Am I being realistic? Nursing school at 45?

Wanna-B-RN · Jan 11, 2011

I say that if it makes you happy, go for it! When do you want to be able to retire? If you plan to work at least another 10 years then I think it is worth it, because at least you will be doing something you enjoy! Good luck!

aidensmom403 · Jan 11, 2011

Yes, I don't plan to retire until 65. I have an 8 year old that I need to put through college and a husband that did not plan for retirement very well until we married. So whatever I do I'll be into my 60's before retirement is possible. Thank you!

deleern · Jan 11, 2011

i sold my insurance agency dec of 03. after 4 months of settling the new owner in. i started looking at my options. if i didn’t have health insurance my profits would be eaten up to quickly. my husband and i are older i was 45 and he was 50 it is really hard to find affordable health insurance. i knew i wanted to go into nursing so i started at local nursing home in may of 2004 as a na-r, i needed health benefits and they had a full time opening on the noc shift with benefits. i do not sleep well at night so i thought it wouldn’t hurt to give it a try. na-r is very hard work. i knew that my body would not tolerate this for long. i enjoyed the residents and liked this kind of work.

i started the lpn program in aug of 2004. my hubby was not happy about me wanting to go to college. he thought it was too much for me to handle. i had signed up and promised i wouldn’t go if he said no… i missed the 1st week of school because he couldn’t make up his mind, monday morning i told him that he better tell me if i could go or not and he wouldn’t say anything so i took that as a yes and went to college…. i went to my 1st class and it was nursing 1 the instructor took attendance and afterwards she asked me to pick up my books and step out into the hall she said that i couldn’t start a week late that they have already taken a test and i missed the lecture. so i didn’t say a word and went to the councilors’ office and asked if there any of the programs in this college that the student guide didn’t applied to. he said no, so i turned right around and went back to the class. sat down asked if i could have the power point. and she handed it to me. after the lecture she said i would need to take the test tomorrow. i said fine. i took the 1st test and the second test on the same day… i failed the first test because they take 10% off for taking it late. i got an 80% (a c ) on the second one. so i just plugged away… continued on.

at midterm my instructor pulled me aside and told me i was at a high d… i asked her if she was kicking me out. she said no because i had perfect attendance. i told her that it’s not over until the fat lady sings and this fat lady hasn’t sung yet!!! i paid for this and i was going to go to the end even if i failed it… i would just take it over if i had to.

the second semester i took 3 classes online a&p ii, psycho social, & med terminology that helped with the sleep issue. i could do them on my own time.

our school has open enrollment and i took 18- 21 credits a semester i graduated with a 3.5 gpa in three semesters partly because when i was a student there 27 years ago i was a straight a’s at that time. i believe during the lpn i had a 3.0

i continued taking my co required pre- req. classed so that my work load would be lighter later in the rn program. i worked 5 nights a week as the charge nurse on the night shift. and 3 day shifts. i was accepted into the part time program. so my rn program was 3 semesters long. i only had the core classes left…. thank god. those classes were the hardest classes i have ever had.

organization was one of the keys to my success i bought a large day planner. everything about school and personal life was in it. i knew when my tests were and when projects were due. if future papers were on the agenda i kept a list of ideas or things i would like to research. i always kept in mind what my future practice would entail. (geriatrics) it was the hardest thing i have ever done. i had many struggles though it

i worked for local nursing home full time. i work 10 shifts per 2 week period. and usually work 1 to 2 - 12 hour shifts if someone called in. i graduated with a 3.12 i didn’t get any time off. with school and work it was 12 days straight until my weekend off. i told the “kids” the other students that this is just a short blip in my life and i will get through it. i graduated in may of 2007. took the nclex the same day my 1st granddaughter was born…(i knew she was in labor but she and my husband did not want me to postpone it) well i took the test and made it back to my daughters side to have my hand in on the delivery. (another story some day.) i found i had passed the nclex the next day.

that’s my story.... yes keep going don't stop... it is so easy to let life get in the way. and you know what… what other people think is unimportant. the rewards are great. i finally have job satisfaction!!

deleern · Jan 11, 2011

Sorry Duplicated

Wanna-B-RN · Jan 11, 2011

Deleern, what an inspirational story! I agree just go for it!

rachelrox76 · Jan 11, 2011

Hi,

I am a 33yr old 4th semester student with 2 kids under 6. I say yes, you should go for it if you are prepared to put your regular life on hold for 2 years. I have had a constant struggle between motherhood and being a student all along the way. I am also in the middle of a divorce (due to infidelities), which has made school much harder, but also much more necessary! Nursing school is more demanding than the bachelors in arts degree I already got from a state school. It is more than I expected, but I am almost through and glad I have come this far.... I say do it! you only live once, right! Just be prepared for the stress and strain that it puts on your life. Good luck!

momtojosh · Jan 11, 2011

lpn school at 45....started a job after bing a stay at home mom for 19 yrs....last spring did ALG and Chm.....my only 2 pre reqs.....start A & P 1 this semester....I am 48....

bonnevie13 · Jan 11, 2011

finished pre-req's, waiting for acceptance letter in to adn program, three young men in college (2 seniors, one freshman), previously stay at home mom...and only48 years young! This butterfly has earned her wings, and is flying high! This is my time..... :)

On a side-note I plan on working while earning a BSN, then masters....and will eventually teach nursing before I retire!

lifelearningrn, BSN, RN · Jan 11, 2011

You're definitely NOT to old! Go for it. I'm a little confused about your plan though..

My goal is to enroll in a masters for non-nursing in Summer of 2012. I'll graduate with a masters and can take the RN test.

Is this a typo? You CAN do a direct entry master of nursing program. But you have to be in a nursing program to be able to take the test.

FirmlyAnchored · Jan 11, 2011

I'm a tad bit older than you and just finishing my pre-req's, I'd say go for it. Not sure what kind of program you are referring to, "My goal is to enroll in a masters for non-nursing in Summer of 2012. I'll graduate with a masters and can take the RN test." Your pre-req's will take a year or less to complete. I've never heard of a program that will allow you to take the RN exam solely based on a master's degree and pre-req's, you must complete an ADN or BSN program first (which would be the same amount of time spent on a master's).

I wish it were that simple...

nevergiveuprn · Jan 11, 2011

I am 46 years old and started last semester with one class (stats) I got an A and proved to myself I can do it. I have always wanted to be a nurse and just let life get in the way. Today starts my 2nd semester Biology, Biology Lab, and Human Growth and Dev. I work full time and have two kids. My husband supports me 100% and I am very grateful for that. I say just go for it!!! It is never too late to follow your dreams!!! Best of Luck!!!