Age and nursing school

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How old were you when you got into the nursing program? I feel like I'm taking forever. I will be 22 next month and I'll I'm still not in the program. I took the HESI exam in December, got into UT, but ran out of time and didn't submit the reading portion. The deadline for the program was Jan 5th and because of the holidays the earliest I could take the reading portion (since it didn't go through) was Jan 6th. So my backup plan is to apply to the ADN program at the community college but for that I also have to take the A&P portion which I'm studying for now. If I don't get into the ADN program I will have to reapply at UT for the spring semester. I just feel like my life is on hold right now and I feel so old. I wasn't full time while taking my basics because of my ADD. I hate blaming it on that but it honestly did ruin me academically. I take adderall now and I feel like everything makes more sense and wish I had gone to a psychiatrist earlier but what's done is done. So at what age did you start nursing school? BTW I like with my parents and work at a restaurant so maybe that's also why I feel frustrated and powerless over this situation.

Specializes in Emergency Medicine.

There is a 63 yo in my program, and I was 38 when I started..

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Specializes in Rehab, peds, GI, Neuro, Endocrine..

I went into LPN school in 1993 and I was 22, have worked as an LPN ever since and I am 44 now. I started doing my Pre-reqs for the AVS Program at Valencia in Spring 2013 and just finished them due to having to work full time while a student. I applied to the program and am awaiting hearing back. It is NEVER too late to go to college and reach your dreams. You are not TOO OLD!! If this is what you want to do then go for it!! If it takes a little longer so be it!!

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35 and applying next week

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Specializes in Psych/Mental Health.

39 when I started this program. I'm 40 now and will graduate when I turn 41.

Stuff happens. Figure out what's wrong and fix them, then move forward with all your might and you'll be fine.

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Specializes in General Surgery Assist.

21 when i graduated and got licensed!

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At 22 I feel like you would actually be ahead of the curve. I am 27, and I am finally eligible to apply to some of the programs I wanted to apply to when I started at 26. I met a lot of people in their thirties, and forties who were wonderful students. Better than me in fact. I met people in their 50s going for CNA as I took a CNA course.

So don't worry about it, if you get it done, get into a program, and pass the nclex you have already accomplished something not everyone can do regardless of age. Good luck!

My best advice forget whatever is working against you, and instead work to correct it. I was getting a 4.0 my first semester back. I developed an 11cm lung abscess, and was hospitalized for two weeks, and blew my 4.0. I passed all my classes with two bs, and an A

I also suffer from severe depression, so much so that it led to voluntary hospitalization. I had just recovered from this when I returned to school, and gone through a bad break up with my fiancé, and lost my job to depression.

I know its not all my fault, but much of it is. I work to correct what I can, do my best, and that's all I can do. In the end that is all you can do to.

Remember there is always someones road to becoming a nurse who is harder than yours. My CNA professor told me a story about a man who had cancer, went to kemo, but still didn't miss a class.

In the end you may have excuses, and I do to we all do. We all make mistakes. However they won't get you any farther to achieving your goals, learn a good routine, and method to cope with your ADD and press forward, in the end its all you can do. Good luck.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

I'll be started this year at 34

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Specializes in SNF, home health.

I laugh at "youngsters" worrying about their age and school. Pfff life happens different for everyone. I was 26 for VN school, now I'm 40 and starting RN school next month, BSN thereafter. I see my age, maturity and life/work experience as a HUGE plus! You are lucky that you have your head on straight and know what you want....be thankful for that and just focus on getting in and out of school. You have your whole adult life to worry about bigger things! Age is just a #!

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I'm 30 and started in August. I'll be almost 32 when or if I graduate. I'm in the LPN program. So if I decide to get my RN, I'll be even older. I didn't even know what I wanted to be "when I grow up" at 22. I went from major to major in college and graduated with an Associate in General Studies. Then I got a job at a daycare when I was 25 an worked there for a few years, I liked the job but it wasn't a living wage and really wanted to work in pediatrics, so I got the nerve to start LPN school. Come to find out that not many LPNs work in pediatrics, unless maybe a clinic but hopefully I'll be able to bridge onto RN. But yeah, age is only a number! I don't even feel like I'm 30...lol.

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Turning 30 this year and have almost 2 semesters under my belt working on my pre-reqs. I have a Bachelor's from my previous time in college, but it is a B.A. in English. I will probably be about 32/33 by the time I take the NCLEX.

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Specializes in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology.

I just turned 30 and will graduate in June. I sometimes feel the sting of being behind. I also found a gray hair the other day -- I attribute it to nursing school. :dead:

You're fine!! The majority of the students in my program are in their mid-20s. We have those few older students (late 30s to late 40s) and the very young ones as well (graduated HS when they were 15 or something...really makes me feel behind!). 22 is nothing. You've heard this a million times like I did and it's true - you're so young and still have so much to look forward to. Enjoy it! Keep your head in the game and you'll get there in no time. :)

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Oh to be 22. That is not old by any means. I was 31 when I started my program. The average age was probably about 30 +/- 2 years.

We had 2 people at 50 or older, a handful of 40's, a lot of 25-40, and a handful of 20-24.

The powerlessness is something that I think most of us felt. You are in a holding pattern because you are waiting to be accepted. When it is right it will happen.

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