesia tech upset me. I wwent home that same day and called the college in Fresno California to get information on their program as I had heard they did not outdate their pre-requisites. In the mean time I also checkout the nursing proram here in Modesto where I lived. To my surprise they also had done away with the time-limit on their nurising pre-requisites. I immediately applied to their program. I was acccepted into the program on my second try. Iwas very nervous as I had not been in school in over 10 years!! It was an adjustment for everyone in my family as we went from 2 incomes to one income to no income when the company my husband worked for closed suddendly when I was in the second month of my first semester. By the grace of God, my mother, sister, and brother, brother-in-law, his wife and a friend of ours Jeff Brown we have survived nursing school and still manged to keep our home. Here I sit today having GRADUATED: from the nursing program and am now studying to take the NCLEX in two weeks. If I can do it so can you, it is something I wanted so badly and thought I would never achieve!

GOOD LUCK AND NEVER GIVE UP!!!!

ninolindard · May 20, 2009

I graduated in 1997, in Sept. I'll be 60 yrs. old and am still working med/surg.at the local hospital. As you get older with more experience you'll work smarter and hopefully you'll work with real teammates like I have. Go for it!

dmdmd · May 20, 2009

Go For IT!!!! Never look back. Good luck!!!!

lamazeteacher · May 20, 2009

Hi Amy!
I'm in your bracket. If you're too old, then I'm too old, and I refuse to be too old!:pumpiron:
Seriously though, I have some worries. I worry about being able to physically keep up with the demands of nursing. I worried a lot about absorbing tons of material in subjects I've never tried before, with a 40-something yr old brain instead of a 20 yr old brain. I've just finished A&P 1 & 2 with an A, and now feel like my concentration is slowly improving. That gives me hope that this old dog can actually run with the little dogs.
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I'm 70 years young, and I'm thrilled that we'll have nurses soon with years of "living" experience. You know far more about human nature, kindness (and not), needs that have to be met, organization of tasks, and the value of money, than I did when I was 17 years old and went to a nursing school!I'd still be working now, if age bias didn't interfere. I am told that I look 50, and have energy to match that, plus experience that's invaluable.
What is also wonderful, is that "health" insurance companies as they're known now, will no longer be there to ruin your career! That's because employers won't be getting rid of nurses who reach 55 years of age, due to much higher premiums they're charged for their health care "benefit". Our government allowed that to go on for at least 25 years! When employees reached 65 years of age, they weren't allowed to have Medicare as their primary insurere, and the employer was charges still much more money for their coverage (if they kept their jobs).
The change in circumstances will be due to more realistic reorganization of health care, by health professionals, which our current administration is dedicated to providing. A group of physicians has been working on this for years, and their findings and suggestions will be used to reduce costs, provide greater service and better working conditions to provide greater safety and care.
Your career won't be dogged by high patient:nurse ratios, lack of equipment due to "bottom line" business practises (and high salaries and bonuses for administrators, which allows facilities to be called "non profit"). poor pay, and "dog-eat-dog" work conditions (which I prefer to "nurses eating their young"). Pharmacies in hospitals won't have limited formularies prohibiting use of medications patients have taken effectively before their hospitalization. I'm not saying it will be perfect, but it will be patient centered.
You will be able to work longer, until you decide that you'd rather not.

Chaz47 · May 20, 2009

okay listen I will be 47 at the end of this month. I put my dream off for the longest time. I am now down to 25 credits and will hopefully graduate in 2011 Spring. I work a full time job and go to school parttime. I have 11 children the 10th child will graduate this week. I have good days and some bad but my point is do not look at age but remember we the older ones that is have something on the younger ones we can endure! good luck

reiver71 · May 20, 2009

:yeah:Congratulations on your return to school. I don't believe we're ever too old to stop learning. There were women in our ADN class who were in their 40's and 50's. We "youngsters" really benefitted from their wisdom. I finally completed my BSN last year after 37 years as an RN and am looking into MSN/APN programs, though I would literally be at retirement age if I finished. Take heart though, and stick with it......there will always be a need for a good nurse.

Code_VSA · May 20, 2009

I was 37 years old and a LPN when I went back for my BSN. I was raising 4 kids on my own, worked 12 hour days on Friday, Saturday, and Sundays and then to the University rest of the time. I have a older daughter that just graduated from a BSN program May 1st and the younger daughter starts her program in January.

I will be 53 in a few days. The one thing that does stand out in my mind was the older women in my nursing class. They were in their 40's and early 50's. They were the best students. Grounded, focused and made good grades besides.

You are doing fantastic so far and you will continue to do great. Just make sure your kids and husband are on board. Once you enter the nursing program it is time intensive. Some husbands feel a little neglected if you have to sequester yourself in a room somewhere for hours on end or even days on end. :eek:

I have known women who make the great grades but the family sabotages them and they have second thoughts on their abilities. Everyone will have to make some kind of sacrifice to get you through this. I remember after a full day of class and clinicals I would be too tired to fix supper. Ask my kids how many times they had to wake me up when I fell asleep with my head on the table in the restaurant and the waitress was ready to take the order!

Good luck in your endeavors.

Scubadiver · May 20, 2009

Folks, I turned 60 in January and am finishing my MSN in July ready to start my doctorate in October. You tell me, how old is too old given that I will be working for at least 10 more years???? :yeah:

Barkley36 · May 20, 2009

let's hear it for "old" nursing students! i'm 54 and will be starting an entry level msn program in june. i'm excited and ready to jump into advanced pathophysiology with both feet. hey, i know i'm the oldest student in my cohort of 20, but feel that i bring a lot to the table. i do have a background in health care as a medical techologist, but have also been a professional photographer and a naval officer. i've had to deal with parents with terminal cancer, bosses that drove me crazy and more than a few jokes from friends (?) who think i'm out of my mind. my goal is to get my masters degree by the time i'm 60 and spend the next several decades being both useful and challenged. what could be more exciting!

Chaz47 · May 20, 2009

Now that's what I am talking about I am looking forward to my next venture which is my Master's in Public Health/Community Health. After all with all of my brood (11 children) I feel I have plenty of experience and should fit right on in with the rest of the community.

Max's_Mommy · May 20, 2009

Never too old! I'll be 27 this year and only a few classes to go. BUT, I may have another child within the next few years so the dream might be on hold for a bit longer. Figured I should get my family going and then start a career. This is after a talk with my hubby last night... he doesn't want to be in his 40s when we have our second (which is in a few years for him). I don't might being in my early 30s by the time I start NS. Besides, I'm a young looking 26 y/o. HEHE :) I'll still look young when I start school! :) That makes me feel better.