Survey: How old were you when you entered the nursing profession?

Enright · Sep 4, 2001

I was 32 when I got my BSN/ RN license. I had a prior career as a probation officer.

No regrets. However, I did start to age out of floor nursing physically after 10 years. Was able to transition to management, case management and consulting.

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist · Sep 4, 2001

I was 36 when I graduated from nursing school and almost 37 before I actually became employed as a nurse. :eek: I graduated at a time when nursing was the whipping boy of the provincial and federal economies in Canada; nurses were being laid off wholesale and most new grads were forced to leave Canada in order to gain employment. Because of my family obligations (having a son with a chronic ilness ) I had to stay home and hope for the best... Fortunately, because of the experiences I had in assuring the survival of my child I was able to get into a term position which led to a second, then a third, and now I can choose my position. Too bad the pay's so lousy!!! :eek:

oramar · Sep 4, 2001

Strange you should ask me that question today. I started LPN school on September 4th, 1966. That was 35 years ago today. I remember very well because it also happened to be my 18 birthday. I graduated on September 7th, 1967 a few days after turning 19. I remember that because I got married on September 8th, 1967 the very next day.

essarge · Sep 4, 2001

I will be graduating in '04 at the "young age" of 47. My friend is 47 now. Guess it just took us awhile to figure out what we wanted to do when we grew up!! LOL! :eek:

nicola · Sep 4, 2001

I was 27 when I graduated with my BSN. Nsg. is my second career. I got into it after working with some awsome community nurses who served migrant and seasonal farmworkers on the eastern shore of Md. I did outreach and translation for the nurses and took our clients to MD and social service appointments and translated and advocated for them. Because of the time and attention I recieved from the staff nurses, I decided to go into nursing school.

At first I thought it would be a disadvantage to be older than my classmates, but it turned out that I wasn't the only non-traditional student! Those of us who were adults did much better than the "kids".

BrandyBSN · Sep 4, 2001

I turn 22 in less than a month (September 30th)! And I graduate in May with my BSN. So I will be 22 years and 8 months old.

I went to college right after my junior year of High school, and did both until May 98 when i graduated from HS, Then went straight to college full time a week after I graduated from high school.

lisavelrn · Sep 4, 2001

I was 28 when I started my first nursing job.. now at 31 this is my 3rd hospital to be employed at.. and hopefully will last for several years.. I've got to hand to people who start nursing as a 2nd career or a change of life after the age of 40.. good for you!!

CindyJRN · Sep 4, 2001

Wow, I feel older all the time....It seems like it happened to someone else, but I was 19 when I graduated from LPN school. After working in the long term care industry the past several years, I finally became an RN at the age of 31 1/2. I now work in a longterm acute care hospital.

kileym13 · Sep 4, 2001

I graduated with my BSN at 23 and started working right out of college. Now I am going to the ICU at 25!!! A little nervous, but I thrive off learning new things!!! :)

Jane Wilson · Sep 4, 2001

I started nursing in 1970 when I was 18, nurses were trained in hospitals . The Doctors were gods and the charge nurses were the generals. We stood up when a more senior nurse came into the room and you could never talk to your patients. If you had any time spare you were sent into the sluice room to wash the bed pans. I went on to do my Bachelor of Nursing, Critical Care Post Grad and have completed my Masters and other courses , too many to talk about. But on the whole it was a experience that I will always treasure. Now work in a CCU as research nurse/educator.

Jane Aussie

FlwrKitRN · Sep 4, 2001

I graduated in May of 1991 and turned 40 in June. I first wanted to become a nurse at 16 and had a preconceived idea of nursing that dated back to that time. I love being a nurse...but I don't love nursing the way I am forced to practice in today's world!