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 went to Nursing School from 1975-1979. One student was in her 50s then and we were all so proud that she graduated with us. Though she was as old (or older) than our parents were, she shared fully in the SN experience. I get an Xmas card from her most every year. Lilly Davis, RN is now retired and in her 70's. It is hard to think that she was as old then as I am now. Pursue your dreams with vigor!!! God Bless You.
I started nursing school in 1983 at age 42. I was a grandmother at that time. I graduated with an ADN in 1985 and BSN in 1990. I worked in a 40 bed NICU for 20 years and loved working with ill infants and their parents. (I owned a grocery store when I started school). There are so many opportunities in nursing! You will never be sorry you did it.
Goodness no! You are not too old. I will be 44 next month and am just starting with CNA classes so I can get working in the hospital I want to work at while I continue my nursing education.
I too have done many things in my life - many totally unrelated to health care - but nursing has always been in my head and heart and I don't think it's EVER too late to do something you really want to do.
Good luck to you! Follow your heart; it certainly seems to be in the right place!
only if you believe you are. and even then you might be wrong. i'm 44 with the muscle tone of the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man and a brain that, although having performed at premium processing speeds in the past, is increasingly requiring repetition like a rat on a wheel to retain new info. i'm second semester and LOVING it, one of the best choices i've made in my life. if you love it, do it.
no way are you too old. I am 32, male, starting my 2nd semester now, and really sick and tired of worrying day to day if my job is going to dissappear and I will not be able to feed my family. 2 more years and I will never worry again. I really think even the corporate giants will have a hard time trying to figure out how to ship sick people overseas!!!
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
Roxy, that is just funny. You are a kid! I was 55 when I became a RN. I will be 60 by the time I get my MSN to become an FNP. I love nursing. I am working on a very busy Intermediate care unit. I work 13 hour shifts and some nights it is rough, but it is on my twenty something colleagues also.
Alright, I am very new to this so please bare with me.
Trust me... you do not want me to go there.
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
Thirty years old... hmmmmm; time to look for a school that is easily accessible to students with walkers and to have a supply of Geritol handy.
OK - seriously, here's the deal. There are people who have started Nursing school, graduated, passed the NCLEX, and gotten a great job, all in their early 50's. I started Nursing school as a "late in life" career change after working in the corporate world (much of which I truly miss at times), and was 40 years old at the time. Looking back, I wish I has done it 20 years earlier, but that is another story. The majority of students used to be female and in their very early 20's (late teens, too), and now there are more guys and members of the 'geriatric' :wink2: crowd there.
By all means, if Nursing is the career you wish to pursue, then go forward with it and do not look back. G-d forbid, do not consider quitting for any reason. It may well be the best decision you ever made. Is it easy? Heck no! Can it take a toll on an unstable relationship? You bet! The trick is to balance the studies with the fun and time with family/friends. The hard work will definitely pay off in many ways.
Now, go take on the day (and the Nursing career), and keep us posted on how it goes for you. This is a fantastic group of those who have "been there, done that, and got the t-shirt", as well as many who are considering or working on a Nursing degree... seemingly a bazillion people whose brains you can pick at any time.
You're not too old. I was 25 1/2 when I started the program and I will be 27 when I get my ASN. I plan to get a BSN soon after that, so that should put me at about 30 years of age when I'm done.
26 is not too old. In my class, there's a guy in his late 50's/early 60's and he's doing just fine. And there are plenty of mid-30's, early 40 year old students in school. Like some of the others have said, you don't want to look back 3 or 4 years from now and regret not having gone to nursing school. You have to be determined to do it and not listen to the naysayers who might say you're too old, you're crazy, or why can't you make up your mind, etc. People have done that to me too! :)
Oh My! You are just a baby. I didn't start until I was in my late 30's doing pre-reqs. I was so worried that time was running out, I just settled for getting my LVN and I didn't graduate from LVN school until I was 41. I just graduated with my RN at 53. We have a nurse in our hospital that is still going strong and working full time at the age of 76.
Your not too old... I started nursing school when I was 38, finished when I was 42...now I'm in the Master's program at 45....Your never too old to do something you want to...so go far it. Age is just a number.
Jiminocala
54 Posts
Not Hardly!
I went to Nursing School from 1975-1979. One student was in her 50s then and we were all so proud that she graduated with us. Though she was as old (or older) than our parents were, she shared fully in the SN experience. I get an Xmas card from her most every year. Lilly Davis, RN is now retired and in her 70's. It is hard to think that she was as old then as I am now. Pursue your dreams with vigor!!! God Bless You.
Jim