Any other pre-nursing students over 45?

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I've been working on mostly non-math courses so far and I will be finishing up most of my pre-req's including Mth120 and A&P 1 at the end of Fall. I'm concerned about the NLN pre-entrance test for RNs. Has anyone on this forum over 40 taken it?:eek: Thank you in advance for any responses!

to #68 mr. orsin swett marden, probably doesn't have to interface with visa or face creditors, or possible foreclosures, it sounds romantic...

one has to have a little smarts too; alas, there are some real obstacles here that need to be reckon with and respected. yes there was a time when i felt that i would deal with obstacles as they came along and most likely be victorious in the fight. further i pretended that said obstacles really didn't exist anyway, but just little irritating annoyances to be reckon with and such was the case....the vigor and invincibility of youth, i suppose.....

anyway, so i decided to really check into this possibility of returning to school you know base your decision on facts not emotions, etc. etc....

so, i speak with a info person from one of these private universities with a fast track bsn-msn program for rn's with ba/ma's in other fields (she kind of sounded like an used car salesman btw):smokin:...we kind of figured what it would cost me, you know bottom line, which they just love to circumvent, until they just can't anymore, because after all $ is the bottom line...can you believe getting that bsn (not even the msn) would cost me about $30,000 dollars, and with the msn almost $50,000 i kid you not....and then getting the np would be extra... i told her that its crazy!!!! then she has the utter gall, to ask me how i would be paying for this, out of pocket, or with financial aid?...i told her in a nice way to chill and to take a walk...:uhoh3:

now, i ask you why would i want to get into so much debt at this stage of the game, when it is very iffy, if one is even going to get hired in the first place once your done and i might say a bit older...let's get real....

passion is nice, but at $30,000+????? maybe at a much younger age i would have aimed for the passion. but you know what?, passion, as far as i am concerned is a bit overrated. sorry; personally, it is time to make peace with one's choices that one has made in life and embrace them and yes by all means re-invent and think out of a doable and affordable box; change, opportunity is good but not at the sacrifice of one's emotional and financial wherewithal, not to mention signifcant others as well who are also effected. oh, and btw, this two year program for this illustrious bsn, was assumed that one is not working.. now for those of us who are, plus going to school, and paying this kind of money, even it if one can pay back later as far as i am concern, is cruel and unusual punishment and a complete rip off...........i am sorry to be so blunt; there are many other rewarding options, without having to go into such debt, especially now, when there is such a plethora of jobs available (kidding of course) this is nyc speaking, although i doubt it is no different in other areas as well. anyway, the message is clear and enough said for now!

now its off to bed with a good book and a cup of hot chocolate and a fluffy kitten sleeping at my side!!!!:rolleyes:

chanarivka, you said your peace in a previous post, in a thread that is intended to be supportive.

speaking for myself only, i don't need you to "enlighten" me, or open my eyes, or give me a reality check. it's rather insulting that you feel the need to do so, presuming that we haven't thought out our decisions. if you no longer have the fire in the belly for nursing, so be it. nursing isn't for everyone. but don't assume that your lack of passion, lack of physical condition, or inattentiveness in the classroom also apply to me, or anyone else in this thread.

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing.

Meh,

Money

I've had it...

And then I didn't...

And I'll get it again.

I am not worried. I believe in providence. I have never been let down before. Oh, things have gotten tough, sure, and we've had to scrape by, but oddly, rather than making me pine for the times of plenty, it made me appreciate the real things in life all the more.

Unrealistic expectations are placed on people going into nursing when they are told that they have to love it all the time and that if they don't it may not be for them. My experience has been that these kinds of jobs don't exist unless it's professional athletics or being a rock star. I plan to love what I do when I become a nurse. Hell, I already do, but I am not going to pretend to myself that everything has to be perfect when I get there.

I want to help sick people get better by joining science and compassion and I am smart enough to learn what I need to learn and able enough to do what I have to do.

That should be enough.

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who ever you are, your tough is sharp, sly and angry and not really being so supportive of my discoveries and life changes

...i am supportive, and realistic to boot...and if you re-read my first correspondence, i wished everybody good luck in their pursuits, just being very very aware of certain obstacles and having a need for tremendous perserverance, that's all...and furthermore, i commented on ms. marilyn, who called her self dirt, which is silly,even if she was only kidding, and yes i wanted to share my experiences especially when i spoke to ms. saleswomen, that going back to school w/ one of these private universities is a killer..............i sincerely hope you and anyone else has other financial sources that are more doable and affordable after the day is done....support doesn't always come in the wrapping paper of your choice....so la de dah andgood luck

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who ever you are, your tough is sharp, sly and angry and not really being so supportive of my discoveries and life changes

...i am supportive, and realistic to boot...and if you re-read my first correspondence, i wished everybody good luck in their pursuits, just being very very aware of certain obstacles and having a need for tremendous perserverance, that's all...and furthermore, i commented on ms. marilyn, who called her self dirt, which is silly,even if she was only kidding, and yes i wanted to share my experiences especially when i spoke to ms. saleswomen, that going back to school w/ one of these private universities is a killer..............i sincerely hope you and anyone else has other financial sources that are more doable and affordable after the day is done....support doesn't always come in the wrapping paper of your choice....so la de dah andgood luck

did you feel that your post was supportive of us?

i'm very happy for you if you've found happiness elsewhere from nursing. all i ask is that you respect my decision to pursue it without feeling the need to enlighten me. i'm not naive of the path i've chosen. i know many many nurses. some are loving their job and some have left to do other things. i respect all of them, but i know what is right for me. being in my 40's, i don't consider myself too old to "get" what i'll be taught. quite the contrary, i'm a much better student now than i was 20 yrs ago. my kids are in college themselves and i have a very supportive husband who can't wait for me to have that rn after my name.

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dear

you are 40 and i am 60, big age difference--i wish you all the luck inthe world...with your life experiences, insights and compassion you will make a great nurse....just remember to take good care of yourself, grabbing a massage here and there, a good movie, a manicure,a do nothing day...my hat goes off to you, and g-d forbid, if i ever gave you reason to doubt your decision or be non supportive, i am truly sorry..................good luck to you in every way:yeah:

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dear

you are 40 and i am 60, big age difference--i wish you all the luck inthe world...with your life experiences, insights and compassion you will make a great nurse....just remember to take good care of yourself, grabbing a massage here and there, a good movie, a manicure,a do nothing day...my hat goes off to you, and g-d forbid, if i ever gave you reason to doubt your decision or be non supportive, i am truly sorry..................good luck to you in every way:yeah:

thank you so much for that. my apologies for my rather acerbic response.

i wish you the best in whatever path you take.

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re: chanarivka770 no i had not read your previous posts, sorry, as for being older than dirt... yes it was intended as a joke.. i have stated many times that i've been a nurse since moses was a baby, and i have.. geez, its been my entire life. did i love every minute of it? hell no, and hell is where i worked for a long time, nights in icu with very critically ill patients. but i had wonderful rn's who supported me, who helped me when i didn't understand and who knew that when it all hit the fan i was right by their side. nursing is very ugly, death and dying, battered children, head traumas from being slammed against the wall, 80 year olds who come in and are placed on vents. to save their lives? no to prolong their deaths. money comes from 80 year olds on vents, never mind that they are clinically dead. or how about 10 year olds who had reactions to allergy shots and are now brain dead? how about the massive injuries from car wrecks, the children who looked exactly as my own did and died. i didn't love every minute of it in that context, but the good outcomes far outweigh the bad outcomes and those are the things that i love! nobody should go into any job thinking its all a bed of roses, because under those roses are thorns, it gets sticky, it gets bloody, its very stressful. its wonderful. one of my main reasons for wanting my rn is so i can continue to work in icu where i feel i do my best nursing. not too much call for lvn's in icu, even experienced ones. of my 30 odd years of nursing experience, the majority have been spent in icu/ccu. but there just isn't any call for my skills, ergo i will try to get my prereqs done and get myself back to school before i truly turn to dirt. i never hesitate to tell any prospective employer that i am a very good nurse and will be an asset to their institution. thats a fact. so for all of you that are in this profession, stay strong, take your vacations so you don't burn out and lets all pull together as professionals and support each other.

thanks for continuing this great thread.

marilyn

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I'm 48, I graduated from LPN last summer, just finished up nursing pre-reqs and got my AA and will be starting the LPN-RN transitional program in August. I'll be just about 50 when I get my RN. Then its on to the BSN :)

I will jump in here - graduated in September 09/LVN- CA took test 4/2/10, 3rd career change in 7 years time- after 8 weeks and 6 days in California- am waiting another 3-4 weeks for actual license...and will working and getting those pre-req's right along side many on way to BSN -

My 4 children are young adults, will be taking some of the same classes as our Twins (and the middle children).

One never knows what may happen in their career. The changes in our lives have been major, yet i could not be more content in this moment -

Childhood dreams 'can' become reality

...............when that Dream actually becomes Real...................

all i can say is ....for me it was /is Destiny!

Great forum! Great posts! Even better support!!!

may everyone find their calling.

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50 is the new 40! especially is you stay in shape and practice a healthy life style. Keep in mind Bono of U2 just turned 50. I can't think of anyone of any age who would think of him as middle aged. It is never too late to follow your passion. Anyone who is doubting themselves because of their age, STOP! Nursing school does take a lot of stamina and brains. I've seen plenty of bright 20 something year olds fall by the way side in fundamentals. If you want it bad enough, you can do it too.

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I'm curious, what is the advantage on going to become an LPN first and then and RN? Is it the hands on work experience and the money? I thought about becoming and LPN first my income from cleaning houses is helping to pay the bills.

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That's what I'm about to do, I start LVN school next month. I want to spend one year in class and then do the RN online, because I need to start bringing in a decent wage sooner rather than later.

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Specializes in CNA.

I want to do LPN first to then RN..I got a packet in the mail from the votech I want to go to about what all you have to have to go..like your shot records and such.

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