At what age did you decide on nursing?

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

Published

I am still young, 25, but need some stories of encouragment. I have a 2 yo son and am due with my 2nd little one in December. I am registered for fall classes at my local college and will continue to take my pre-req's until I am done. I always kick myself in the butt though for not getting right in after high school graduation and taking my classes seriously; I was definately a slacker and can't afford to be that anymore. I have always wanted to be a nurse and can't imagine myself anywhere else.

So I am curious to know the stories, as I am sure they will be encouraging, at what age did you decide to start taking classes to become an RN? Did you have children? etc.

Thank you.

I am 26 and was also a slacker in the past, I didn't go to class half the time or care about studying, I regret that more than anything. I see people who went into the nursing program straight out of high school and at 20 years old are already an RN. I completly understand how you feel. Even though we are not OLD, so many people younger than us have already accomplished what we are just starting! I try really hard now in school and have managed a 3.5 GPA so I am proud of myself for getting back into it. It's never too late though, remember that. Just be glad you have decided now to follow through with your dream! At least you have always known you wanted to be a nurse. I had no idea what I wanted to do and I wasted thousands and thousands of dollars at a University working on my bachelors in Marketing. At one point I wanted to be an accountant, then a psychologist, then a lawyer...the list goes on lol. The majority of the many classes I have taken are now for nothing and will not benefit me in nursing, it was just money thrown away I guess. Now that I have finally made a decision and I feel RIGHT about it, I couldn't be more excited! So go for it and give it your all and don't feel bad!

Thank you very much. I know there are many who feel the same as me and yes, it is just that; it eats at me more than anything that there are kids who did do already what I should have done and I see they are my age or younger and have been an RN or are getting their RN now when I am just starting to realize how bad I want this and actually acting on it.

I wish you the best in school and keep up the good work! I have always struggled in school, I guess it's more my fault of laziness vs. my own ability. I just didn't study, do the homework, etc. It follows you. I have now realized that I need and will take my classes seriously from here on out and that I don't want those bad habits to continue to follow me.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I am weird I guess. When I was 13 me and my two friends volunteered at a nursing home and thats when I decided. Got my CNA in highschool and am currently about to finish my first year of nursing school with my LPN.

Most people in my class this is their second career, they took time off for whatever... that seems to be normaler then me. Haha..

Good luck to you!!

That's what I should have done, got it done early. Good for you! and good luck with the rest of NS. How old or young, I should say, are you?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I was 17 and a junior in high school.

I'm now 19 and will be starting my sophomore year of college in August in a very strong nursing program.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Infusion.

I got hooked on nursing about 10 years ago. Started my pre-reqs in fall of 2008 and have been accepted to NS for fall 2010. I was 45 when I began school again. My kids (2) were in 3rd grade and K-garten at the time. I am 47 now and really looking forward to nursing school. I started off by taking 1 class, then 2, then 3 classes at a time. It's certainly never too late to start. You'll know your first term if this is the right "season" for you. For me, I couldn't imagine taking time away from and infant and toddler for classes and studying but everyone is different.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I'm 40 and start nursing school in the Fall. I have a previous bachelor's degree so this will be my second career. While I was a little intimidated going back to school AT MY AGE, I was happy to discover that I was never the oldest in my class. It's the best decision I've ever made. :-)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

i'm starting this summer and i'll also be 24 this summer. I know how you feel- i kick myself in the but about it too...spending all that money on my undergrad degree when i could have just went right into nursing out of high school.

YOU WILL BE FINE! my mom is a nurse also and I think she is the dose of encouragement: she started when she was 28 with 3 very little kids, barely knew english...and she did it!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

GREAT POST!!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Oops!!! It was good to read all your comments...I'm going to be 24 in sept, and I feel old already..lol I still need to finish all the requirements, and I'm kind of scare about them. IDK if I can keep up with all the classes...I'm scare also of nursing. You'll see, I'm from another country, and I've been living here for 3 years now, my primary language is Spanish. I finished English as a second language like two semesters ago, and I did really well, but still I'm struggling with the speech part, I don't like to talk 'cause I don't like to make mistakes. Also, like 8 months ago I took a class at my cc and I widrawed it. IDK if it was because I was working and taking 3 more classes and a Lab along with it, but I got so streesed out that I was crying over nothing, and hated to go to school. I'm so afraid the same would happen during nursing school... Do u think I should quit my dream of being a nurse? If I got all streesed out for 1 class, how would it be then when in nursing?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I'm 19... I'm graduating early (hopefully spring 2012) and applying to a second-degree accelerated BSN program.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Oops!!! It was good to read all your comments...I'm going to be 24 in sept, and I feel old already..lol I still need to finish all the requirements, and I'm kind of scare about them. IDK if I can keep up with all the classes...I'm scare also of nursing. You'll see, I'm from another country, and I've been living here for 3 years now, my primary language is Spanish. I finished English as a second language like two semesters ago, and I did really well, but still I'm struggling with the speech part, I don't like to talk 'cause I don't like to make mistakes. Also, like 8 months ago I took a class at my cc and I widrawed it. IDK if it was because I was working and taking 3 more classes and a Lab along with it, but I got so streesed out that I was crying over nothing, and hated to go to school. I'm so afraid the same would happen during nursing school... Do u think I should quit my dream of being a nurse? If I got all streesed out for 1 class, how would it be then when in nursing?

DONT GIVE UP!! Like i said in another post, my mom came from another country with 3 small children and barely could speak english but she did it. There were plenty of teachers who told her to quit because of the language barrier. Just becuase they didnt understand her accent DID NOT mean that she didnt understand what was going on, she too hated talking in class becuase she felt like people were judging her. Be strong and stay with it, there will always be someone who can sympathize in your class and help you along..my mom definately had these people as her friends, and sometimes thats all it takes is having a friend to kick you in the butt when you feel like quiting. :-) Best of luck!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I decided to be a nurse when i was in 9th grade (high school) i wrote that in my class year book, when asked "what do you want to be when you grow up" and i wrote "nurse", and wrote many encouraging nursing quotes . well, didn't necessarily turn out that way, I got married, at 18, had a baby, and now I'm 23 and going to take the TEAS test/apply for nursing (done with the pre-reqs) Still young, but wished i had gone to college before and established a career. Gee, no im so motivated, then i was slacking, I don't know why i wasn't motivated..

Seriously i believe that "motivation is the key to success"

Good luck on your journey to become a nurse

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I have to say first that you can do anything you put your mind to.

Im 21 and have basically been doing nothing lately except your average everyday jobs. when i graduated high school (with a 2.8 gpa, ouch) i jumped into a community college looking to do interior design. having no money and no credit got me back home fast.

in high school i thought i had better things to do, lol. then college seemed like the most 'cool' thing to do. i started to look hard at carrers after not being able to afford college and being stuck at home. i realized as far as my interior design dream went, anyone can go to home depot and do it themselves.

i forgot all about school and carrers until about a year ago.

a year or so ago my mom was diagnosed with throat cancer from smoking. so far she has gone through radiation, chemo, two surgerys, and now chemo again. during all of this ive been handing over my paychecks to my parents to pay for rent and to help them. even though they have worked hard their whole lives, their bank accounts weren't ready for that blow.

during all of this, i started to watch my family struggel and decided i had to do something about my future too when i want a family. being in the hospitals so much and oncolgy i have made some awesome relationships with a few nurses. then i did my research on top paying careers. all are in the medical fields.

i am hoping my loans fall through for this fall and i will start my way there.

it does all seem crazy, kids, work, family, etc, but i think in the end you will be happy you did. ;)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment