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!

I am in my early 40s and getting ready to pay the tuition deposit to an Accelerated BSN program but having major second thoughts. I have not worked in healthcare before so I really don't even know if its for me. The school wants 50k for tuition and just yesterday the Boston Globe ran an article saying how tight the job market is for nurses. I am still paying for my previous "quality of life degree", one that offered no clear career path.

I have one more week before they want an answer and I don't know what to do.

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Wow! That is a lot of money! Might you be better off going to a community college?

How fast is the BSN program?

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I'm 44 and just received my acceptance letter last week. :yeah:

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I'm 44 and just received my acceptance letter last week. :yeah:

Congrats!!! :anpom:

And your name makes me curious -- how many kids do you have, mamafor2manykids?

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I am in my early 40s and getting ready to pay the tuition deposit to an accelerated BSN program but having major second thoughts. I have not worked in healthcare before so I really don't even know if its for me. The school wants 50k for tuition and just yesterday the Boston Globe ran an article saying how tight the job market is for nurses. I am still paying for my previous "quality of life degree", one that offered no clear career path.

I have one more week before they want an answer and I don't know what to do.

That IS a lot of $. Are you able to "shadow" a friend who is a nurse for a day? Or volunteer some place?... something to give you an idea if you'd like patient care? I volunteered as a teen, and LOVED it, so there is no doubt for me that i'd enjoy a career in the field.

Another thought, though -- there are different ways to use a nursing degree, not just hospital patient care. You can teach, be an administrator (after further schooling), work for a private practice physician in a number of different fields, be a school nurse (a friend of mine does this), and...???? Help me out, everyone -- can you think of anything else?

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Thanks Walomom! I am the mother of 6 children. Their ages range from 18 to 4. I also have a 22 year old step-daughter who is home for the summer. As you can imagine, our house is full. Everyone has been so supportive. I hear that the actual nursing classes and clinicals can be really difficult. I just hope they can hang in there while I complete my degree. :grad:. I start classes in August. I'm so excited!!!

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Thanks Walomom! I am the mother of 6 children. Their ages range from 18 to 4. I also have a 22 year old step-daughter who is home for the summer. As you can imagine, our house is full. Everyone has been so supportive. I hear that the actual nursing classes and clinicals can be really difficult. I just hope they can hang in there while I complete my degree. :grad:. I start classes in August. I'm so excited!!!

Best of luck to you. I'm sure you can do it. I have four kids (all under the age of 8) when I decided to shift gears (Finance to Healthcare). It's a journey, let me tell you. I'm the second oldest in my class (I'm 35) when I started my LVN, just planning to work for a year then go back to finish my RN. If I was able to do it, I'm sure you will too.

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I was accepted into an ASN at the tech college but figured it was a step backwards.

The actual tuition will be more like 45k in reality but the cost of not being able to work as it's a 16 month boot camp will make it a lot more in the end. Even the ASN they recommend not working to really succeed. The tuition for that would have been around 20K I think.

I am planning on talking to as many nurses as possible in the next week before decision time. I see the level of enthusiasm in some other posters and I am just not there, at this point anyway. I'm jealous to not be as committed to nursing as some of you.

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Specializes in Psych, geriatrics.

"Can't we all just get along?" :lol2:

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I was accepted into an ASN at the tech college but figured it was a step backwards.

The actual tuition will be more like 45k in reality but the cost of not being able to work as it's a 16 month boot camp will make it a lot more in the end. Even the ASN they recommend not working to really succeed. The tuition for that would have been around 20K I think.

I am planning on talking to as many nurses as possible in the next week before decision time. I see the level of enthusiasm in some other posters and I am just not there, at this point anyway. I'm jealous to not be as committed to nursing as some of you.

That is very wise of you. But realize, too, that you are not them -- just because a friend is excited doesn't mean you will be, too -- make sure you dig down to understand WHY your friends enjoy their nursing career and WHY they experience downsides. We're all so different, afterall, with unique personalities, experiences and passions. I hope you discover your passion -- and if it is not nursing, don't despair. There IS something out there for you. :)

I wish you the best of luck -- and please do keep us posted.

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To all of the "over 40" pre-nursing students, I say don't let that deter you. I am 43 year old female who has been attending college since 2005 to get my undergrad degree. Along the way I discovered that I wasn't happy or fulfilled as an administrative assistant getting bounced from company to company due to mergers, relocations and downsizings. When the housing/economic crisis hit me hard and I remained unemployed for a full year I decided that I needed to become a "career changer" and quickly! Having already been in college since 2005 but never having a specific major/concentration in mind I discovered nursing. However, because I am 43 and eager to get started I plan to obtain an Associates Degree in nursing from the Phillips Beth Israel School of Nursing in New York City (the have a two year program that is offered to people like myself that are employed full time). That said, I am currently attending Lehman College in the Bronx to obtain my pre-requisites first before taking the entrance exam for the nursing school of my choice. I'll admit it's daunting at times....this past spring semester I was struggling with Anatomy and Physiology Two and was about to receive a final grade of "D" until I asked the professor to purposely fail me so I can take it again. Even though I feel as though a whole semester has been wasted it still does not deter me from reaching my goal of becoming an R.N. Even if I graduate nursing school at age 50, I feel this is my true calling and that I am destined to become a nurse. Go for it! Age truly is just a number. Best of luck to you and all of us "seasoned" pre nursing students. :)

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Yea, that's a hard call. I was in healthcare prior to going back to school. Healthcare is a demanding industry that requires a passion for people and a desire to heal/care. You will be tested and I'm not talking academically either. The job market has always been tight with the number of graduates coming out of nursing programs throughout the country. However, good nurses (and graduates) are in demand. Top grades and instructor evals will get you picked for that first opening. At present, an ER tech finishing a RN program. The oldest in class and on the floor (I would like to think also one of the best at both). I love ER. It is clinical and routine for most of the time and then a critical patient comes in and needs your help to stay alive...it's a rush and great satisfaction when you and the team were able to overcome their traumatic event. Talk to those in the profession. For me, there are no sadder words "than what might have been."

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