Age Factor

I graduated in 2006 at age 53!

I am a little bit younger than you (42), but I have found that being a bit older has been an advantage in the clinical setting.

There are a few men and women alike in my class who are quite gray-haired and probably well past their early 50s.

The older students (I'm 29 myself) generally seem to take the work more seriously, in my experience. I think the faculty at my school seem to recognize and appreciate that, too.

Keep moving, keep smiling, love what you do! :smilecoffeecup:

I have wanted to do this for 35 years and finally made it to NS. I will be 54 when I graduate next June and feel that I am at the top of my game!!!

The Lakota people (Sioux Indians) say that your not an adult until your 50 and I am going with that!!!

The Lakota people (Sioux Indians) say that your not an adult until your 50 and I am going with that!!!

I just passed my NCLEX this week @ 52. There may be something to that, lol!! Best wishes and enjoy the crazy journey!!

When ever my mind wanders to age issues...I remind myself that one should enjoy the journey. I like learning new things, and have been much happier since going back to school.

It is so great to know that there are many others in my age group that have gone back to collage to pursue a career of their choice, no matter their age. During statistics class we were learning about outliers. the professor used the ages of the students in class, and my age was considered an outlier... I was the oldest in class. It was then I realized what my age would be when I finally graduate NS. I am looking forward to my new career and future.

It is great to know that there are others in my age group. It wasn't until my stats class that i realized my age difference from other students (never really thought about it before) the professor was teaching us about outliers. She used all the students ages, did the calculations and thats when I realized my age was an outlier. I am so looking forward to completing NS... still have a little time to go... and having the career I have dreamed of. Congratulations.

Wow! the exact thing I wanted to ask about. I've been downsized, I've been outsourced. My current company has been bought and is undergoing a global reorganization. I am relatively secure in my job, this time around, but there are no guarantees moving forward. Oh yeah, I'm 51 (but I'm the youngest person my age that I know). I am looking at LPN programs in my area.

Thanks for all the words of encouragement.

I am 54 and took my NCLEX today, and was not the oldest in my class. The real challenge is getting the job you want, as I already learned, as a respiratory therapist, and is why I became a nurse.

Wow! the exact thing I wanted to ask about. I've been downsized, I've been outsourced. My current company has been bought and is undergoing a global reorganization. I am relatively secure in my job, this time around, but there are no guarantees moving forward. Oh yeah, I'm 51 (but I'm the youngest person my age that I know). I am looking at LPN programs in my area.

Thanks for all the words of encouragement.

Been there; done that; escaped in time!

I worked for a major financial securities/brokerage company that had two fairly major layoffs by the time I started taking prereqs. I was sick of constantly worrying that security would show up in my cube one morning.

Thankfully, the fall the before I graduated they purchased by another securities firm (who was just in the headlines again this week) and when they did "displacements" this spring, my entire former team was given notice they would be let go. I graduated 3 months later. I know I will always have work in this field, and better than that -- options if I become tired of one particular area.

My income has been cut some, but hopefully I can pull a bit of overtime here and there (and here's something novel -- be PAID for it) and make up the difference when *I* want.

I wish you the best!! In my opinion, you'd be better served to try to find a RN program if you can rather than go the LPN route due to their limited job outlook, but only you can determine your best pathway to this new career!!