OK, so I need some advice. I'm very seriously considering my second career as nursing. I'm 45, and am very successful in a marketing position. I'm burned out and have always wanted to be a nurse. My background is business. I have some college level science, but I pulled my transcripts and need to take about 8 courses to get my prelims in. I'm enrolled in classes this spring, will still be working full time and am nervous about balancing work and school. My husband is very supportive, and wants me to do what makes me happy. 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. Am I too old to do this? I would graduate in late 2013 ( six semester program) at age 48.
Would really appreciate any advice and if I can realistically have a second career at nursing at this age.
Nursing school at 45? Heck yes!!! I started nursing school at 30(with a 7,3 and 1 year old). Best thing I ever did. Strong sense of accomplishment. Did extremely well in my classes because this was what I had chosen to do. I had been concerned that I wouldn't "fit in" because I was older then the typical student. My worries were unfounded. Really we were all in the same boat...studying our brains out, completing care plans, taking a patient's vitals for the first time.
You stated you will be in your late 40's when you graduate. So?? I am 45 y/o now and going back for my Masters in Nursing Education. As my wonderfully supportive husband:redbeathe(and a supportive spouse is REALLY important) told me "Either way you will be 48 in 3 years. You might as well be 48 with a Masters". Good luck and enjoy the heck out of your new career path.
ladies, i find you all so very inspirational. i have wanted to be a nurse since i was in grade school and at 41 have still not done anything about it. i dropped out of hs my senior year and never finished. i was one of those kids whose teachers told my mother i had so much potential if only i would use it. i felt like everything i did or touched went to crap no matter how hard i tried. i really thought i was just a misfit. after that life just happened...marriage, kids, yada, yada, yada.... about 5 years ago i was diagnosed with add and suddenly the light bulb went on and i feel like i've been given a new lease on life. i waited patiently for my husband to get his life together and figure out what he wanted to be as a grown up, but that has yet to happen. (after 23 yrs of marriage, i suppose it may not) two of my children have already left the nest leaving me with a 13 yr old and the husband. our lives are pretty much a shambles right now, but about 8 mos ago i decided it was my "turn" and i wasn't going to let anything stop me. i've been working my butt off since to trying to turn my life in the direction it needs to go. in the back of mind i've still wondered if i would be too old to make this dream come true. now i know i can do it because you're all doing the same at my age and older. good luck to all of you, you'll do just great! :)
ladies, i find you all so very inspirational. i have wanted to be a nurse since i was in grade school and at 41 have still not done anything about it. i dropped out of hs my senior year and never finished. i was one of those kids whose teachers told my mother i had so much potential if only i would use it. i felt like everything i did or touched went to crap no matter how hard i tried. i really thought i was just a misfit. after that life just happened...marriage, kids, yada, yada, yada.... about 5 years ago i was diagnosed with add and suddenly the light bulb went on and i feel like i've been given a new lease on life. i waited patiently for my husband to get his life together and figure out what he wanted to be as a grown up, but that has yet to happen. (after 23 yrs of marriage, i suppose it may not) two of my children have already left the nest leaving me with a 13 yr old and the husband. our lives are pretty much a shambles right now, but about 8 mos ago i decided it was my "turn" and i wasn't going to let anything stop me. i've been working my butt off since to trying to turn my life in the direction it needs to go. in the back of mind i've still wondered if i would be too old to make this dream come true. now i know i can do it because you're all doing the same at my age and older. good luck to all of you, you'll do just great! :)
@2out1togo: good for you!!! do not let anything hold you back now. choose your path and follow it. if sadly, your spouse chooses not to support your dreams then you need to decide what you want to keep in your life-your husband or your future. only you can make that decision. i had posted earlier that i was someone that started nursing school at 30. i barely scraped by in high school. i was a bored gifted underachiever. in high school i really had no say-so about what classes i took(this was early '80's). in nursing school, i was like a sponge. i absorbed all the information i could. was it easy? no. was it always interesting? no. but i was there by choice and i was also paying for it myself(also a great motivator).
my spouse at the time was not terribly supportive. not cheating, drinking or abusing. i think he felt we were growing apart so he would hinder me by not helping with the small children or around the house stating that i was the one who wanted to go to school, why should he have to pick up my slack? i think this is not terribly unusual so be sure you really talk this over with your husband so neither of you are blind-sided by the others actions. my husband and i did end up divorcing for many reasons, not just school.
i am now married to the most wonderful man in the world and working on my masters in nursing(with his full support). i guess what i am trying to say is to definately follow your dreams and your heart. noone can stop you except yourself. as a bonus, you will be setting a strong example to your children that people can achieve anything they are willing to work hard for no matter what their age. good luck and god bless!!
p.s. don't assume we are all ladies just because we are nurses. there are many male nurses who are wonderful care givers and can also provide great insight.
I am 53 and will graduate from an RN program in 4 months. After I get a job, I plan to get my Bachelor's degree in nursing. I am definitely not the oldest person to graduate from this program. I plan to work for as long as I'm able to. If you want to get into nursing school, go for it! :grpwlcm:
I'm not too sure that I understand the master's program option that are being discussed. We do not have that in my state that I am aware of so I really can't give you an honest opinion about that.
I am 52 years old, I returned to college in May 2007, when I was 48, to complete my pre-req's then applied & was accepted into nursing school. I will graduate this May with my degree.
Like you I had a long career in another field that I burned out on...just made me want to cry to think about going to work. I always wanted to be a nurse too. My husband is also very supportive and just wanted to see me happy. Our children are grown so that is one issue you have that I did not.
Nursing school is definitely not for sissies; however, I've found that my previous experience in corporate American has been a plus for me. I already knew how to be extremely organized, I was way beyond the games and insecurities of youth so nursing school has not been bad for me. Don't get me wrong, I study like crazy every single day including during our breaks because I like to stay ahead of the game. I no longer have a social life of any kind but, to me, it's all worth it. In 110 days I will be eligible to sit for boards and will finally achieve my life-long dream and THAT is a good feeling!!!
GO FOR IT, LIFE IS TOO SHORT TO MISS OUT ON A DREAM & YOU CAN DO THIS, YOU CAN DO IT WELL!!!
OK, so I need some advice. I'm very seriously considering my second career as nursing. I'm 45, and am very successful in a marketing position. I'm burned out and have always wanted to be a nurse. My background is business. I have some college level science, but I pulled my transcripts and need to take about 8 courses to get my prelims in. I'm enrolled in classes this spring, will still be working full time and am nervous about balancing work and school. My husband is very supportive, and wants me to do what makes me happy. 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. Am I too old to do this? I would graduate in late 2013 ( six semester program) at age 48.
Would really appreciate any advice and if I can realistically have a second career at nursing at this age.
Thanks!
Age is just a number and if you are dedicated and can manage your time you can do it. I am 45 and just finished pathophysiology online just need to refresh on my math and take the admissions test.
Guess what??? Next year you'll be 46 whether you go for it or not ~ want to look back at 75 and say, "gee, wish I would have lived my life instead of coasted...?" I graduated in my 40's with absolutely no science background and am now a Director of Nursing. Do what you want in life ~ it's short. Life is what happens while we make plans for the future.
Oh yes def go for it. I have 4 semesters left for my BSN and I am currently 48. I did the LVN route first due to a separation then divorce. IMHO noone is too old for education.
I think you can do just fine. I am graduating this June at 54. I have always wanted to be a nurse and breast cancer came along and made me see if I was going to do it I should just do it. If you only have 8 prereqs you are doing great. Good luck and go after your dreams. Having a supportive husband will help more than you know. I am lucky mine is very supportive.
srerrn2
26 Posts
Nursing school at 45? Heck yes!!! I started nursing school at 30(with a 7,3 and 1 year old). Best thing I ever did. Strong sense of accomplishment. Did extremely well in my classes because this was what I had chosen to do. I had been concerned that I wouldn't "fit in" because I was older then the typical student. My worries were unfounded. Really we were all in the same boat...studying our brains out, completing care plans, taking a patient's vitals for the first time.
You stated you will be in your late 40's when you graduate. So?? I am 45 y/o now and going back for my Masters in Nursing Education. As my wonderfully supportive husband:redbeathe(and a supportive spouse is REALLY important) told me "Either way you will be 48 in 3 years. You might as well be 48 with a Masters". Good luck and enjoy the heck out of your new career path.