Of the 23 other students comprising the group that I entered nursing school with, three of them are men. The class that is graduating at the end of next week I believe has 1 male student, and as far as I know the class immediately behind mine has 1 as well. This is about 60 students (some classes have had students drop), with 6 of them being males; that's only 1 in 10.
So we know that male nurses are few and far between, but how old are we?
The 1 student in the class graduating next week is 28.
The 1 student in the class that entered the semester after mine is at least 30 (a second career-er I believe).
Of the 4 in my class, 2 are about 45, 1 is 40, and then there is me...21.
How old are you guys? How old when you started school?
Ok, here is a question guys............. Good health and mentally sharp a given, what are the advantages or disadvantages to being an older (35-55) male nursing student?
Ok, here is a question guys............. Good health and mentally sharp a given, what are the advantages or disadvantages to being an older (35-55) male nursing student?
I'm 58 and am going to start a BSN program in the fall. I got my first degree at age 20, so I have a basis for comparison as far as the young/old thing goes. Based on my experience in pre-req classes, the advantages of being older include a better sense of organization, greater emotional maturity, much improved time management, better study skills, and far fewer distractions in my life. The disadvantage is that a few brain cells have probably disappeared in the last few decades.
Ok, here is a question guys............. Good health and mentally sharp a given, what are the advantages or disadvantages to being an older (35-55) male nursing student?
One thing I know for sure is that most of the girls in your class will be below25 or so,making it harder for them to associate with you for study or group projects.Will that hurt?,may be sometimes.
I'm 58 and am going to start a BSN program in the fall. I got my first degree at age 20, so I have a basis for comparison as far as the young/old thing goes. Based on my experience in pre-req classes, the advantages of being older include a better sense of organization, greater emotional maturity, much improved time management, better study skills, and far fewer distractions in my life. The disadvantage is that a few brain cells have probably disappeared in the last few decades.
I'm sooooo much more focused now than I was as an undergrad, I am actually enjoying it. I'm not even falling asleep in class at all!
One thing I know for sure is that most of the girls in your class will be below 25 or so, making it harder for them to associate with you for study or group projects. Will that hurt?, may be sometimes.
I was thinking about this just today as I was in A&P, and looking at some of the 20-something females in the class and the conversations they carry on, I think it is a blessing in disguise that I don't get invited to a study group with them. I would most certainly hurt my chances of getting an "A" by joining them. The ones I am thinking of are very "cliquey" and don't seen to be concerned too much about getting the material down in a group, especially in a fast-paced summer session. We just started one week ago today and we're already onto chapter 4!
I'm sooooo much more focused now than I was as an undergrad, I am actually enjoying it. I'm not even falling asleep in class at all!
I was thinking about this just today as I was in A&P, and looking at some of the 20-something females in the class and the conversations they carry on, I think it is a blessing in disguise that I don't get invited to a study group with them. I would most certainly hurt my chances of getting an "A" by joining them. The ones I am thinking of are very "cliquey" and don't seen to be concerned too much about getting the material down in a group, especially in a fast-paced summer session. We just started one week ago today and we're already onto chapter 4!
I just turned 56 last month and have only one co-req left to take... Started pre-nursing classes at age 54. When I first started I had a notion that maybe I could join little informal student study groups but that hasn't been the case for me. I've done all of my real serious hard-core studying on my own, and I've actually done quite well (GPA = 3.669, A in microbiology, B's in A&P I & II, B in algebra, A in English, A in Psych, A in Chemistry and in Biology). Sometimes I think the study group thing is somewhat over-rated - I actually think it can be an added distraction. I did my English class online - I just didn't relish the idea of sitting in class with mostly 18-19 year olds doing something I'm fairly good at anyway - writing.... and it turned out fine. Signed up for two classes this coming fall and they are both online. Based on my own personal experiences, I think I'll take the online route whenever and wherever I can from here on out. When you're an older student like I am it sometimes feels like you are speaking in a different language and your way of looking at things is somewhat different than the rest of the class, and contrary to what people may say, it's not always very well received.
Ok, here is a question guys............. Good health and mentally sharp a given, what are the advantages or disadvantages to being an older (35-55) male nursing student?
One thing I know for sure is that most of the girls in your class will be below25 or so,making it harder for them to associate with you for study or group projects.Will that hurt?,may be sometimes.
It really hasn't hurt me any - as someone else mentioned maybe this is actually a blessing in disguise LOL Most of my classes have been mostly young women below 25 and the only time I've been in a group was when we were required to do it for a project - had an A&P group project last semester where we had form groups of four to come up with a PowerPoint presentation in front of class - I actually did most of the coordinating and PowerPoint work on it myself, and kept in touch with my other group members via e-mail. It was hard for all of us to find time to actually meet outside of class because of our differing work and school schedules. We ended up getting an A for it though, so I think I've proved to myself and others that I can work that way if it's required. Fortunately I haven't had too many situations like that where we were required to form groups, but I did get an invite to study with some of the young women once in my A&P class prior to that semester, but it seemed like not a whole lot of studying got done - more gabbing about this and that, so for me although it was nice to visit with fellow classmates a bit, it was a waste of time studywise.....
Ok, here is a question guys............. Good health and mentally sharp a given, what are the advantages or disadvantages to being an older (35-55) male nursing student?
One thing I know for sure is that most of the girls in your class will be below25 or so,making it harder for them to associate with you for study or group projects.Will that hurt?,may be sometimes.
I'll throw my lot in here as well. The biggest advantage for me is focus. I'm much more focused on school this time around. The age difference hasn't really been a problem that I've noticed. It helps that my wife is in the program with me. We have a good time together and I think that makes people of all ages comfortable to be around us (had to throw that in there in case she's watching ).
The biggest disadvantage has been having to keep up a household while in school. I'm the primary breadwinner and have had to keep working full-time while in the program. Fortunately, I have a really good job and they've been understanding of all the time I have to take off (which I still haven't exactly figured out why). If that wasn't the case, I would have had to wait until my wife went through.
That and I wish it hadn't taken me 20 years to decide to do this. I'm enjoying the nursing profession much more than I would have ever thought when my wife first started talking to me about it.
I was 33 when I decided to switch careers and started taking pre-reqs. I just started my last pre-req. I will be 35 next week and starting a 3 year direct entry MSN/NP program in August.
I do know that a 51-year old accoubtant was also accepted to my program.
Re: Ages of male nursing students?
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leqwedz
38 Posts
hi,i just turned 25 April..and in the middle of my one yr term as the president...lol.
when i sit for my NCLEX-PN..I'll have just turned 26...then hope to settle down.