35/f Married w/3 kids I am too old ?

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Hello,

I am new to this site! I want to know if you guys think i am to old to start school? I work as a Ophthalmic tech for the past few years love helping people love the job just feel bored the same thing everyday not challenging enough and the pay is bad.... I always wanted to be Nurse but scared i wont make the school i am not good in math at all But love Science !! There is a 15 month LPN program in my area i am looking into but, I have been reading on here LPN's do not make much and the jobs are phasing out??? i will like to be a RN can i take the LPN training and then take more classes to become an RN? and how much longer will it take?? I am very nervous and worried about spending all that money in school if they are doing away with LPNs ???? and i have a 7 yr old boy is this the right field to go into or is he going to be neglected??? with my studies????

thanks :(

Specializes in Hospice.

I think you will get a resounding NO! on these boards!

It will be hard, you will want to pull out your hair, your kids might have to eat a frozen pizza sometimes, but it is so worth it!

You can study with them! They will see you pursuing your dreams DESPITE the odds! They will find out what tenacity (sp?) and hard work can do for your soul! I think if you want it go for it! Everything falls into place when you want something bad enough!

Good luck!

Specializes in Hospice.

BTW I am going to be 32 in Dec. I won't get into my schools program until approx. Spring or summer of 09.......I'll be close to 33. I'm shooting for a Masters eventually. I have two kids 7 1/2 and 11. They think it's really cool that I am in college and they know I will be able to pay for their college when I am a nurse, but without that liscense they won't get much help from me money wise.

How would nurses be able to do their jobs so well w/out LPN's!?! They are needed and not just in Nursing homes. I know a couple in some of my classes that work in ER"s! Going to a 2 year college isn't an option for my sister right now but getting a CNA or LPN is! Everyone has to start SOMEWHERE! As an LPN you could bridge! It is up to YOU to figure out what your best course of action is. You will be able to find and get LOTS of info and opinions on this board. From students as well as nurses! This board seriously rocks!

Specializes in no specialty! (have to graduate first!).

You should go for it! Don't let age hold you back. 35 is not even close to being considered "old". There are many people on this site that are a little older with kids so you will find tons of support. Going to school while being a parent at the same time is hard. It can be very stressful at times. And you will feel as though you aren't paying as much attention to you kids as you should. You just have to find a balance. And the bottom line is that no matter how difficult it gets at times, it is so worth it. It will benefit you as well as your kids. And when there are times when you feel you are ignoring them too much, let them help you study!

And if you're worried about the LPN positions "disappearing", them go for the RN. You will spend 2 years in school instead of 15 months. And don't forget that you can probably find a school that has all of the pre-req's online so that way you don't have to be away from your kids while you complete them.

Specializes in Neuro.

You are definitely not too old!! Half of my class is in their 30's , the other half is younger. I started nursing school when I was 37 (turned 38 two months later) and will graduate when I am 40. I have 4 kids, ages 9, 11, 13 and 14, and my husband is also in school. I am working 40 hours a week at the local hospital here as an extern and absolutely love everything I do. We have a lady in our program who is in her mid 50's, so you are never too old to go to school.

As far as which program to go with...I have a great friend who went the LVN route and it is kicking her butt, although she is making A's in everything. It is a 15 month program, and she is constantly taking tests. Last October, she counted up the number of tests that they took, and they had 40 of them! She is constantly studying for this test or that and does not think that she would be able to work even if she had to. I, on the other hand, have a test every week or so, and have time in between to study for them. As mentioned above, I even work while in school, not because I have to but because I want the experience. I just do not think that I would have been able to keep my sanity if I had gone the LVN route!!! Kudos to everyone who has gone that route. It is very tough, if all schools are like mine is! I too have heard about LVN's being phased out, and some schools have even stopped their LVN program, while others have picked them up. I can't say for sure if they are or not, but for another half a year, the money is worth it!!

Please do not let your age hold you back. It is only a number...Best of luck in whatever you decide to do.

Thanks everyone for being so supportive and answering my question/ Can someone tell me how to thank back so everyone can get points i think thats how this site works not sure !! thank all

Specializes in Neuro.

You are welcome, Kolacz. To thank someone, just click on the button at the bottom of their post that says "thanks."

Hi,

I agree with everyone here. If you really want to do it age is not a problem. You'll meet people of all ages and all reasons for wanting to be a nurse. Being a mom and an older student will help to make you a better nurse and student. I am in my mid-thirties, just married, thinking about starting a family and start a nursing program this fall. I say, age is no boundary-if you don't do it you'll alway you may always wonder what if-so why not?

Thank you and Congratulations!!!!! i bet you are so exited thank you for replying to my message i hope i do get in Anyone know anything about a school called Rasmussen College??? In holiday Fl i wonder if its a good school to attend???

thanks again

You have to decide what you want to do all day. My mom has been an LPN for almost 30 years and there is no way that I would do it. They don't get paid near enough to do the work that they do. LPN's provide a HUGE service yet seem to have a hard time getting the adequate respect.

As for you being too old, I am 34 with four kids. I dropped out of high school and was bad at math anyway so I had to have 2 semesters of 0 credit math. I decided that my age didn't really afford me to play around so I don't take time off. I take full semesters, study before the kids get out of bed, take summers, etc. I don't think my kids have suffered at all. In fact, they are flourishing now that I have a little self esteem in me!! I started last summer and will apply to nursing school this fall. I will have started in June of 07' and will graduate in Dec of 10'....Not too shabby.

You really can do anything you put your mind to. You will do some things that wont work, learn from it, and change it all around to fit your life and family.... Good luck to you!!:yeah:

Specializes in Neuro.

I don't know anything about the college, as I live in Texas, but you can do a search on it, or look in the Florida section on this site and see if anyone has posted anyhting there about it. If not, post a message there (in the Florida section) and see if anyone answers.

Good luck to you. I see that you found the thank you button just fine!! Lol!!

After the cost, the #1 thing to be sure of when checking out schools is to BE SURE they are fully accredited. About age, I'm 33 and starting BSN program in fall 08 and I am in the middle as far as age, there are younger but just as many older people in my class of 40

I say go for it! I'm 46! I just started last year and am almost finished with my pre-reqs. I'm definitely fulfilling my dream and you should too. :D

Lynn

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