Is it too late? Any advise?

Roy Fokker, BSN, RN · Sep 13, 2006

I'm not sure I have good advice regarding your daughter as I don't have kids of my own. What I will say though:

* It's never "too late".

* Desire is a powerful motivator - if you want something bad enough, you'll go to great lengths to aquire it.

* Knowledge never comes by cheaply - nor does the learning stop once you finish school. School is always hard - but it's not impossible.

* ALL aquisitions bear a price - no one but you can decide if the price is worth the gain. No pain - no gain.

* Things can be worked out - I knew a single mom raising twin 3 year old girls and working a fulltime job and going to nursing school. As Jnette says "Change your thoughts = change your life".

To get an idea of what nursing might be all about - have you considered volunteering in a hospital?

I wish you luck :)

cheers,

sunbeach73 · Sep 13, 2006

I dropped out of school when I was pregnant with my daughter. I always felt like I would never amount to anything and was even told by several people I would always be at home with my kids and never have a life. I was 28 when I finally got my GED. I cried so hard when the lady called me on the phone to tell me that I passed. Then at the age of 31 I decided I wanted to follow my childhood dream and be a nurse. I went the LPN route first. I graduated Feb 2006. I have 2 daughters with me and another 2 boys and a fiance and home to care for. I did it and you can too. Where you have a will, you will find a way to make your life complete and happy. Please follow your dreams and don't let anyone get in your way. You won't be taking away from your daughter. If anything, you will be giving her so much more. It's really something to think about. Go for it!

Bicycleboy · Sep 13, 2006

I will not graduate nursing school 'till I am 38. I have no kids though. Nursing is also very complex, it is more than standing at the bedside, there are countless jobs that you can do so I find it hard to believe that you will not like one of the fields of nursing.

It took me 3 years to get the pre-reqs to get into nursing school so you have to be ready to commit a lot of time. I have a summer job as a nurses aid in long term care and I have loved it. Maybe you could try to get a job as a NA or something of that type to test the waters. Of course this will delay the time it takes you to become a nurse, and it will not let you experience all the things that a nurse may do.

Katnip, RN · Sep 13, 2006

I graduated from nursing school when I was 46. There are those who were even older.

So no, it's never too late.

Antikigirl, ASN, RN · Sep 13, 2006

Okay...it is never too late...don't even think of that!

However...you need to really prioritize here. If you were to go to Nursing school...honey, you can't be there physically or emotionally for your child the way you would wish. Nursing school is fast paced and high stress, and leaves little for time for the family!

I had a one year old, and was a single parent when I went in...and I honestly can say I missed too much of seeing him grow...I can never get that back! That will always be a sore spot and regret of mine...yeah I knew I needed to make a good income...but at what cost? I didn't even think about what time I would miss with my baby boo....

And now he is 12, and just entering football and band (in school) and I can't make a single practice or game because I work swings! I am missing so much...and in my quest to provide for him...I missed him growing up which is what my heart really wanted as a mommy! I am married now, but my hubby too has a swing shift as a paramedic...so both parents aren't able to be there to see him suceed or stumble or...anything.

Think about that very hard when making that choice...wish someone would have told me and I would have waited a bit longer and planned better.

Remember when you see that cute button nose on your baby..and that goes away so fast....well, I will tell you the honest truth...for some reason my child growing up seems faster than even that! And I missed so much of it!

Nursing is a great career choice...but you may want to think of planning it when you are in a part of mommyhood that can handle it and not loose that precious time! And btw...I thought I was a late starter...and I started RN school at 28! Most of the students were in their 30's and 40's!!!!!!!

leslie :-D · Sep 13, 2006

my mom had to drop out of high school (in the 1940's).

she returned a couple yrs later, got a double promotion.

ended up getting her mba when she was 60.

never, ever too late.

i commend you in your aspirations.

you can do this.

as roy suggested, you can volunteer in a hospital or any other type of facility where you may want to specialize.

do your homework, and never stop believing in yourself.

it will bring you far.

wishing you all good things.

leslie

RN1263 · Sep 13, 2006

well, i have concerns for you as i read your post....but, age is NOT one of them, since i myself am 36 and a senior nursing student.

1st- the r.n. degree would take longer than two years nowadays, since most schools have waiting lists and all have required pre-reqs. when i'm done in may 07' i will have been in school 3 1/2 yrs. for a two yr. degree.

2nd- it would be tough to do w/ out support, but not impossible! if you REALLY want it, you could do it!

3rd- if you don't like it, will you be stuck w/ the loans?...YES, unfortunately you will be stuck w/ the loans, but hopefully you would find SOME area of nursing you would like....at least to pay them off!

all in all, is it hard?....YEP, i won't lie and say it's not, cuz it sure is, but it's what i wanted to do after staying home doing the mom thing for 11 years, so here i am busting my butt.

do i love it at the moment?.... NO, but i'm still a "bootcamp" nursing student (as i call it)

will i ever LOVE it? ....maybe, hopefully.....i like e.r., so if i get hired on in an e.r. i think i'd be happy!

good luck to you in whatever you decide!

sister--* · Sep 14, 2006

I just have to tell you that if you're waiting for the "perfect" time in your child's life to go back to school, you'll never get there. Every stage of your daughter's life is precious. At every stage she will need you there. Your decision is one of priority and hard facts.

Do you want you and your daughter to spend her entire growing years groveling to pay the bills, unable to participate in many of the activities and advantages that her peers will have just because, "Honey, we don't have the money."? Telling your child that over and over and over again is so disheartening. It will wreak havoc on your self-esteem and hers.

I LOVE nursing. I raised my kids alone while going through school. I won't lie to you, it was tough! There were times I was so tired and torn but managed to persevere.

As a nurse I've always worked nights or days. Just made it a point so that I could participate as fully in my kids' lives as possible.

Looking back, I've got to tell you that it was worth every minute! The things I learned pales in comparison as to the things my kids learned!

God Bless you. If you want it you can have it. The hardest part is the decision.

BTW, it doesn't have to be nursing. If you find you don't like nursing there are myriad other things that you just may want to do.

Not an easy decision. I have every faith, however, that you can be successful and happy in whatever venue you decide on.

Antikigirl, ASN, RN · Sep 14, 2006

Congrats to sister, good show on nursing school with kids! It is tough all around big time...and I think back and say that I may have waited till my kids were in school before I went...but hey, past is past...just something that I regret missing...and advice for someone that may not be thinking of that sacrifice.

But again, plus side...I don't know if the OP is a single parent...but I took a year and applied for a grant for RN school. Because I was a single parent and filed early....I was granted the entire thing!!!!!!!!!! And a good investiment for my state (who gave me the grant) since I do volunteer and work my tailfeathers off for my community always thanking my own state for giving me this opportunity! If you can, check this out...helps big time with the whole 'how do I pay for this!!!!??????".

I think of all the things that helped the most in helping me reach my goals and helping with finances while doing it for my child and family (I moved in with my parents who were ill at that time and unable to work...but free childcare with awesome folks!).

Good luck, and believe me, if I could pull it off...oh heck anyone can! Just don't sell short what you are realistically going to sacrifice to get that goal!

DoubleblessedRN, ADN, RN, EMT-B, EMT-P · Sep 14, 2006

It is never too late. I'm going to be 31 soon, and most of the others I attend nursing school with are around our age. In fact, one lady is 54 in the class ahead of mine!! I too made the mistake of dropping out of high school but I obtained a GED years ago. I would maybe try to get a job as a CNA in a hospital or long term care facility, or become an EMT. I don't know where you live, but many adult and community education centers offer training in these areas either free or at a reduced cost for non-high school graduates. And in those two areas you can usually get your cert. or license in 6 mos or less. That would give you healthcare experience and give you a better idea if nursing is what you want. If it is, then you could do your prerequisites and maybe by the time you get into nursing school your child will be in school and you might not have child care issues like I sometimes do with my 2 and a half year old twins. Good luck in whatever you decide to do.

ICRN2008, BSN, RN · Sep 14, 2006

It is never too late to work towards your goals. However, I noticed that many of your motivations for becoming a nurse have little to do with nursing itself (want to get a degree "quick", want a steady job, etc.).

I would suggest finding out if you are really interested in nursing by shadowing, getting a job as a nursing assistant, etc. before making a commitment to this profession.

Good luck with your decision.