Any other "older" new nursing students out there?

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Hi all! I am new to this site and I am a brand new nursing student. I am a retired NYC police officer and a single mom of 4 (2 at home, 2 on their own.) I am excited and terrified all at once!! I am starting my pre-req's in January 2002. I will hopefully be done with them within a year. I guess what I am worried about is the fact that I'll be going to school with people my older kid's ages and I don't wanna be seen as the "old lady!!" I am doing this not only for myself, but I figured after all these years, I cannot preach college to my children if I've not gone myself! Any advice for the new, old woman?

Thanks for letting me get started...I'm sure I'll be here a lot!!:)

:eek: :eek:

Thanks Danielle for the encouraging words, when times get tough, and that goes for everyone, it's nice to know that we are all rooting for each other !!

Have a Blessed Holiday !

:) :) :)

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Thanks for your kind words Danielle!!

I guess, at first, I was really nervous about my ability to get back to school and do well, seeing it's been years since going to school.

Now, I cannot wait! I guess, due to all of the encouragement from everyone here, I am learning that my age will be an asset, not something to worry about. It's also the realization that I am getting older, which I was hoping wouldn't happen to me, but, alas, it has!! LOL

I want to work at being the best nurse I can be...I can't wait!

Thanks, again, for the encouragement! I'll talk to you soon, have a great holiday season.

Christine :D

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:D I'm 38. Will be going into Level 4 of the ADN program, spring 2002 to finish up.

Even though it has been hard for me and having so many obstacles to overcome. I truly have enjoyed every minute of it. I have learned so much.

I can look back when I first started, and let me just say, I have come along ways and still got a few more steps to go. But I will make it and so will you.

You can do it and will do it, if that is your hearts desires. Just believe in yourself and do not let anything or anyone stop you from achieving this goal.

;)

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My group are generally all 'older'..........actually the school leavers are the minority!

I am a married, 38 year old mum of 2 young girls.......and I am finding it easier than any study I had previously attempted, but still struggle.......

bew :)

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I'm glad this thread was bumped up! I'ts nice to know there are other "older" non-traditional students around !;)

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I am 45 and will graduate in May of 2004 from an ASN program. Am I the OLDEST student? :eek:

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Hi all!

Yes, I guess non traditional would describe me as well. I am 30 with 3 children.

I decided to go into nursing a couple of months ago. I got all of my paperwork to the college and I start in Jan. I am hoping to get accepted to the local ADN program which will start in the Fall of next year.

I am taking A&P and Chem in the Spring. Wish me luck! I have never taken anything like that before. However, I feel I have an advantage because I am "older". I am ready to go to school now and I am ready to study! When I attended college fresh out of High School, all I wanted to do was socialize!:cool:

I have 2 children currently in school and my youngest is 3. She is excited to get to go to "school" with mommy. She has never gone to school before. We are both excited.

I don't know how the studying will go with the kids, but I plan to keep things organized to make it easier for all of us! Only time will tell!

I keep praying my kids will stay healthy one the program starts! I have 3 so I know eventually someone will be ill.

Anyway, best wishes to all of you!

Jen

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Got you beat SusanRN2004, I'm 52 and in the first year of an ADN program. There is one student older than I. Used to be two older but the guy dropped.

I find it more difficult to remember now than it was during my BA ten years ago. Not happy about getting older but happy to be doing what I want after 30 years in the corporate rat race. Not naive enough to think nursing will not be a rat race as well.

There are many, many very nice people in my program, every one of the nice ones is younger than I. In fact, almost all are younger than my daughter!

Good luck to all of us students, no matter the age.

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Originally posted by oldnewnurse

Got you beat SusanRN2004, I'm 52 and in the first year of an ADN program. There is one student older than I. Used to be two older but the guy dropped.

I find it more difficult to remember now than it was during my BA ten years ago. Not happy about getting older but happy to be doing what I want after 30 years in the corporate rat race. Not naive enough to think nursing will not be a rat race as well.

There are many, many very nice people in my program, every one of the nice ones is younger than I. In fact, almost all are younger than my daughter!

Good luck to all of us students, no matter the age.

Oldnewnurse, I am the oldest in my class...one of the girls graduated from high school with my daughter! Nursing classes might be harder than some other degree's no matter what your age...I will never forget a post on another board where a woman said she had three degrees before she started nursing school...including a masters from a well known university. She said the 2 year ADN program from the community college was the hardest one on all!!

The good things about being older are that I am not as intimidated by the teacher as some of the younger girls, and at this age I know two years will be over quickly! :eek:

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You ladies are great !!!!!! I am finishing my masters in the spring.

I have been a nurse for nearly 30 years and at this point, I plan on staying at the bedside, although, you never know.

I just finished orienting a new grad who will be 50 ten days after me (in December) She is doing a wonderful job !!!!!

The beauty of the "Older" student is that you will bring to the profession so much previous experiences that your younger peers could only wish for !!!!!!!

I have loved this masters program !!!!!! I spent so many years writing in abreviations that I could hardly write a complete sentence, much less using punctuation !!!!!!!!

Now I can even write an entire paragraph and it makes sense!!!!

My sister is also a nurse (she's a year younger than I) and she too will complete her masters in May !!!!

She is the head nurse in an ER (can't imagine why she would like to do ER?!?!) My degree is the Advanced Practice Nurse specializing in Oncology!!

Good luck to you all !!!!!!!!

And when you are finished...........keep going!!!!!!Get your BSN or see if your area colleges have the RN to MSN tract and skip the BSN altogether !!!!!!!

What the heck, you will be 40 or 50 or 60 whether you continue or not!!

ALSO CHECK OUT SCHOLARSHIPS AND GRANTS!!!!!!!!!!

There is alot of money out there for people that want to become nurses AND it is NOT based on finances !!!!!!

I have received $$ for the last 2 semesters even though my hospital reimburses !!

Another thing >>>>>>>>>>>>don't forget to have fun while you are doing this !!!

Kat

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Well......32 here with 2 full time kids and 2 part time.......my study buddy Kathy is about to turn 50 and has 4 grown....one 8 year old at home..........

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Hi... I'm 36 (I don't feel 36), married with a daughter.

I'm making a major change in my life. I made the decision to quite my full time job and start Nursing School. I've wanted this for so long.... I start clinicals in Janary '03. And, I probably will not stop until I have my MSN.

At 36, I'm still a ball of fire. Glad to know you guys are too...

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