Any Over 30 Pre-Nursing Students Here?

37changes, ASN, RN · Nov 3, 2018

I'm not in Oklahoma but I thought maybe you were looking for support from all over.

I will be graduating in December and I'll be 40 in March. There have been many discussions like this one around here. MANY of us are doing this in our "advanced" age (ha!) and thriving.

I say if it's your dream, figure out a way to make it happen & go for it. Best wishes!

Apple-Core, ASN, BSN, RN · Nov 4, 2018

This is an oft discussed topic here on Allnurses! No, you are not too old. I'm almost 50 and onlt half way through my nursing school. There's a bunch of students my age in my class. It's a non issue!

sgc29 · Nov 4, 2018

Oh I'm so glad to hear that! I will admit, yes my age was something that was pulled me back a little bit. But really after hearing this, now it's just logistics. I know there's a way to get it done... Just going to take me a little bit more time to figure it out. I know there are a lot of women out there who probably are on their own and have to support themselves while making school work too. I'll find a way. Any advice on that is appreciated as well. Thanks so much for your support!

sgc29 · Nov 4, 2018

Thanks so much for the support! Nice to know I'm not the only one who may be a little bit older and classes. I plan on hopefully starting my pre-recs fall semester of next year (which I can easily do working FT). It's just once I apply to nursing school and start that "logistics" part will really come in, while I try and figure out how to steal work enough to have to support myself and do school. But I'm saving as much as I can and I'm developing a plan to get there.

Apple-Core, ASN, BSN, RN · Nov 4, 2018

I took all my pre-reqs online so that I could continue working fulltime and be available for my kids in the day - I would study at night. The logistics of actual being at school in person is a bit trickier, but we make it work.

As for the age thing - honestly, such a non-issue. In fact, age brings with it some benefits such as maturity and a calmer approach to things. I have found some things a bit tougher - but oh well, that's life!....

Oklahoma 1 · Nov 4, 2018

I will be 36 in December, currently preparing to go back to school to complete my Nursing Degree, and after that I plan on going back to pursue APRN. So I agree NO your not to old, and if you don't do it now in 10 years you will look back and regret not making the jump then. Good luck!

Aliens05, ASN · Nov 4, 2018

Hi. I am a 32 year old guy that just finished my RN (associates at a local comm college) this past May and passed my NCLEX in July. I technically worked full time through school and clinicals (32 hours to retain benefits). My job was super easy and low stress, I worked at a small group home with disabled persons, very relaxed atmosphere, and they worked around my school schedule.

It was tough not gonna lie, basically I would either work all day and then do homework and study, or on days off work I either had class or clinicals and more studying/homework. It pretty much left almost no time for anything else, although I did manage to still go to the gym for an hour most days of the week. I do not have kids, but do have a dog that I had to care for. It can be done, I know some programs are more intense than others, some require more total time committment than others.

We had class from 8-3 one day per week, and typically one day per week of clinical (also one day per week of PRE-lab, day before clinical). So essentially the way my program was ran was you committed to 3 full days for just school without taking into consideration time outside of that for homework and studying. I feel like I did not study as much as most of my classmates did, however i still studied A LOT.

Good luck to you, it can be done if you are committed.

redshott · Nov 4, 2018

I'm right there with you! About 9yrs ago I was accepted into an ADN program but my husband had orders to move overseas so I got my degree in health management instead.... The market is over-saturated in regards to medical admin so the jobs haven't been anything like what I had hoped. I'm almost 39 and my husband is retiring from the USAF so I can finally go back to nursing school (I'm hoping to do an absn program) if I want to.

The parts that scare me are my age (I'll probably be 40 once I start the program) and giving up the security of a full time job/income while in school. I know a lot of people complete RN school later in life so I'm trying not to let it get to me! Best of luck to you!

DowntheRiver · Nov 4, 2018

My ASN program was mostly people in their mid-twenties to late thirties. There were only two young people in my class who were in their early twenties. So, it could happen that you end up with an older bunch.

Oklahoma 1 · Nov 4, 2018

Pay down debt and start stockpiling cash. You should be able to work PT if needed in school. If we want it bad enough we will find way, but don't let age stop you!

sgc29 · Nov 4, 2018

That probably is going to be my life to you once I get into nursing school. I plan on starting my pre-recs at the very latest by fall of next year, which I'll easily be able to do while still working full-time. I'm starting to save up as much as I possibly can right now as well. Only thing that worries me is just being able to make my bills and support myself while in nursing school and doing clinicals (I'm completely on my own and single). But somehow, I know it's possible. Just have to figure it out.