Am I too old for this?

rosemadder · Feb 22, 2003

Hey, You will do great!!! I think that being an "older" student definitely has its advantages. I am 41 and have absolutely LOVED going back to school. When I was in high school I hated it and didn't want to go, but when you get older and really want to go--it makes a world of difference. I love learning!!! I will definitely miss my classes when I graduate in May. I will take the summer off and start back the following Fall to work on my BSN and then on to my Masters. I tell everyone that I will have my Masters in time to retire:chuckle . Anyway, education is a good thing and a good way to spend your time. We have quite a few "older" students in our class--one man who is retired and is in his 50s and a few in there 40s. You will be fine!

Robin

suzy253, RN · Feb 22, 2003

This is all great advice and support. All I have to do is my first step of passing the entrance exam. I'm already worried sick about that! I'm brushing up on my fractions and decimals. I hated them in high school and still hate them.

Scavenger'sWife, RN · Feb 22, 2003

Yep! You can do it! Went back to school at age 45 and graduated with ADN at age 47 (turned 48 one month later). Went to school full-time and did it in two years.

One person in my school (year behind me) was 58.

Oldest person ever at my school was 62.

Had a patient at the hospital once who was going to college for her Masters degree in computer programming (!) and was *72*!!!

:eek:

You are never too old!!!!

NurseDixie · Feb 24, 2003

I'm 46, will graduate in Dec.'03 (will be 47y/o) with my ADN. I agree with most of the rest, I can't memorize things like I did when I was 'young'. I enjoy school and the other students in my class are awesome. I am not the oldest in my class either. 8^)

Harmony · Feb 24, 2003

Yes, I have to agree-life experience DOES help. . I am 48 years old, have been an LPN for 12 years and finally will be starting an ADN program in a few months. I have been trying to get back to school since I finished my LPN certificate, but life kept getting in the way. . now I think I can finally get it done. I am glad to see that 48 is really not that old at all. . .!!

suzy253, RN · Feb 24, 2003

I have to say when I had a tour of the school a couple of weeks ago and then returned with my application and saw some of the students they did look young enough to be ... well, you know. So my entrance exam is Saturday and it's been a long time since I took exams so I'm a bit nervous to say the least!

sixes · Feb 24, 2003

you'll get there. My big problem was the chemistry part. where in the cell was the Na or K or bicarbs god i thought i would die. I use my children as props and made little costumes for them. Paul the 2 now 16 still laughs at the pictures of him in a skeleton suit and Ryan then 3 now 17 was the musles. Casey was the nerves. With the help of the children I garduated in 1991 at the age of 31. we all still have many laughs about my schooling

salgal · Feb 26, 2003

Hello everyone,

I am new to the board and saw this thread and it really helped me out to see that I am not alone with all of the fears about whether I can really do this. I am 44, single mom of three and I also work 30 hours per week. I have been in school full time for a little over a year now and have just completed all of my pre-req's and many co-reqs. I am applying to aan ADN program in April. I have sailed through pretty effortlessly and was able to maintain a 4.0 until this term......I think I may have to lower that 4.0 standard a bit this term. I am taking A&P and a total of 15 credits. I am so unbelievably tired!!!!! I am stressing out over a lab practicum tomorrow night.....on the tissues and bones.......I don't feel like I am going to remember all of that. So anyways.......thanks for the encouragement here......I know I will get through this and being afraid is normal I geuss. Sometimes I do think my poor old brain can't handle all this memorization though!!!

Katnip, RN · Feb 26, 2003

SalGal, don't worry. It really is okay to have a lower than 4.0. I had to learn that over the past couple of semesters. Still coming to grips with it.

One of the MOST critical aspects of succeeding in nursing school is to take time for yourself. If you burn yourself out early in the game, it's going to be really rough on you.

Being a single mom, 3 kids, working 3 hours and going to school, you NEED to carve out time for yourself. I know, extremely difficult to do, but it's necessary. Put the kids to bed and have a cup of tea. . Take a bath. Read two pages of a novel. Take a 10 minute nap. Come here and vent. Just find a way to care for yourself so you can care for others.

I'm done preaching now.

NCINDASUN · Feb 26, 2003

SalGal,

The thing that keeps me going is something my sis-in-law told me. She's an OBGYN at a huge hospital in Virginia.

She says that there is a great difference in a 22 year-old nurse and a 40 year-old nurse and she'll take the one with the creaking bones any day.

Our life experiences have taught us things that the 22 year-old is just beginning to discover. We can work, run households, care for our kids, make sure they have a ride to soccer practice and the refridgerator is stocked. Multi-taking is our middle name.

Now I have nothing against 22 year-old - I have one myself! It's just that there is a wisdom that comes with age. Our brains may not be able to hold everything taught in A&P (I'm taking that now :confused: ) but when it comes to compassion and grace, we can't be beat!

Hang in there and feel free to drop me a line to commiserate. We'll be just fine. :kiss

salgal · Feb 26, 2003

Cyberkat & ncindasun you are awesome!! Thanks for the advice....I decided yesterday evening that I needed a break from studying for the lab practicum tonight so I called my friend and we went to the movies. I feel much more refreshed today. I have been sudying all morning but making sure I take many breaks so I am not burned out by this this evening when I take the practicum. The lecture portion of the exam he let us do as a take home.....I am not sure if that was good or bad because he made it 16 pages long!!! It took people an average of about 8 hours to complete.....lots of essay questions!

12BRN · Feb 26, 2003

Ladies - this is great! I feel so much better. I am a 39 year-old single mother of 2 teens and have applied to an ADN program for the fall. Sometimes I feel too old to do this, but this thread is encouraging. I should hear in May if I've been accepted, so keep your fingers crossed, then it will be getting up the nerve to just jump in and do it! It will be hard to leave the security of my full-time job, but somehow I know I will make it. My kids father died 10 years ago this May, and somehow I've managed to raise them and work full-time. I feel it is my turn now, even though they aren't grown, they are more self-sufficient and they are very supportive of me being in school. We'll see how supportive they are when money is tight come this August! :)

Good luck to all of you!