Older Student/Over 60 years old

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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Hello everyone-

This is my first post, but I am curious....When I finish nursing school (if I even get in) I will be 62 years old. Is there anyone out there in the same situation? I am currently struggling through Physiology, and am not sure I can get the required B, but I don't have a lot of time to waste taking it again. Do you find learning is harder because you are older?

This is my final dream, to become a nurse. Done everything else I have ever wanted to achieve, but this just might be not possible.

Thanks

It's never to late too follow your dreams. :yeah:

Obstacles are those things you see when you take your eye off the prize ;)

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There was a 65 year old women in my A&P 1 class. She held 3 Master's and was just doing this for fun. She had a little bit of difficulty, but she passed. A&P is difficult for everyone, it's just a lot to learn.

I personally do not believe it's ever to late to pursue a dream and if this is what you want, then you will find a way. Don't do something you will regret, you only live once.

An LPN is still a nurse, however I'm not sure if your dream was to become an RN or what. Becoming an LPN is easier than becoming an RN, you do not have to take as many classes and I do not think you have to take A&P. There is an LPN in my A&P classes. The A&P classes are on the RN program.

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Specializes in cardiac-telemetry, hospice, ICU.

Forestlover- I am in your boat too. I am 58 and just finishing A&P 1. I have been working my a** off and getting the grades to show it. I also believe we old folks have something we bring to the table, life experience. I got an advanced degree back in the 70's. I surprised myself how well my study skills hung in there. The other day a 20 something student said to me in class, " Well your memory still seems to be working." I laughed my butt off! She backpedelled, but I told her "thanks for the compliment."

I work at staying fit and know I will make a great nurse. This will be the fourth (and last) successful career. Keep on chugging along, you can do it!

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I am so glad I found this thread. I was feeling concerned about the age thing too. I got my RN in the 80's and got the BSN in 2007 at the age of 56. I immediately applied to Graduate school and started in the Nurse Practitioner program. I am the oldest in my class and most profs are younger or my age. All preceptors are difinitely younger which is not necessarily a good thing since one I had expected me to know more than a typical 2nd semester student should know in that program. He also expected me to see patients 4 times as fast as my school required. His comments were really discriminatory, so I am concerned about which schools may be better for nontraditional/older students. Does anyone know of schools that seem to have a plentiful supply of nontraditional students? I know age is a factor in acceptance because they ask your birthdate on the applications. Also, I got a call from one trying to get me interested in the schools he was promoting, and he told me that some schools did have age limits. I am 59 now, and if I get accepted to another school will be at least 60 when I finish. I also want to finish it online. Some schools believe in Socialization and try to mould you into what their idea of a nurse is. At our age, that is ridiculous. We have been moulded and are there for the education.

My advice to you who started the thread is to GO FOR IT! Never give up your dreams. I'd do the RN if that is what you want. You can decide for yourself. I'd talk to other LPNs to see if what they do on a daily basis is enough to satisfy you. Do the same with RNs. I'd say RN is the way to go. You are too young not to be able to really do something with it. They say that the 60's are when we take the world by storm! I did the interviewing with NPs before I applied. My neighbor got her PhD at age 75 and is 90 now and writing a book!!! I'd love to be friends with you and the others who are in our age bracket. I have support to give and would love to have your experience, strength, and hope. Let me know if you know of schools that will accept us older students etc. Barinbass

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Specializes in ICU / PCU / Telemetry / Oncology.
If 50 is the new 30, I guess that makes 60 the new 40?

Does that go without saying then that 40 is the new 20??? :D ...

I would love to see the OP come back and report that she has become an RN ... :yeah: ... you are NEVER too old to pursue your dreams!

I'm also one who plans to be carted out, stethescope and all. I shudder sometimes to picture myself in retirement as sitting in a rocking chair watching and waiting for life to end. My idea of retirement is part-time work, and that hopefully won't happen until my 70's.

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Two points - remember first of all that it is always darkest just before the dawn. You will struggle and question yourself and some days want to quit, but you must press on toward your goal, knowing, trusting, believing that though you cannot see the sun, it is waiting there, just below the horizon, and soon it will rise and you will see that everything you have done was worth it. As others have said, wipe the age thing from your mind - what, does age turn you into a different person? No. Would you be thinking you can't do it if you were 20 years younger? No? Then don't think it now. Forget age. It literally is just a number.

My second point is - one of the things that I really like about nursing is that it can be a truly lifelong career. If you no longer want to be lifting patients and doing the harder physical work, you can get into research or teaching or administration. There are countless doors to walk through as a nurse at any age. You never need to feel stuck anywhere as a nurse. Nursing is one of the few careers out there that offers so much variety and potential for change, making it a career that can grow as the person grows, both mentally and physically.

So don't allow this idea to take root in your head, that you cannot hack it because you are older. That is nonsense. Your wisdom, your humility, your compassion, all gained from a lifetime of other types of experience, will help you be an excellent nurse - and don't ever let anyone convince you otherwise. No one else is living your life but you.

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Hi -- I am just wondering -- are you still in school? I too will be 62 when I graduate from my ADN program. I am just starting this coming Spring semester and am terrified. I did fine with my prereqs but hear the program is 10 times harder.

Jackie in L.A.

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Specializes in Psych,Peds,MedSurg,Tele,OB,Subacute.

I am so inspired by your plight!! I am 32 years old and 4 kids later it sure as hec seems tougher to me!! But I think as people get older they really KNOW what they want therefore are driven to get there. I started working on my prereqs this year and started with my SIL who is 43. She dropped out after 3 wks citing that it is to hard and she is too old... that is crap!! and in fact i am thinking about showing her your post!! Like the nursing advisors tell us, just do not sacrifice grades for speed, if you need a tutor, that get one by all means!! Please please dont give up your dream of being a nurse!!! Thanks for being such an inspiration to the rest of us :)

Karla

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I am SO.... inspired by all of you! Your stories are simply amazing. I am in my 40's and have returned to college (have prior BS) to become an ADN RN. It has been a struggle though. I have managed straight A's and am trying my best to gain entrance into the RN program which, of course, is highly competitive. Reading about others that are older than I am and who have made it AND love it is awesome! It makes me smile and gives me hope for my future. Thank you for this thread and for sharing your lives...:redbeathe

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Specializes in Acute Ortho/Neuro, Hospice, Skilled/LTC.

Until reading this thread, I didn't realize there were so many over 60 new grad RNs like myself. It's truly inspiring to read all of these encouraging posts. I started my prereqs at 58, got a place on the waiting list at 59, got my LPN license at 61, got my RN license at 62, and will get my BSN in 2 months at 63. My LPN GPA was 3.0, my RN GPA was 3.4, and my current BSN GPA is 4.0. I was all set to start grad school but have decided to "retire" because I can't get a job in acute care. I was a finalist for an ICU internship at a nearby 658 bed Trauma 1 hospital until I showed up for my interview and they saw I was over 25. In my town, people with the power to hire, don't seem to appreciate smarts and vigor in old folks. For me, the salary is not even the issue--I just want to learn and gain experience so I can move into nursing areas that need more nurses. I've signed up with Red Cross and the Reserve Medical Corp to volunteer but haven't been called in the last 8 months. There is so much age bias out there and unfortunately, I can't make myself younger. Where are these jobs for older nurses that have been mentioned earlier? I'm ready to move there!

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Specializes in ICU / PCU / Telemetry / Oncology.
Until reading this thread, I didn't realize there were so many over 60 new grad RNs like myself. It's truly inspiring to read all of these encouraging posts. I started my prereqs at 58, got a place on the waiting list at 59, got my LPN license at 61, got my RN license at 62, and will get my BSN in 2 months at 63. My LPN GPA was 3.0, my RN GPA was 3.4, and my current BSN GPA is 4.0. I was all set to start grad school but have decided to "retire" because I can't get a job in acute care. I was a finalist for an ICU internship at a nearby 658 bed Trauma 1 hospital until I showed up for my interview and they saw I was over 25. In my town, people with the power to hire, don't seem to appreciate smarts and vigor in old folks. For me, the salary is not even the issue--I just want to learn and gain experience so I can move into nursing areas that need more nurses. I've signed up with Red Cross and the Reserve Medical Corp to volunteer but haven't been called in the last 8 months. There is so much age bias out there and unfortunately, I can't make myself younger. Where are these jobs for older nurses that have been mentioned earlier? I'm ready to move there!

That's age discrimination, a protected class. I would have filed an EEOC complaint against the hospital. I once filed a complaint against a major retail chain for refusing to consider me for employment because I could not work on Sundays. I claimed religion discrimination. The chain ended up paying me 10 months of back wages reflecting what I would have earned if I was hired ... and they were sanctioned, forcing the company to retrain associates on this issue. It was worth it.

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I am heading into an ADN program in the fall and I will be 51 this summer. I was a pre-med student many moons ago and left college when I realized I really wanted to be a stay-at-home mom for a living. I was blessed with being able to do that for over 20 years working part-time as we needed for extra income. Now it's out into the workforce for me to bolster our retirement and allow for things like a new furnace and a new car, lol. I am concerned about being older and entering the workforce and it is harder for me to learn things. But I have a 4.0 GPA and now that I'm older I'm willing to put in the time and effort it takes me to earn that!

We silver nurses rock!

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