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?
Your right you will catch some flack, but not for the reasons you think. As a nurse that got my degree after I was 40 and have continued to work for the last 20 years I can tell you that older nurses can be a little more reliable than the younger ones. Why? We don't have young children at home anymore. That translates into fewer call in days because of sick kids, school closing and so on. I feel that 20 years of a reliable work history can be as good as 30 years when the first 10 are unreliable. NO BLAME.... just FACT!
Specializes in Pediatric Intensive Care, Urgent Care.
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?
Thanks,
XOXO
Hey there...
I did the exact same thing as you...putting it off and putting it off until at the age of 27 i went back to school and it took me three years to get all my pre-reqs (associates degree) done. It should have only taken me two years but i moved in the middle of it and lost some credit courses that didn't transfer over...sucked. Then I applied and was admitted to a program (BSN) at age 30 and i will graduate in two months with my BSN at age 32 and i have an awesome place to work all lined up! you can do it! After graduation and while working fulltime as an RN i am go to start up again in August in a parttime (3 yrs) FNP program. I just want to go ahead and get it all done now that i'm in academic mode!
I graduated in December, just after turning 47. If this is what you feel called to do, it doesn't matter how old you are! There is something to be gained by having more life experience as you enter school. Good luck!
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?
Thanks,
XOXO
Are you for real??? 26 and you are wondering if you are too old? Do some research. At least half the students in my school were over 35, some were over 50, and I would bet that this is the norm. Nursing is very popular as a second career.
The opinion of a lot of nurses of all ages is that the younger nurses tend to be less reliable and call out more. They also are not as committed, and jump from job to job more so than more mature nurses. I am sure that those hiring take this into account as well.
You are never too old, and don't let ANYONE tell you that you are. Stop and think about how old you will be in 4 yrs if you don't go to nursing school and how old you will be in 4 yrs if you do go. By my math your 26 now you will be 30 either way. I have a couple of friends that didn't start LPN school until their late 30's and some friends that started RN school in their mid 40's and are doing great!!:) I also teach nursing students and over the past 10 yrs I have had students as old as 59 in my clinicals and they passed. If they can do it so can you. I say GO FOR IT:yeah:
After graduation and while working fulltime as an RN i am go to start up again in August in a parttime (3 yrs) FNP program. I just want to go ahead and get it all done now that i'm in academic mode!
r0b0tafflicti0n
196 Posts
Obviously someone who thinks working for "only" 15-20 years is short-term for a career is lacking perspective.