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By the time I complete the ABSN program to which I am applying, I will be 40 (that is if I get accepted for the 2012 start). Althought I've read many threads on changing careers to nursing and older people going into nursing, I'm still a little apprehesive about the amount of time I will have to actually practice nursing. I've met older nurses that see as youthful as some of the younger nurses, but I've also experienced the opposite first hand. My mom is 58 and has been a nurse for 36 years, but her health is failing as a result of wear and tear on her body from many years of nursing. Will that happen to me?
I would like to hear from some older nurses who recently got in nursing (or anyone who has an opinion on the matter). What helped you to be comfortable with your decision? What advice could you offer me? Also, do any of you have small children? How did they influence your decision to become a nurse?
I am 40 and been in school for a year and start the nursing program next semester. I will be 45 when I am done. I plan to do a BSN with a minor in School Health Education. I love it. I say I am 35. I felt wierd the first semester for a bit, but everyone was really sweet. I even got invited to a few parties. Like I could really hang!! It is amazing how much my teenage boys want to come see me of a day now! They have even went to class with me before. I would have had to pay for time before this! Your right 3xmom it is fun to set them up or scope out potentials. Hopefully all these pretty young girls will make sure they start next year. Wait, going to school together If they are here on thier own there goes my one on one time..LOL
I'm 41 and starting my 3rd semester in an ASN program. I know I won't be able to do floor/ER (my passion is ER) nursing for 20 years or anything like that, but I have a long term goal of becoming a NP and setting up a rural clinic somewhere AWAY FROM TEXAS' HEAT, so I don't plan to retire as a floor/ER nurse.
There are a bunch of career changers in my program, and the "older" students tend to stick together in my experience. The hardest thing is juggling work and school, since most of us "older" students don't have the option not to work. :) Get through 2 or 4 or however many years working FT and nursing school together, and I think work will be a breeze!! :)
I just graduated from a BSN program at 60. It was demanding, but a great experience. I found I was readily accepted by my classmates, despite being old the same age as their parents (or even grandparents!).
If anything, I'm finding my age to be an asset in dealing with patients, doctors, and other nurses.
I'm in LVN school and am 41. I don't find my age as a major problem. But do wish I had done this 10 yrs ago. I can't imagine trying to work the floor for more than 5 yrs or so. I plan to transition to RN. Maybe even jump to BSN right away. I know that I LOVED working my clinical at a pediatrics office and while the money isn't as good I really liked getting to know my patients well and helping with the day to day activities at the office so that may be where I end up later on. who knows. there are sooo many options when you have an advanced degree...that may be where I'll head. Just soo many choices right now.
I just graduated from a BSN program at 60. It was demanding, but a great experience. I found I was readily accepted by my classmates, despite being old the same age as their parents (or even grandparents!).If anything, I'm finding my age to be an asset in dealing with patients, doctors, and other nurses.
:yeah:That is awesome I almost backed out because of my age at first. I was really amazed at how the other students acted. I have showed my teenagers your post and a couple of others just to show them how important it is to do it now. Not to wait til later like I did. I think that is great! I hope you are enjoying it
I would like to hear from some older nurses who recently got in nursing (or anyone who has an opinion on the matter). What helped you to be comfortable with your decision? What advice could you offer me? Also, do any of you have small children? How did they influence your decision to become a nurse?
I graduated at 40. I felt comfortable with my decision to go into nursing because my age didn't factor into it for me. It only factored in now, after graduation, because I knew I had less time to reach my goals, so I became a bit selective about applications and such.
My reasons for going into nursing were multi-faceted, but part of it had to do with a medical situation with my kids. That's about it. They are old enough now and when I was in school that I don't have to worry about childcare too much.
You're not too old. You have a good 20 to 25 years of working ahead of you. You may have to change your area of specialty as you age if you acquire job-related health issues, but that's the risk you take regardless of what age you start with nursing.
I just graduated from a BSN program at 60. It was demanding, but a great experience. I found I was readily accepted by my classmates, despite being old the same age as their parents (or even grandparents!).If anything, I'm finding my age to be an asset in dealing with patients, doctors, and other nurses.
:dancgrp::dancgrp::dancgrp:
Awesome!
it has been said that age is but a number! having said that, i have two friends of mine that completed their bsn at age 63~ and they are just as vital & full of life as the younger generation that they graduated with. therefore, it's never to late to pursue and make your dreams a reality :cheers:....aloha~
3xmom
73 Posts
I'm 42 and starting the Nursing program the end of this month so I really hope that 40 isn't to old to become a nurse. I lost my job last year and decided to go to school so I have spent the last year taking all the courses that I needed and then started on ones for my BSN. As a teenager I HATED school and got horrible grades! After my summer is over next week, I'm 99.9% sure I will end with a 4.0 and my overall GPA will be 3.89. Being in school with these young ones keep me feeling like a teenager (although a much more responsible one, lol), never had they made me feel like an outsider and my new little "best friend" is the cutest, tiniest 19 yo you could ever imagine, she looks up to me and being the Mom that I am I push her to do her best and study hard so it works out great for both of us. We both got accepted, thank goodness! Oh, yeah my youngest is 7 and my oldest is 22--we started college at the same time and even have some classes together, he thinks its great and laughs when someone who doesn't know us hears him call me Mom and they get this look of confusion on their face until one of us pipes up and explains that in fact he is my son, and its great being able to scope out daughter-in-law material, hehehe..........