30+ club! Lets do this together.

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I'm almost 32 and just about finished my first quarter back. I will have 9 more pre reqs to take before I can apply for the program. I would love to chat with others and cheer each other on along the way. OH, and does anyone else think English 101 is kinda hard?! And why the hell does it have to be one of the 4 classes that count at my school? I'm going crazy!

Specializes in Med-surg, home care.

I am 33, married with 3 children and employed f/t. I took one pre req last year but stop since I wasn't sure to go for a BSN through an accelerated program (I have a non nursing BS degree already) or continue on original path to get a masters in social work. Now I am back on the BSN track (I have been flip flopping for the past year or two) and want to begin pre req again next year, one at a time. I figure with 6 remaining courses at 2-3 courses per year I will be in my chosen ABSN program in about 3-4 years (if I apply or get in) making me 36 or 37 years old which is good because my oldest will be about 12 or 13 years old by then. Glad to see I 30 something trying to go to nursing school!

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Specializes in Med-surg, home care.

This is my dilemma as well. I was pursing my masters in social work (MSW) and stopped because I wasn't sure if it made sense to rack up so much debt for a job that would not pay more than my current one. SW is a good field but I am in a related field and I can't say I love it. Also nursing would allow me to do similar work for more money and less debt (I wanted to be public health medical social worker). The problem is I would have to quit my job since there is no way I could work f/t, do a absn program and be a wife/mother (its hard enough doing p/t time studies). Funny enough my husband is pretty supportive its just me who is scared but I can't seem to leave nursing alone (I never quit a job in my life!). If I had to do all over again, I would have been a nurse from day one, or at least been in some type of medical field.

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Specializes in Med-surg, home care.

This is my dilemma as well. I was pursing my masters in social work (MSW) and stopped because I wasn't sure if it made sense to rack up so much debt for a job that would not pay more than my current one. SW is a good field but I am in a related field and I can't say I love it. Also nursing would allow me to do similar work for more money and less debt (I wanted to be public health medical social worker). The problem is I would have to quit my job since there is no way I could work f/t, do a absn program and be a wife/mother (its hard enough doing p/t time studies). Funny enough my husband is pretty supportive its just me who is scared but I can't seem to leave nursing alone (I never quit a job in my life!). If I had to do all over again, I would have been a nurse from day one, or at least been in some type of medical field.

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Specializes in Med-surg, home care.
I am 32 as well. I have Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Master of Science in Management/Financial Management. Prior to finishing my Master's degree I took a detour and decided to pursue a Nursing career. Therefore, I have finished most if not all of my pre-requesites depending on the school(s) I apply to. I got scared for a minute and put the Nursing pursuits out of my mind. I just could not figure out a way to get a BSN or CNL and keep my full-time job. Now that I have finished my master's I am now wanting to take the risk and quit my job and go to school full-time and maybe work a part-time position. It is still scary but I have to follow what will make me happy in the end.

This is my dilemma as well. I was pursing my masters in social work (MSW) and stopped because I wasn't sure if it made sense to rack up so much debt for a job that would not pay more than my current one. SW is a good field but I am in a related field and I can't say I love it. Also nursing would allow me to do similar work for more money and less debt (I wanted to be public health medical social worker). The problem is I would have to quit my job since there is no way I could work f/t, do a absn program and be a wife/mother (its hard enough doing p/t time studies). Funny enough my husband is pretty supportive its just me who is scared but I can't seem to leave nursing alone (I never quit a job in my life!). If I had to do all over again, I would have been a nurse from day one, or at least been in some type of medical field.

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This is awesome! I just turned 31 and I have 3 kids and a husband. I just started fall semester and including this semester I have 3 semesters til I can apply! Almost there and glad to see there are so many others "climbing the hill" in the age range :)

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I am 35 and finally fishing my dream! I have eight kids and I am in my 3rd semester of 5 of a BSN program. I'll be 36 when I graduate. Don't give up on your dreams, you can accomplish anything if you put your mind to it- truly!

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I'm (ahem) 51 and am finished with all my pre-reqs and on a SUPER LONG wait list for a program. I've already waited a year and it looks like I might have to wait four more. Last week, I visited a counselor for another school and they don't have a wait list. They are merit-based, so all my 'A's are coming in handy. Now I just need to bone-up to prepare for the TEAS test this fall. I'm a little nervous, but at least I have time to prepare. If I can do well on the TEAS, I can enter the program next fall.

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Specializes in OR.

I'm 43 working on my prereqs! Although I graduated massage therapy school, I had no transfer credit, so this is from scratch. I never attended college when I was young... got my GED at 26. I have a full time job and I'm taking on 13 credit hours this semester. WE CAN DO IT! ENC1101 is not that difficult if you have a good professor. I've always been a good writer, but not as good as I thought I was and my instructor was very helpful! So I'm holding a 4.0 GPA so far and hoping to hang onto it!

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Specializes in Skilled Rehab Nurse.

I'm 34. I got my CNA at 32 and started prerequisites at 33. I'll start the nursing program in January shortly after my 35th birthday. I'll be 36 when I get my RN and hopefully have my BSN before I'm 40. I got my original BA degree in 2001 and nursing will be my 2nd career. I'm married and although we don't have any kids, my husband has a lot of health problems. Those health problems are part of what inspired my desire to change careers.

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Hey,

Work hard to keep that GPA, mrscox! It will serve you well. I've gotten 5 scholarships (even a national award from Tylenol) so far and plan on getting a free ride through nursing school. Some folks get hypercritical about GPAs (in that none of your bosses or colleagues will ever know or care), but when it comes to financial awards (and some great self-esteem, admittedly), those grades are worth their weight in gold! Keep up the great work!

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Specializes in Med Surg/Ortho.

What a great thread! I have read through all 28 pages, lol. I am 35, married, and have two kids ages 10 and 6. I have been a veterinary technician (so nice to see a few others on this thread!) for 14 years. I love it, but like others have said, the pay is horrible. Not always room for advancement either. My mother, who is a retired nurse, always told me to go to nursing school, but I didn't listen. But when my daughter was born and placed in the NICU, that is when I had serious thoughts about it. Put it aside though, thinking I didn't want to start over in my 20's. I took some time off to be with my kids. Did take a CNA class a few years ago. I couldn't work as a CNA though, money was too little and the hours didn't work with my kids. My husband is an OTR truck driver, gone for weeks at a time, so I am essentially a single mom. Last year I did go back to work since both kids are now in school, but I unfortunately had to quit my job over the summer because child care was so expensive! About $200 MORE than my paycheck every week. We struggle as it is, and couldn't afford to lose that much money. So now I am back to considering nursing. Wishing I had done it years ago, before kids (because it will be more difficult now), but I am more mature, and will appreciate it better. I might have some pre-reqs done that aren't science - I know the limit on those are 7-10 years, and the last time I was in school was 11 years ago. But I will go down to my local CC and talk to an advisor about starting classes in the spring. I am a little scared about being close to 40 starting nursing school, but not so much after reading all these replies. You guys give me hope I am making the right decision.

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Specializes in Med Surg/Ortho.

I am wondering how many here had to rely on financial aid? I know we don't have money for classes, especially with me not working. I don't want to take a lot of loans out either. How many got grants or scholarships? Where did you look for scholarships? I have never gone that route before and know nothing about it. Thanks.

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