just a question for the older/non-traditional students and grads here:
have you found that, as an older student or one that has already graduated, you do better or worse than young people right out of high school?
now, i know the amount of study time more than likely is higher for us (the memory ain't what it once was), so that's not really my quandry.
i guess, from reading the dreaed a&p, pharmocolgy, etc. posts, i am fearful of not being successful in the actual nursing portions of the road to my rn.
right now i am only doing prereqs, and doing pretty well.
seeing the struggles/fears/stress of the actual nursing classes has me a little worried.
can, say an over 40 student, be successful without completely losing their mind?
i am in no way shooting for a 4.0 average (though wouldn't that be an added bonus :) )
guess i am just looking for some input/encouragement from older students that have been there.
Congrats on going to nursing school at an older age!
I began school at the age of 44 and completed an associates degree in 2 years. This means I took the A&P classes at the same time I was taking nursing classes & doing clinicals. Not the easiest way to do it, but I felt, as an "older" student, that I did not want to spend a lot of time at this "school thing".
I found that I had an easier time that did the teeny-boppers (anyone under 30). For one thing, I had the life-experience thing in my favor. Also, I feel that I was more psychologically "settled" and knew where I was going in life. At this older age, I also did not have to deal with lots of the things the younger students did: My marriage was stable (been married 30 years this year), my kids were grown and on their own, I did not have to work because my husband's job was well-established and provided us with enough income.
As for the brain-power? I think that although I studied a lot, it was not my lack of brain cells as much as it is just "me" - that I obsessed about getting high grades to prove my self to my classmates and my friends. I did just fine in school - graduated with a 3.34 GPA and was well-liked by my classmates. They tended to gravitate to me as a "mom" figure I think.
I loved nursing school and I think age has not as much to do with it as the desire for getting that degree. Good luck! :)
I am 27 so I don't consider myself to be too old but I'm not a teenie bopper either.
So far, I think I am doing better than most teenie boppers and I KNOW that I am doing better than my first time through college right out of high school.
I don't think that I have the memory that I used to and I know I don't have the energy that I used to but I have found that now that I am an adult I am more "focused" on the material, am able to better understand and retain it because I have had enough time to figure out how I learn best.
I don't have the distractions that I had when I was in college between the ages of 18-22. I'm not worried about this weekend's kegger, being on my own for the first time, finding a cute boy to date, etc., etc.
I'm quite sure that had I attempted Nursing School the first time around I would have failed miserably.
I am 27 so I don't consider myself to be too old but I'm not a teenie bopper either.
So far, I think I am doing better than most teenie boppers and I KNOW that I am doing better than my first time through college right out of high school.
I don't think that I have the memory that I used to and I know I don't have the energy that I used to but I have found that now that I am an adult I am more "focused" on the material, am able to better understand and retain it because I have had enough time to figure out how I learn best.
I don't have the distractions that I had when I was in college between the ages of 18-22. I'm not worried about this weekend's kegger, being on my own for the first time, finding a cute boy to date, etc., etc.
I'm quite sure that had I attempted Nursing School the first time around I would have failed miserably.
Rabbit has it right. I'll just underline one of her points: Go for a grade of C. If you get a higher one, ok. If not, ok. Your grade (so long as it is at least a C) will have NOTHING to do with your nursing skills, passing the NCLEX, future jobs, payscale, etc.
The only thing it could affect would be to increase your difficulty in entering graduate school, should you decide you want to punish yourself further...er. continue your education...at some time in the future.
I am 43 yrs old and going through Excelsior to get my RN. I went back to school after being out for over 22 yrs to pursue my dream of becoming a nurse. I chose a LPN program at a nearby technical school because it enabled me to reach my dreams much sooner than going back to college etc...........The biggest problem that I encountered was finding the time to study. It was a very intense program with atleast 4 hrs of homework per night. My family was wonderful and everyone pitched in. My kids thought it was "cool" that I was back in school and they were so proud of me when I graduated.
I really enjoyed our class, most were under 30 with several in their 20's and I was that oldest at 40. I don't feel that it was any harder or easier for me to learn, so age didn't play into that. I did have some problems with my instuctors who would treat all of us as if we were 2 yrs old. I'm sad to say that our instructors were heartless, prejudiced against some students and made this program hell for many. What is even sadder is that just the other day, I ran into somebody at the salon and as we were talking, it came out that she went to the same school and dropped out just 12 weeks prior to graduating. She had many of the same problems with the instuctors that many others have had. This has been addressed and brought to the attention of State of Ct and hopefully something will be done. I would never ever recommend anyone to go to this school, instead I tell them to go through one of the private programs.........my sons girlfriend is enrolled in one and she loves it.
I'm 31 and at a large university and I'm finding that being "older" is helping me tremendously. I find that many of the younger students, straight out of high school, expect to read a text and ace the test, then get mad they made a D and complain about the prof and try to get him/her fired! I have big issues with this.
I study hard, I dedicate time to studying and get pretty good grades. I've been out of college for 12 yrs and found it hard initially, but now I've got a routine and it works well most of the time. Although my 3 boys are still having a hard time that mom's life doesn't revolve around them! :chuckle
And I think the life experiences is a valid point. Having gone through child birth, seen illness, death, etc.. I do have more one leg up on them in that respect. Although, having youth on my side would be great too! :chuckle
Although my 3 boys are still having a hard time that mom's life doesn't revolve around them! :chuckle
:roll
Now THAT one I can fully relate to!!!
My kids hate it that I am not at their beck-n-call 24/7 now.
They are slowly adjusting though. Now, if I could JUST get them to notice I have a book in front of me, and not interupt me.........then I will have accomplished something :)
Boy isn't that the truth Deb! :chuckle Mine seem to think that it's like the phone....They have nothing to do with me when I'm bored and want to play with them. But, pick up a book or the telephone and I'm the most popular chick in the house! :chuckle
I have big issues with this.
Scavenger'sWife, RN
269 Posts
Congrats on going to nursing school at an older age!
I began school at the age of 44 and completed an associates degree in 2 years. This means I took the A&P classes at the same time I was taking nursing classes & doing clinicals. Not the easiest way to do it, but I felt, as an "older" student, that I did not want to spend a lot of time at this "school thing".
I found that I had an easier time that did the teeny-boppers (anyone under 30). For one thing, I had the life-experience thing in my favor. Also, I feel that I was more psychologically "settled" and knew where I was going in life. At this older age, I also did not have to deal with lots of the things the younger students did: My marriage was stable (been married 30 years this year), my kids were grown and on their own, I did not have to work because my husband's job was well-established and provided us with enough income.
As for the brain-power? I think that although I studied a lot, it was not my lack of brain cells as much as it is just "me" - that I obsessed about getting high grades to prove my self to my classmates and my friends. I did just fine in school - graduated with a 3.34 GPA and was well-liked by my classmates. They tended to gravitate to me as a "mom" figure I think.
I loved nursing school and I think age has not as much to do with it as the desire for getting that degree. Good luck! :)