Older Student/Over 60 years old

Flatlander · Sep 17, 2013

Hi, AZ........

Have you started doing any LPN work yet? I've read through most of the thread now and know from experience that we will be met with ageism in the workplace. It is true, it does exist, and is definitely a barrier. However, we can let it completely stymie us or strengthen our resolve to persist in spite of it.

I go for the latter option! :)

AZ_LPN_8_26_13 · Sep 17, 2013

HI all
I am now 61 but in my MSN program, people asked me my age. Can you believe that? The first time I was asked that by office staff and and then answered, the reply was, "well, you will be done before you are 60."

Getting an MSN at 60 or over isn't a big deal in my book. Both of my parents were schoolteachers who had to go back to school and get their master's degrees in education when they were in their 30's and 40's. I don't want to look to far ahead for myself, but I'd be willing to consider an MSN with an emphasis on education after I've had more real-world experience. IMO a great way to finish out a career - spend the last few years of it teaching others what you have learned :yes:

AZ_LPN_8_26_13 · Sep 17, 2013

Hi, AZ........
Have you started doing any LPN work yet? I've read through most of the thread now and know from experience that we will be met with ageism in the workplace. It is true, it does exist, and is definitely a barrier. However, we can let it completely stymie us or strengthen our resolve to persist in spite of it. I go for the latter option! :)

I've already run into quite a bit of ageism starting at day one of nursing prerequisites five years ago plus the place where I work full time at a hospital as an aide. So I've learned how to deal with it. I'm not actually working as an LPN yet but I am applying for positions - mostly home healthcare, assisted living, caregiver "timeouts", that sort of thing. Some have mentioned places like CVS and Walgreen's hire LPNs during flu season just to give flu shots for like $20 an hour. I sure could do that as a temp job. In-home healthcare, post-hospital, is HUGE where I live, and yes they hire LPNs. In fact if you are an LPN or RN they will probably eventually want to make you a manager - that was the sound of it at a huge job fair that I attended here a few months back. Didn't have my nursing license back then otherwise they said they would have hired me right there on the spot.

One thing about being the age I am - I actually consider it a plus and a strength because most of the patients/clients that I work with are my age or older. I am not in L&D, pediatrics, etc. I can more easily relate to my patients because in a sense I am actually one of them, of their generation. Even as an aide in the hospital where I work, my patients and I discuss things we both know about and have common experiences with, stuff that flies over the heads of today's twenty-somethings crowd. So like I said, I consider my age a plus, not a handicap.

As for the negative side of the age related stuff, the way I deal with it is that I just refuse to participate or buy into any of it. I expect to be treated like any other paying student for my educational product. God bless and best of luck to you in all of your education and job hunting....

LPN2BSNRN · Sep 18, 2013

AZ_LPN_8_26_13

Did you take Kaplan, Teas or Hesi? What about foreign language? I have to take 2 Semesters of Foreign Language and we are required to take Kaplan entrance exam. Haven't taken it yet. I have these courses left: Chemistry, Anthropology, Statistics, Pathophysiology, Art Appreciation, Abnormal Psych, Literature and Spanish 1 and 2 (going to try to clep it); so if can clep it, will push my entrance date up to 2015.

When someone asks me my age, I ask them to guess and they always guess younger, anywhere from 5-10 years younger, so age doesn't matter, it is you have the will and tenacity to take on a challenge and give it your all is what matters. It is this type of person that is the most successful in the long run. I know there are those people who seem to breeze through situations, such as nursing school while others who want it as badly have to keep fighting for it. Both end up in the same place. The most important thing is not to let someone else determine your path in life, because they aren't the ones that have to live with your decisons, you do.

AZ_LPN_8_26_13 · Sep 19, 2013

AZ_LPN_8_26_13
Did you take Kaplan, Teas or Hesi? What about foreign language? I have to take 2 Semesters of Foreign Language and we are required to take Kaplan entrance exam. Haven't taken it yet. I have these courses left: Chemistry, Anthropology, Statistics, Pathophysiology, Art Appreciation, Abnormal Psych, Literature and Spanish 1 and 2 (going to try to clep it); so if can clep it, will push my entrance date up to 2015.
When someone asks me my age, I ask them to guess and they always guess younger, anywhere from 5-10 years younger, so age doesn't matter, it is you have the will and tenacity to take on a challenge and give it your all is what matters. It is this type of person that is the most successful in the long run. I know there are those people who seem to breeze through situations, such as nursing school while others who want it as badly have to keep fighting for it. Both end up in the same place. The most important thing is not to let someone else determine your path in life, because they aren't the ones that have to live with your decisons, you do.

I was sort of brought up the "old school way" - I was always taught by my parents that it was impolite to ask people how old they are. Maybe if you are little kids OK, but I wouldn't dream of doing it with someone else :no: I actually take the same tack you do if I'm asked that - something like "How old do you think I am?" or "How old would you like me to be?"

The nursing school I went to and eventually got my practical nursing cert from was big on HESI - I had to take an entrance HESI exam before I started and I had to take a HESI exam every semester near the end of the semester, and those end-of-semester exams counted as part of our grade. I'm sure that different schools do things different - you have to check with your particular program..... A foreign language was not required (don't know about upcoming BSN program I will be in) but it couldn't hurt. I need to learn Spanish because a lot of my patients will probably be Spanish as first language speakers and I don't want to communicate with them using sign language or "pidgin English". I'd say that the HESI exams are a good approximation of the NCLEX and do a good job of helping you get used to that sort of testing - a type of testing I had not experienced beforehand.

I have to say that I am definitely NOT the type that just breezed through nursing school (so far anyway - not entirely done yet!) I have gotten through it with a combination of preserverance (sp?) and dogged determination. Not letting stumbles and failures totally decimate me. I've seen fellow students fail a test and just totally fall apart and quit - that's not me. If I do run into that situation I ask myself "What are my options from here on out?" and "Can I still get to where I want to be, maybe with a slight shift in what I'm doing?" that sort of thing.... It's not IF you will fail - if you live long enough you will fail at something, it's more like how do you deal with it and bounce back, stronger and smarter than before. I don't want to get all preachy here either because I know not everyone follows this path, and I respect that, but for me it's definitely helped believing in someone bigger than all of us, someone who put me on this path to begin with and who always watches over me :saint: That's who determines my path..... Take care and God Bless

BusyBee91 · Sep 19, 2013

So, I just found this out recently - I don't know if you'd be interested in it or not but...Apparently it's common for psych hospitals (the one near me is Sheppard Pratt) to have positions open for assistants who don't have any credentials. They are usually for a low wage, but it's pretty cool that you get a chance to work alongside some current nurses without having to jump through hoops immediately. I just wonder if you would be interested in trying to find a part time job doing that...Maybe it would help you to be working in the environment while taking the classes...Also, no disrespect intended, but I too am wondering if you will have a hard time finding work at your age. I gather that nursing can be rather strenuous, so I wonder if you might be able to put out some feelers by getting your toes wet as an assistant... I'm betting that if you can do that, you would have an easier time finding work as an RN, if you feel that you want to pursue it. It certainly isn't the same as being an RN, but maybe it would be a good thing for you to try.

momtoo5 · Sep 20, 2013

I think age is just that "A number" (i'm 42)_you are only as old or young as a person allows themselves to feel. I have just started taking my prerequisites to get that part out of the way, I was very nervous about returning to school. Reading everyone's posts on here and with the support of my family, has helped give me courage. I have a sophomore and a freshman in college and 2 still in grade school. No-one every said college was going to be easy!! I'm giving it all that I have, nursing has always been a dream of mine, and now I'm going for it!! Wish me luck!!

Kuriin, BSN, RN · Sep 20, 2013

Age is just a number. We have numerous men over 50 in our nursing program here in San Francisco.

LPN2BSNRN · Sep 20, 2013

I am so glad this thread was started. Knowing that there are others out there who going through the same thing, really keeps me encouraged that I am doing the right thing (as far as pursing this dream at 57).

I want everyone to know, that I am pulling for each and every one of you.

time2go, MSN, RN, NP · Nov 28, 2013

I'm just keepin' it goin'. I posted a couple months ago-57 and graduating with my BSN in 8 days! Yee-ha! It's been a long haul but it's almost over. Kudos to everyone else who made the decision to "just do it".

pmabraham, BSN, RN · Nov 28, 2013

Congratulations time2go

dt70 · Nov 28, 2013

Learning a new language after age 10 would be very difficult.

With physiology you will suffer regardless of age.