All Nursing Students 50 and older! I need your feedback.

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Hi everyone,

I am currently waiting to get into nursing school and was wondering how many of us mature students are out there. I recently turned 50 and I am feeling pretty good, in same ways better than I did in my younger years. However, I am not naive enough to think that I will make it through NS without some battle scars. I know a clean lifestyle goes a long way and I have greatly improved my diet and exercise habits over the last few years. I am just afraid that when NS starts and the stress kicks in, all of those good habits will go right out the window. I would love to hear your suggestions and recommendations.

I am in my 40s and am very excited about starting a nursing program (finishing prereqs now!). I think older students are good at pacing themselves and have terrific organizational skills--great for plowing through lots of school work.

I sure hope I will not be the only more mature adult in my class. Older students are inspiring to me!

I am right there with you! :)

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I didn't start walking seriously until I went back to school. I try to get as much walking out of the way early in the morning as possible. I find the college campus is a great place for walking, since it is fairly sprawling and largely free of cars. I usually try to park a long distance away from my classroom, and then take the polar route to get there. Other than having to get up early, I don't feel that walking takes too much time out of my day.

On clinical days I get most of my walking done while working in the hospital, but I also park far away (which has the added advantage of allowing me to park for free).

I try to make good use of my walking time by listening to recorded lectures or other nursing-oriented materal.

Overall, I thing the exercise has really helped me remain focused and sane. Hope it works the sdame for you!

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I'm not 50 yet, but it's gaining on me! I'm 45. I'm not the oldest person in my nursing class - she's about 10 yrs older than me. We're about to finish our first semester. She's my best friend, and it's a lot easier with someone close to your own age. We share many of the same experiences, so we naturally migrated towards one another. That being said, the younger students do respect our....ahem....maturity. We've adopted most of them as our "kids," and I think most of them look to us as 2nd and 3rd moms.

NS isn't that much harder for us than the younger students. As a matter of fact, I'd say it's probably easier for us. We've both worked for years as UAP, so we do have some experience under our belt, along with the obvious life experiences. Raising kids helps a lot. If you can successfully raise a teenager (without doing prison time lol), NS is like a day off with pay.

That being said, I have to say that I don't remember what sleep, good eating habits, or relaxation means. I've heard of sleep recently (we covered it in class lol), but I can't say I've experienced it much in the last few months. Good eating habits? I've learned to recognize that with the proper toppings, pizza can be considered a "balanced meal" - all 4 food groups are covered. Not in the proper proportions, but let's not get picky. hehe I've also learned to rethink my idea of the 4 food groups - coffee, donuts, pizza, and coke. Relaxation? HA! That's just a fantasy now. I already have my post-graduation vacation planned out. A deserted (key word) island, 2 trees, a hammock, and a well-stocked bar. Alone. :D

Granted, this post was largely in jest, but as they say, there's truth in jest. I keep telling myself it's only a 16 month program (4 semesters, but we go year round), and I can do anything for 16 months! As a general rule, I don't even look that far ahead. I keep a running list of things I have to do by a deadline, and I live by that list. For the most part, I look at today. What do I have to do to survive today? I use weekends to try to get ahead of the deadline list.

The best tip I can give is that I've learned to juggle housework and studying with one simple rule. I study till I'm sick of that, then I go do housework for a little while. When studying makes cleaning the bathroom look good, that's my cue. Then when cleaning the bathroom makes studying look good....you get the picture.

There's one thing that NS brought about that shocks the bejeebers out of me. I spent 12 years as my daughter's biggest cheerleader when she got sick of school, but now she's returning the favor. (Don't ya hate when your own words come back to bite ya in the butt? LOL) When I'm so sick of school that I can't bear the idea of one more day, she's quick to offer words of encouragement, and somehow, she always knows exactly what to say. We'll actually graduate within a month of each other. I'll graduate NS in April; she graduates high school in May. Knowing that she's watching me and proud of me is the kick in the seat of the pants that I need to do just one more page of my care plan before I call it a night. The fact that we compete for the best grades doesn't hurt either. ;) She's got me beat, but I'm ok with that. It still gives both of us a reason to work just a little harder. Hey, ya gotta take your motivation wherever you can get it. :)

So far, my method is working well. If the day comes that it doesn't, I'll reassess, re-evaluate, and make new interventions to meet the goal. That sounds familiar. Where have I heard THAT before? :D

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Specializes in Cardiac, Rehab.

I'm 53 and just started this Jan. I'm also the oldest and only male in the class. While the younger folks may have an edge physically, in many ways they don't hold a candle to us "old timers". I graduated out of college before a good percentage of the other students in my class were born. Add on military experience and job/life experience and there are things that I take in stride that seems to get many of the 20 somethings up in arms. Can't use a fancy calculator on a test, no problem, I learned math well before they were invented.

I wouldn't worry about the age issue, you should do fine. You may get very tired being on your feet, but I'm guessing you will find the stamia to get through it. You've gotten this far and have probably figured out what is important and what is not. Plus, you have the advantage of a looking at the next 2-3 years as a very short term blip in your life, much different that the way someone in their late teens, early 20's see's it. I'm enjoying nursing school, its a whole new journey for me with a new career hopefully at the end. Take it all one day at a time. Best of luck. :up:

Bob

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I'm 53 and just started this Jan. I'm also the oldest and only male in the class. While the younger folks may have an edge physically, in many ways they don't hold a candle to us "old timers". I graduated out of college before a good percentage of the other students in my class were born. Add on military experience and job/life experience and there are things that I take in stride that seems to get many of the 20 somethings up in arms. Can't use a fancy calculator on a test, no problem, I learned math well before they were invented.

I wouldn't worry about the age issue, you should do fine. You may get very tired being on your feet, but I'm guessing you will find the stamia to get through it. You've gotten this far and have probably figured out what is important and what is not. Plus, you have the advantage of a looking at the next 2-3 years as a very short term blip in your life, much different that the way someone in their late teens, early 20's see's it. I'm enjoying nursing school, its a whole new journey for me with a new career hopefully at the end. Take it all one day at a time. Best of luck. :up:

Bob

Hi Bob,

Thank you for your encouraging words. Most days I feel pretty upbeat about the journey ahead of me. It's just every now and then that some doubts sneak in. So far, I have done very well in all of my classes, but you read over and over again on this forum that NS is nothing like you ever experienced before and that you can no longer study the way you studied for your other classes. I have decided to embrace it all, the good, the bad and the ugly and do the best I can. Hopefully that will be enough. Best of luck to you as well.

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i'm not 50 yet, but it's gaining on me! i'm 45. i'm not the oldest person in my nursing class - she's about 10 yrs older than me. we're about to finish our first semester. she's my best friend, and it's a lot easier with someone close to your own age. we share many of the same experiences, so we naturally migrated towards one another. that being said, the younger students do respect our....ahem....maturity. we've adopted most of them as our "kids," and i think most of them look to us as 2nd and 3rd moms.

i will be taking this journey with a friend as well. we were both lucky enough to get placed into the same program.

ns isn't that much harder for us than the younger students. as a matter of fact, i'd say it's probably easier for us. we've both worked for years as uap, so we do have some experience under our belt, along with the obvious life experiences. raising kids helps a lot. if you can successfully raise a teenager (without doing prison time lol), ns is like a day off with pay.

i am entering the program without any previous medical experience. hopefully that won't be too much of a handicap.

that being said, i have to say that i don't remember what sleep, good eating habits, or relaxation means. i've heard of sleep recently (we covered it in class lol), but i can't say i've experienced it much in the last few months. good eating habits? i've learned to recognize that with the proper toppings, pizza can be considered a "balanced meal" - all 4 food groups are covered. not in the proper proportions, but let's not get picky. hehe i've also learned to rethink my idea of the 4 food groups - coffee, donuts, pizza, and coke. relaxation? ha! that's just a fantasy now. i already have my post-graduation vacation planned out. a deserted (key word) island, 2 trees, a hammock, and a well-stocked bar. alone. :D

being 50, i have already learned to function without much sleep....at least now i can be productive and study while being awake half the night anyway...lol..

those 4 food groups you mention have me a bit concerned...lol..i tend to gravitate to those when i am stressed and they do not agree at all with my waistline. i gained over 10 pounds during a previous semester while taking 3 science classes at the same time.

granted, this post was largely in jest, but as they say, there's truth in jest. i keep telling myself it's only a 16 month program (4 semesters, but we go year round), and i can do anything for 16 months! as a general rule, i don't even look that far ahead. i keep a running list of things i have to do by a deadline, and i live by that list. for the most part, i look at today. what do i have to do to survive today? i use weekends to try to get ahead of the deadline list.

the best tip i can give is that i've learned to juggle housework and studying with one simple rule. i study till i'm sick of that, then i go do housework for a little while. when studying makes cleaning the bathroom look good, that's my cue. then when cleaning the bathroom makes studying look good....you get the picture.

i do like your housework and studing rule. i will give that a try....

there's one thing that ns brought about that shocks the bejeebers out of me. i spent 12 years as my daughter's biggest cheerleader when she got sick of school, but now she's returning the favor. (don't ya hate when your own words come back to bite ya in the butt? lol) when i'm so sick of school that i can't bear the idea of one more day, she's quick to offer words of encouragement, and somehow, she always knows exactly what to say. we'll actually graduate within a month of each other. i'll graduate ns in april; she graduates high school in may. knowing that she's watching me and proud of me is the kick in the seat of the pants that i need to do just one more page of my care plan before i call it a night. the fact that we compete for the best grades doesn't hurt either. ;) she's got me beat, but i'm ok with that. it still gives both of us a reason to work just a little harder. hey, ya gotta take your motivation wherever you can get it. :)

i will be one year ahead of my son who is a freshman in college right now.

so far, my method is working well. if the day comes that it doesn't, i'll reassess, re-evaluate, and make new interventions to meet the goal. that sounds familiar. where have i heard that before? :D

thank you for your encouraging words and bits of advice and the best of luck to you.

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You'll be fine. :) I do have one more suggestion. If you haven't already, try to fit in a medical terminology class before you start your core classes. It'll be a huge help.

Good luck, and have fun with it! Nursing school is the most fun torment I've ever put myself through!

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I'm 48 :)

I'm finishing up the last pre-req this semester and completing an AA degree. I've been in school forever and will finally have a degree.

Last year I graduated LPN, now that school was a lot of work since it was completed in 12 months and the curriculum was top notch. I wasn't overly stressed out from school, I had family issues to deal with at the same time.

I'm more stressed now since I haven't yet found an LPN job and I'm scheduled to start the RN transitional program in August. I'm also stressing about not finding an RN job next year. For me being unemployed is far more stressful that school.

I quit a decent job to go into nursing...now I'm having second thoughts.

Hopefully a job is around the corner.

Hi itsmejuli,

I share your concerns about the jobs not being there when we get done, but I have decided not to let that bother me too much. These cycles have come and gone before and a lot can change in 2 years ( my estimated graduation date). Is it difficult to find jobs in LTC in your area as well? As far as I know that is still a doable option for new grads in the area I live. The Best of Luck to you and chase those second thoughts away....

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Hey PatientlyWaiting,

Where are you now in the nursing school process?? I wanted to find out because I was 52 and in nursing school and the menopause was at its peek. I was taking 2 classes along with nursing and traveling some distance. I ended up with one point too low for my second semester. The stress made my menopausal symptoms be heightened. I got on bio-identical hormone cream (Not HRT) which really made a difference. I got blood tests to see what my vitamin d, estrogen, progesterone, and several others. I was low in estrodil and progesterone. No more hot flashes at all. I dropped out and registerd for a school closer to home and was supposed to start Jan 2011, now that night and weekend program closed and I will have to wait until fall 2011. I dont want to start at 54 years old, but due to the economy; I will venture forth and try again. I am studying a nursing book from my local college every month until school starts. That should help.

Just wanted to touch base and see if my suggestion would help.

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I am 59 and will be 60 in February. I am in my second semester. I thought it would be more difficult for me than the younger because of lost brain cells, etc.:uhoh3: However, my life experience and determination are great factors. I have always been the oldest student, older than the professors, the other students and even the School!!!! But this semester there is a student who is 2 years older than I and we have buddied up. That is very cool.......

My advice? Hang in there, people are working well into their 70s now. People are not retiring at 62 when they will live into their 80s or 90s. Then the younger ones can take care of us!!!!:D:D:twocents:

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Specializes in volunteering!.

I'm in my forties. I am often surrounded by youngsters in classes. Often times, they come to me for advice. One young lady lost her mother at a young age and she often comes to me for guidance.

Being the senior member in the group can be a really good thing. Focus on the good!

I think one of my favorite moments is when I helped a group of the younger students with a computer problem they were having. THAT was awesome. They were pretty surprised that the old gal out tech-ed them.

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Hi Sowinsis,

You will be just fine. Don't let your age deter you. Fall of 2011 is not that far off anymore. I was on the waitlist for almost 2 years and it seemed forever to me as well. I finished Block 1 in December with an A and just started Block 2 this week. I am in an ADN program and scheduled to graduate in May of 2012. Still worried about the economy and the chances of finding a job, but I I try to keep those worries to a minimum. What's down has to come up again eventually. I too worrried about lost braincells and being too old to grasp it all and it turns out that I worried for no reason. Yes the program is tough and you have to invest a good amount of time to work through the material but I find my advanced age to be more of a help than a handicap. Life experience does go a long way, even in nursing school. Go for it and I wish you the best of luck. Keep me posted.

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