Curious. How many "older" students

finchertwins, BSN, RN · Mar 17, 2004

I read your question that you posted for comment and read the responses. I am about to graduate in December with my RN degree, I am 32 yo, divorced with 3 kids. I am the primary parent(Soccer coach for 2, tee ball for the other and have them a majority of the time. Most of the students I am in school with 51 females and 4 males, the average age is 30yo. FYI I am 1 of the males. I am a majority by age but a minority by gender.

MryRose · Mar 18, 2004

I read your question that you posted for comment and read the responses. I am about to graduate in December with my RN degree, I am 32 yo, divorced with 3 kids. I am the primary parent(Soccer coach for 2, tee ball for the other and have them a majority of the time. Most of the students I am in school with 51 females and 4 males, the average age is 30yo. FYI I am 1 of the males. I am a majority by age but a minority by gender.

It's getting pretty close for your graduation! I am excited for you! :)

Your kids are really lucky to have a Dad that is willing to show his parenting skills rather than just talk about them Good for you!

Hugs!

MaryRose

Energizer Bunny · Mar 18, 2004

Hi. I am 30 and starting this fall, though I did take three pre-nursing courses two years ago to get started. I also have three young children. My school is only taking 10 new high school grads into the program and I am unsure of the total but I think there are only about 40 of us.

About the CNM..that is what I am going for as well and there are colleges out there were you can go from RN to CNM without having to have your BSN. This is what I discovered during my research and thought you might want to know!

Kim

:rolleyes:

Maisie · May 4, 2004

Is it hard learning algebra???? I am having to teach myself but it feels like I am reading a foreign language...any suggestions????

Try this website. Mathxl.com. For twenty-two dollars a year you get a selection of math books with 100s of problems that have a tutorial. The tutorial actually walks you through the problem. In my opinion, it is better than my math teacher.

fnimat1 · May 4, 2004

I guess I would be considered an older student...lol. I am a 31 year old wife and mother to 4 children (9 1/2, 8, 3, 16mths.) I have been accepted into an out-of-county nursing program already...still waiting on my letter from the CC that I currently attend. I'm very excited about becoming a nursing student and looking forward to the challenges ahead.

Fatima

guest40951 · May 4, 2004

Hello Everyone, I am Teena (39) stay at home mother of a 13 yr old, and will be getting married when I enter my last semester in the RN Mobility program. I am a CMA and phlebotomist. I am attending George C. Wallace Community College in Dothan, AL. I will complete the LPN program in Dec 2004, complete pre-reqs for RN Mobility program in Summer 2005, and start the RN Mobility Program in the Fall of 2005 if it's GOD's will. I would like to start work (I don't know in what area of nursing yet) once I complete the RN Mobility program and just take a class or two for my BSN while working full-time.

brinaa · May 4, 2004

It seems that alot of people are doing nursing for a second career. Just curious. How old is everyone? Who has kids? Is it a mixed group in the professional part of the nursing program (I am still doing pre-reqs)? Where are you living and what school do you plan on going to. BSN or ADN? What area of nursing do you want to go into?
I am 32, will be 33 in August. I am married with 3 kids. I live in Phoenix and will be going to Arizona State University for my BSN. I am doing the BSN rather than the ADN because I would like to be a CNM. Although I am also interested in ICU too.

my name is sabrina im 30 this year with 4 kids(5 including fiance)LoL.live in MI going to occ,ADN.

Tony35NYC · May 4, 2004

Just kidding!!!!!

I can't believe you guys in your 30s and 40s are calling yourselves "older". "Older", to me, is more like 60 years old. I personally prefer the term "non-traditional". I don't know, maybe both terms are redundant because it seems that a pretty good chunk of people who're studying medicine, nursing, PA, NP, CRNA, etc. are in their 30s and 40s. I'd like to know what the actual numbers are, but I suspect that these days the "older" students outnumber recent high school grads when it comes to the professional programs.

I SERIOUSLY envy all of you who have kids and are doing nursing school. I don't know how you do it. I'd love to have kids, but I know I haven't got what it takes to balance family life with my plans to attend CRNA school after I finish my BSN program next year. Hopefully, I won't be too old and ugly by the time I get done. LOL.

EMTtoRN · May 4, 2004

Hi all!!!

I am Katrin will be 24 in 2 weeks and am married and have a 2 1/2 daughter and 2 furry toddlers too. I am doing my pre req's now and will be transferring to a cc ADN program the fall of 05 So great to hear from all you moms and dads that are also raising kids!!

mariessas_mom · May 4, 2004

32, mother of one six year old daughter. I worked as a MA for 7 years and decided it wasn't enough. As of this week I will be done with all of my prereqs and will be starting a BSN program in the fall!

Electrix · May 4, 2004

I'm 34 years old and mother of 4 year old twins, Most of the people in my classes are 35 years old and older. Never too late and the more the merrier...

Come you soldiers of compassion... let us combat the nursing shortage!:balloons:

meemaw1 · May 4, 2004

I too turned 57 this year and am completeing my final 2 prereq"s and have been accepted into the BSN program at the Univer. Of Michigan-Flint this fall

I'm sooo excited!!!! I too have thoughts of being too old but I know a nurse

who was forced to retired at 65 , took a job at a LTC and retired at 87!!!

She was caring for patients 20-30+ yrs. younger than her.

She said she only retired then because her eyes were failing her. She is still

active and living independent at 94!!!!

I figure I'm a late bloomer and I don't play cards or bingo, so I might as well become the nurse I desired to be years ago and let the Lord decide how long I work.

I think I'm the oldest in our group and that's ok by me. Maybe I can be a model to a younger woman that it's never too late. Plus I want to be an example to my grandchildren.

Congrats to you, the main things to keep the main thing is the main thing!!!!!!

I have topped all of you in age! I turned 57 a few days ago. My story is somewhat different. I graduated from a BSN program way back in 1970. I was 23 years old and worked as a school nurse teacher for two years. They eliminated that position and offered me a job teaching third grade. I got my MA in education and worked as an elementary school teacher up until two years ago when i retired.
I have three children ages 29, 25, and 23. Two years ago, I was very traumatized by marital problems. I am going through a painful divorce, and I have decided to go back to nursing. Although I loved teaching, my dream of being a nurse was never fulfilled. I took a refresher course at a local college for 6 weeks doing clinicals in a small hsopital. I have been studying pharmacology on my own completing the greatest calculations book. I would highly recommend it to anyone worried about calculations like I was. It is called Math For Meds by Curren and Munday.
I was accepted into a reentry program at a very large medical center in my area. It is a 9 week course starting at the end of March. Classes wil be every Wed. night from 4-11, and clinicals will be from 7-3 every Sat. and Sun. I will be working one on one with a precepter. It is a nine week program, and I am very excited about it. When I complete the program, I would like to work in a specialty area. I have considered psych, neonatal and even intensive care.
I have gotten a lot of support from friends and family-especially my children.There have been a few comments that have bothered me, but I am trying to ignore those. My doctor cousin asked me why I would want to work with all 22 year olds. Another woman asked me why I would want to be a nurse. Her daughter is a physical therapist and told her that nursing is the worst, because you work so hard and get paid so little!! I never know how to answer people like that. I can't wait to be a nurse, and I think the pay is good!
I am very excited about going back to nursing, but sometimes I do get some fears about being too old. So if there are other people starting out in the over 50 age group, please give me some support. Also, if any of you young ones have experienced older people returning to nursing and doing well, Iundefined could use the encouragement. I know i can do it. I just feel a little insecure being 57!