Alright, I am very new to this so please bare with me. I have gone back and forth for years now about going into nursing. Finally, after driving my family and boyfriend crazy about what I want to do with my life, I decided to finish my pre-reqs for the program this year and apply next fall. I have worked in the corporate world, real estate, a restaurant early on, and have always felt very unfulfilled with my jobs. I have always been drawn to nursing because I am a true mush ball and love helping, caring, :heartbeat being sensitive, and working hard. I am 26 now and will be 27 in June. After doing a lot of research about acceptance into programs, experiences, etc, I realize it is something I REALLY would love to get into. My question to anyone is do you think I am too old to JUST be starting pre-reqs? Seriously, I can't apply until Feb 15th, 2010 only to begin the program the next session. I'll be 30 by the time I'm done . And that is assuming I am not put on an insanely long waiting list. Anyone else starting at my age or older? If so how did it go? Pros/Cons?
I graduated with a BSN at the age of 37. I now in a NP program at age 45. You are going to be 30 whether you go to nursing school or not. As others here have said, I had 3 people from their early fifties to late fifties in my BSN class. I would encourage you to go!!!!
No, you're never to old! I was 48 in 2004 when I returned to college to complete my pre-requites A&Ps, Micro Bio, & 3 other courses. I had a BA from 1975. By Spring, 2005, I was rejected from 3 applications to Associate Degree RN programs. Everytime, I felt it was my age, being too old. I did not allow this to defeat me. I then applied to the local LPN program and was accepted. However, a friend encouraged me to apply to a ADRN program, 125 miles from where I live. I called the school talked with the Department Chair, faxed in my paper work, and was accepted in 2 weeks. Started the RN program in August, 2005, and graduated May, 2007. Received my license in July, 2007, and turned 52 October, 2007. I do attribute all of this to my "Heavenly Father" working this out for me after I allowed him to show me the way.
There were several other students in my class that were my age or older, and we all made it! Never give up!
I'll be 53 years young when I graduate from the LPN program and I hope to go on and become an RN. I have found that having had multiple careers has been very helpful and my patients love it.
My back ground has been dental assisting, Veteran AF Staff Sergeant, stay home mom to three wonderful daughters (all three in college encouraged me to go back to school), administrative assistant and bookkeeper in a church. With tons of community service hours under my belt it has given me a good prospective of other cultures and different social economic back grounds.
The first patient I had in a nursing home was a 91 y/o female, WWII Veteran, Fight nurse in the Army Air Core. She asked me to brush her teeth. While caring for her she discussed her death and her faith. All of my previous careers came to a full circle, what a joy!
Life is a journey not a destination, enjoy the ride and try not to have regrets!
I am 53 and start Nursing school March 2nd, so age is irrelevant when you have decided that you have wasted so many years denying what you really have wanted to me.
I'll be 53 years young when I graduate from the LPN program and I hope to go on and become an RN. I have found that having had multiple careers has been very helpful and my patients love it.
My back ground has been dental assisting, Veteran AF Staff Sergeant, stay home mom to three wonderful daughters (all three in college encouraged me to go back to school), administrative assistant and bookkeeper in a church. With tons of community service hours under my belt it has given me a good prospective of other cultures and different social economic back grounds.
The first patient I had in a nursing home was a 91 y/o female, WWII Veteran, Fight nurse in the Army Air Core. She asked me to brush her teeth. While caring for her she discussed her death and her faith. All of my previous careers came to a full circle, what a joy!
Life is a journey not a destination, enjoy the ride and try not to have regrets!
I'm considering the Peace Corp next.
Hello Nufuture, Your message gave me goose bumbs. You are so right about life being a journey. And it's not over just because you reach a certain age. Sometimes I do laugh and ask God what He was thinking when He called me to the nursing field at 50 y/o, but He knew what He was doing and I have never looked back. I, too, enjoy my patients and their life stories. It is not just a job or a paycheck; I've had those. I am exhausted at the end of my 12 hour shifts, but I go home knowing that I have done exactly what I was called to do. Let me know where life leads you in the future.
Specializes in cardiac, psychiatric emergency, rehab.
Old? OMG.. I graduated when I was 46 right before my 47th birthday. I WISH I would have had the opportunity to do this THEN! Thank God you can do this now! It's an opportunity of a lifetime and you are blessed! Go for it GIRL~!:)
Thank you.............finally someone older than me!!! Everyone in my NS thinks I am much younger than I am, and I don't tell them any different. I could be many of their mothers.
There have been a lot of great responses to this question, please indulge me in just one more.
"You can't possibly appreciate what higher education will do for you until you start taking classes. It keeps you young, it makes you feel alive, and it keeps the blood coursing through your veins. It's never too soon or too late to go back to school. It's a gift you give yourself and a way to enrich your life. You'll have more to give yourself, your family, your patients, and the world around you
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If you're thinking of going back to school, just do it. Don't worry about how old you'll be when you graduate or how long it will take to finish. That kind of thinking is sure to put the kibosh on your plans. Just get started and keep moving forward, even if it's only one course at a time. Five years from now, you could either have a degree or still be thinking about it. The time will pass regardless of what you do."
by Donna Cardillo, RN, BS
This quote got me through graduate school at the age of 55. I kept this quote beside my computer and looked at it often, as I kept telling myself "What am I doing?" But I now have my MSN in nursing education, and even more I have the knowledge that YES I CAN! Also remember to always put your dreams above your fears!
You are definitely not too old to be starting nursing school. There are many in my program who are in there late 30's, 40's and some in there 50's. Think about it this way--time goes by no matter what. If not nursing school, what will you be doing in 2, 3 or 4 years from now? If you are in your 30's by the time you graduate, you will still have many years in the nursing field. I know nurses out there that love what they are doing and they are in there 60's and 70's. Age should not be factor if you have the passion and commitment towards such a goal.
OK......Here goes, I am a 31 y/o woman with 2 boys ages 7 and 9. I was also 30 when I graduated. I was a bartender for 8 years to help support my family through this process. I went through a divorce, lost my house, and had my car repoed while in school. I received my ADN at a community college. Remember what our mothers taught us...you can do anything if you put your mind to it. I have since been re-married and live in a beutiful home, I am also thinking about having another child!!! I definately did NOT feel too old. I actually felt more grounded and wise to patients feelings, and personal situations. Here I was 2 weeks after graduation, and I got a job at a pediatric hospital!!! my dreams have come true! It is a wonderful feeling. Don't let ANYONE tell you different or try to change your mind from your dreams. You are never too old to make yourself and others happy. Hope this helped.
OK......Here goes, I am a 31 y/o woman with 2 boys ages 7 and 9. I was also 30 when I graduated. I was a bartender for 8 years to help support my family through this process. I went through a divorce, lost my house, and had my car repoed while in school. I received my ADN at a community college. Remember what our mothers taught us...you can do anything if you put your mind to it. I have since been re-married and live in a beutiful home, I am also thinking about having another child!!! I definately did NOT feel too old. I actually felt more grounded and wise to patients feelings, and personal situations. Here I was 2 weeks after graduation, and I got a job at a pediatric hospital!!! my dreams have come true! It is a wonderful feeling. Don't let ANYONE tell you different or try to change your mind from your dreams. You are never too old to make yourself and others happy. Hope this helped.
MichaelWRN
6 Posts
I graduated with a BSN at the age of 37. I now in a NP program at age 45. You are going to be 30 whether you go to nursing school or not. As others here have said, I had 3 people from their early fifties to late fifties in my BSN class. I would encourage you to go!!!!
Good Luck!