considering nursing school at 45 yo

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Has anyone else starting nursing school at the age of 45 or so? My youngest will be a senior in high school next year and my other two in college. I have waited a long time to go back to school. I wanted to know if others have gone back in mid life.

I am forty three and I am in my third semester of ns and hopefully graduate in may of 09. I say Go For It!!!!!!! As you can see from the other posts your with good company!!!!! Check out the forum older students, we are not alone. I love with web site and we can read everyone progress.:typing Leesa

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I start a nursing program in January, at 46yr old. I have been doing my pre and co reqs for two years, waiting to be accepted into a program. When I looked around at the other students at the orientation meeting a few weeks ago, at least half of the 50 students for RN and LPN looked to be in the 30 to 50 yr old range.

:nurse:

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I am 45. I have 177 days until I graduate from nursing school. there are advantages to being older. you have life experiences on your side. you can think more critically and conceptually. can't memorize as much but that is not as important as truly understanding nursing concepts. go for it.

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there were several in my class that were in their 50s. just do it!

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Hi, i'm not 45, i'm actually about to turn 31. But i was having the same feelings you are. Am i too old, have i been outta school too long, can i do it! I'm still having all those feelings and seeing people post on these boards is really helping me. I still haven't gone any further, out of fear of failure and lack of money more than anything. But i'm tryign to get myself in gear and take some pre-reqs. I'm considering taking just a couple this semester to see how i do, and if i can do it since i'm still doubting myself. But i know this is something that i want to do. I'm tired of working a dead end job with no hope of making decent money. I'm at $20k a year now, and i just cant imagine with the prices of everything being the way they are making that 10yrs from now and being able to afford to live! If you want to do it,i say go for it, no matter what your age!!

Good luck and congratulations to you all! :yeah:

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Hi! I am 35 and started nursing school this year. It was a huge step for me. I love school though, and so far I am enjoying this program so much! I have done so much in my life, from having a double major in anthropology and psychology, to a degree in film production, and now nursing.

When I first went to university, I had this amazing teacher that was so interesting. She was what we now call a CSI type of person. She was so good at what she did, she won many awards in the USA and Canada for cases she worked on. I knew that is what I wanted to do. But back then, nobody heard of this type of career - it was quite new. At the end of my BA she told me I had to go to med school to finished my forensic anthropology, and I just couldn't see myself in school for that long ( and yet, here I am!)

I find nursing school is hard, but that is because I am not 18 anymore. I am not the oldest person in the class, but the younger ones did point me out more than one time in front of the class saying this whole experience "must be hard for me because I am older". My response is no, not really - but thanks for pointing it out for me! I am holding my own in class, but the course that is giving me a lot of grief these days is anatomy. There is so much to learn! But yet, so interesting.

I would encourage you to go for it! You will enjoy it, and you will have a great career after. It is a lot of hard work (our brains are not as quick as the younger people),but in the end it is so worth it. :)

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Specializes in ED.

Hey, starting something new is always scary. I'll be 41 and I graduate in May. Do it or have regrets later.

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Specializes in Taking one day at a time....

It doesnt matter how old you are as long as you want to do it. I know a woman who is 60ish in my program & I think its amazing.

This is coming from a 20 y.o. student. A lot of older students will tell me "You're so lucky that you know what you want to do in your life at such a young age...", but I honestly think they have an easier time with the program because they have more life experience. I think they are the lucky ones because they are so much more confident and assertive than I am!

Good luck. :)

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Just want to know....how to post a thread on this forum....I really need to vent about a situation that's bothering me

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I am 46 years old and start nursing school on Dec. 29th....i am so excited that I am finally going to live a dream of mine. I don't think that you are ever to old to get what you want.....

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Specializes in CDI Supervisor; Formerly NICU.
Just want to know....how to post a thread on this forum....I really need to vent about a situation that's bothering me

Just click 'New Thread' button on the left toppish side of this forum, and vent away :)

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I have grandmothers and recent high school graduates in my RN class. Everyone gets along and is respectful to each other- in general the older students get better grades. They have more focus, drive, have better time management skills and life experiences they can apply to clinical situations or critical thinking test questions. No matter what age you are in nursing school you're in the same boat as far as test, studying, papers, skill tests and clinicals. I think age makes no difference in nursing school- it is a lot of work.

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