Am I too old?

[chrissy6496]

Hi! I am new here. I just wanted to see if there is anyone else out there that is feeling the way that I do. For most of my life I have loved helping people. I have had jobs where I have worked in nursing homes taking care of the elderly, and I have worked in a job taking care of 3 retarted and physically disabled men. I loved taking care of these people. I am not a nurse, or a CNA. I am signed up to take college classes at a state college that offers nursing. I begin in January of 03. I am 41 years old right now, and am thinking about going for RN. They tell me that I won't actually get to take any nursing classes until fall of 04, that is, if I pass the NET test, and get accepted into nursing. I guess I am just wondering if anyone else started out for nursing as late as I am. I feel sometimes that maybe I am too old to go into this career. Please, if anyone else is out there that started off late like me, please reply. I feel alone.

[jdomep]

I am 37 and that is the average age in my evening class (our oldest student is 53 - so I say GO FOR IT!

[Agnus]

If YOU believe you're too old you are. It is NOT what anyone else tells you. I graduated Nursing School at age 50.

[semstr]

NO you are not old!

I have a student right now, she started in September, and she is 45!!

Go for it!!

[SeptSue]

Hi Chrissy I'm older than you and I know you are not too old. Age doesn't matter. I read about a woman who, at 60 years of age, decided to go into nursing. I've been away from nursing for a few years now, do you think I'm too old to get back into it? I know I can do it if I decide to. All the best!

[RRMLPN]

go for it.. had a wonderful 62 yr old lady in class and she was sharp as a tack!!

[ricquet]

welcome to the profession thanks for the choice. You can make it age is just a number. good luck

[K O'Malley]

Its not age that matters but health and stamina. If you can endure hours on your feet, have a small stomach and a huge bladder you will do just fine! LOL!

[Babe]

:) My great Aunt told me your only "old" when you tell yourself you are!She was in her ninities and still baking christmas cookies for the whole neighborhood, she is dearly missed but her wisdom lives on! I'm 53 and will turn 54 shortly after starting my second sem. in nursing school, it's great, like the others have said, go for it ,age is only a number, it's what you feel in heart and mind that counts!!!! I feel in lots of ways it is truly easier for mature students . The best part is that it makes your feel younger, maybe because your fulfilling a dream. It will be hard but not because of age, nursing school is hard for all who try it, you have a good head start as your sure this is something you trully want to do, so loads of good luck to you and on those days when your worn out and feel your age is catching up with you remember you never truly grow old unless you belive yourself to be!!! Keep in touch, we'll be here if you need help!!:roll

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

Good Luck. As has been said go for it! We need all the nureses we can get!

Plus when you graduate you'll be among your own age group. The average age of the working nurse is the 40s I believe.

[oldnewnurse]

Chrissy,

I am 52, have just finished my first quarter (quarters, YUK!) with a 4.0 in an ADN program. I am the oldest surviving student. There were three older than me who dropped early in the quarter. I am older than each of the professors; my clinical instructor is 29.

Believe me, if this is what you want and you have the mental abilities, age is not relevant. I know the requirements of ICU nursing and other specialties, for example, are beyond my physical abilities. But my interest is palliative care and my love for people is tremendous. Just maybe I will be able to make a difference in someone's transition out of this life.

Good luck!

P.S. I had to chuckle when I read K O'Malley's comment about the big bladder. I'm in trouble there, but even that can be controlled with Depends.

[Love-A-Nurse]

ah! 41, you are just beginning to live! go for it.

i started an asn program this august at age 42; if it is god's will, studying, graduating, and passing rn boards, i will receive my rn license at age 43.

[Gardengal]

41 years old? No problem, as long as it's what you want to do. Let's face it. You'll be 42 years old next year and 43 the year after that. You might as well go to school and be a nurse as you wish. That's something you can control. It's what you want.

We have no control over getting older, but we sure can control what we do as we get there.