Am I too old to start this?

Nursing Students General Students

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Hi you guys.

So here is my dilemma. I'm 31 and graduated a while ago with a BA in Psychology. Unfortunately, I couldn't get a job in my field (and after working at a mentally draining job for 5 years) I've decided to pursue nursing.

I'm excited about this new start but I still have some hurdles to overcome. I need to retake some parts of the HESI and IF I get into the ASN program of my choice I won't graduate until 34.

Am I too old to try and start nursing? Would I be better off doing a shorter program and get an LPN instead?

Help or advice would be greatly appreciated.

-mightyaphrodite

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I had a good friend who went to med school when she was 35. Everybody said, "Why would you want to do that? You'll be forty by the time you finish." She said, "I'll be forty anyway."

Do NOT waste your time on LPN. Get into a real BSN brick-and-mortar school with a bachelor's-in-anything-to-BSN program and you GO, girl! You will have plenty of company, I promise. It won't take you any longer than an AS program and your job prospects will be exponentially better.

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Thank you x 1000 for such a sweet response. This reply was just what I needed.

Okay. So I'm diving in--I'm currently taking A & P 2 and plan on taking microbio and Stats next semester and will then apply to both the BSN and ASN program at my local brick-and-mortar school. (In case I don't get into 1 I have the other to fall back on).

You are absolutely right, though--I'll be 34 either way so I might as well pursue a degree in something that I love.

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

I was 38, the oldest in my class was 53. I precepted a student that was 59. You're never too old.

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Specializes in Med Surg/ICU/Psych/Emergency/CEN/retired.
I had a good friend who went to med school when she was 35. Everybody said, "Why would you want to do that? You'll be forty by the time you finish." She said, "I'll be forty anyway."

Do NOT waste your time on LPN. Get into a real BSN brick-and-mortar school with a bachelor's-in-anything-to-BSN program and you GO, girl! You will have plenty of company, I promise. It won't take you any longer than an AS program and your job prospects will be exponentially better.

This....The best advice. One step at a time and good luck!

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Specializes in Critical care.

I quit a well paying job that I was absolutely miserable in- the stress of it would have eventually killed me. I was just shy of 26 and I finished my nursing degree (a program for 2nd degree students) just before I turned 28. I'm now 29 and I've been working for a year. I have friends still stuck at that job I quit and I'm so glad I took the leap of faith. Some days my job is incredibly hard, but I'm in a MUCH better state of mind now than I ever was with my old job (even on the hardest days I don't regret my decision).

Good luck!

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I quit a well paying job that I was absolutely miserable in- the stress of it would have eventually killed me. I was just shy of 26 and I finished my nursing degree (a program for 2nd degree students) just before I turned 28. I'm now 29 and I've been working for a year. I have friends still stuck at that job I quit and I'm so glad I took the leap of faith. Some days my job is incredibly hard, but I'm in a MUCH better state of mind now than I ever was with my old job (even on the hardest days I don't regret my decision).

Good luck!

I'm glad to see another fellow nurse who's experienced the other side. Even in my worst day as a nurse, it beats being in the office environment surrounded by sharks and not getting paid nearly as well. And there were people in my cohort who were laborers, working in factories and fields.

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I was 40 when I finished school. Never too old, just go for it. There are a million opportunities in nursing. If the first job you get isn't 'your thing', then move to a different opportunity. If you can't find something in nursing that floats your boat, you didn't look hard enough!!

Good luck and have a blast.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Moved to General Student Forum

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i started my pre recs at 32. will finish them two weeks before my 34th birthday, and apply to start nusing school this spring. if i stay on course i will graduate with my BSN at 35. my FIL got his PhD i think at around age 40, and he said you know, i was going to be 40 anyway, so i may as well have a PhD. i figured the same- the years are going to pass anyway, may as well try for a career i don't absolutely hate! :)

My advise is, if you are even *considering* it, just do all the online pre recs now. worst that happens is you don't go to nursing school and you learn a few things. every online class i have taken has been completely manageable and doable with kids/job/etc. Start there and that way you are ahead of the game and only have your lab sciences left if you do decide to go for it. Good luck to you!

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

Another way to look at it..... You'll probably be working until you're 67-ish. That's a LOT of years to work in a job that you don't like.

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Specializes in NICU, RNC.

I'm 36 and graduate in 4 weeks! I'm so glad that I started down this path! No regrets.

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