considering nursing school at 45 yo

I just want to say "You Go!, girls and guys" You should be SOOOO proud of yourselves for going to school later in life. It is NEVER to late to go to school and learn. Go for it!!

Hey, what's up with the age hang up. With most people living longer and keeping up with the pace, it should be the last thing you should worry about. Nursing was my third degree but only now would I re-take NCLEX-RN after 4 years. Raising 3 HS kids, divorcing, and awaiting for a new life ahead after I pass. Keep it up and look ahead.:)

If I can devil's advocate here for a moment, is it healthy for the profession to fill it with a large number of second-career folks who will spend a thrid to half the time at the bedside as a conventional-college-age graduate?

Is it fair to that young person to be denied a first chance when the fifty year old is on the second or third? (particularly if the younger person is going to be of use at the bedside for so much longer)

I don't have horse in this race, and am not sure what the right tack is. A thread like this one tends toward circular reinforcement while skiping the hard questions that should be asked.

Happy Thanksgiving,

Pete Fitzpatrick

RN, CFRN, EMT-P

This perspective comes with to many assumptions. You're assuming that the 19 year-old will stay in nursing for their entire career (I'm not going to find a link now, but the statistical trend is to have multiple careers over a lifetime), then if they do stay in nursing, you're assuming that they'll stay bedside. By this reasoning, we should give preference to men over women, cause ya know young women will want to have children and will therefore likely leave the workforce for a time. I'm obviously not suggesting we should do this....but I see it as the same line of reasoning.

In my opinion, the reason age isn't considered is that there is no way to predict the future. Create whatever admissions criteria you think will give the best result and then take the most qualified folks.

My

Peace,

CuriousMe

I'm 46 and a Jr. in a BSN program. I'll graduate in 2010. Sometimes I wish I had done this years ago, but then I think about the life experience I bring with me. I know I am a better care giver because of it. The one thing I do feel is a hinderance is my lack of clinical experience. I've never worked in a hospital setting. My first med-surg clinical patient was my first patient ever! Scary stuff.

I do find I have more in common with my instructors than my peers, but there are plenty of 40-somethings in my class.

Good luck to you!

Huny

I am 54 with my Associate in nursing and just started back for my BSN! Go for it!! Bobbi

I'm 45 and in will finish my 3rd semester next week and hope to graduate in May. There is SUCH a difference going back to school at 45 compared to 25 or 35, however, you can do it. I decided before I set foot on campus that failure was not an option for me and that I would do what I had to do every week to get through these 2 years... and I have. I work between 25-30 hours per week and am a single mom of an 8 year-old son. Is it hard? yes. Do I make the grades I'm capable of and accustomed to? no. I HATE looking at that C at the end of the semester but I have no option to not work.. therefore, I do what I have to do. There's also someone that is 47 in my class and has 9 kids, 6 of which are at home. We complain to each other and support one another. Things to do: find a good study group and someone your age that can relate. You'll need to air things out from time to time to someone who can and will understand. My study group partners are in their early to mid 20s. Hang in there and pursue your dreams! and good luck to you.

I am 52, I graduated in May. I am doing a versant residency program and started in the ICU. I will work there a couple days a week and work up to the really critical patients. Then I will float to telemetry. Age isn't important in nursing.:heartbeat:redbeathe

I started nursing school when I was 50, and it's one of the best decisions I ever made. Most of my class was people in their 30's, 40's, and a couple of us 50 and over. You can do it too!

I did. My youngest graduates in May and I will graduate from nursing school in December. Oh and by the way I am 50.

Hi! I am in the process of doing my prerequisites. I am just finishing up Human Bio and a math class. Next semester I have signed up for English 101, Psych 101 and another Math. I do mine online through Clovis in New Mexico because the cost is so inexpensive. Good luck! (Oh and I am 51!)

THANK YOU! I completely agree with your statements. It has been my experience as a 50 yr old student that younger students generally had positive feelings and opinions about me and my presence.

Congrats to all of you going to nursing when you are older! I applaud you. It is not easy going to school later in life. Welcome to all of you.