new "over 35" thread

Nursing Students General Students

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Hi all, I was just thinking that the other thread for those of us over 35 was getting a bit long so I figured it would be a good idea to start a new one. We may get even more people to join in if they don't have to go through pages of postings first. What do you all think?- Kimberly

Specializes in LTC, ER, ICU,.
originally posted by cloudydrms

hi. i'm 37 and an adn student. i decided to go back to school for nursing 1 1/2 years ago. i took the nln (critical to get into the program at my school), passed with flying colors - although i don't know how, and have been accepted into the clinical program. clinicals are backed up at the school. i'm pretty sure i'll be starting in january 2003, but if not then, then it'll be in the fall 2003. although i'd like to start in january, i'll just take some classes towards a bsn if i have to wait.

cindy

:cool: cindy, welcome!

stephanysgetaway

Specializes in LTC, ER, ICU,.
originally posted by lindahope

i'm 39 almost 40. 11 months to go in my adn program. i can see the light at the end of the tunnel. my next clinical is mental health. i was able to get stafford loans for most of my clinical courses. our financial aid office isn't much help with scholarships, but i am almost done. i work 30-34 a week - i drop to 30 during clinicals. the program is in the evening, but more like late afternoon. it's exhausting but the end is soon. nervous about the nclex. we learn iv's in the fall - a bit nervous about that.

:cool: welcome, linda

stephanysgetaway

Wow, and I thought I'd be in a very small minority. It is SO encouraging to see so many people over 35 yo. I'm Sherri...36...FINALLY getting around to doing what I should have been doing half my life ago. I guess I had to travel other roads before I could be ready for this. I've looked forward ALL DAY to coming back here to see what's been posted since last night. Thanks to all for the hints and tips. I've been writing them down on index cards and filing them for when I'll be needing them.

I am so glad that there are a lot of us over 35 people. I thought I would be the only one trying to change careers when I"m over 30! Anyway... I'm 36. I have been trying to get my prereqs for a BSN but inbetween trying to buy a house, having 4 kids (which include twins that turned two today) and working... I had to put school on hold. After a good self talk with myself and the burning desire of being a nurse won't go away.....I'm going to step down and try to get an ADN degree. First though I'm going to start a CNA class on June 17th and then get a job working in the medical field. In September I'll start working on my prereqs for ADN. I'll worry about my BSN when the kids are older and I don't have to change diapers anymore!

Anyway... glad to be here and see so many people in my shoes :)

Also I tried to follow the link for the SNOT page and it wouldn't go there. I went to the MSN page and did a search for SNOT and it came up with about 50,000 pages. Didn't know Snot was so interesting to talk about ! I did finally find the correct page though.

Jill

Hi everyone so good to hear from some new peeps. For many of us this is something we shelved but won't go away. It reminds me of waiting to hear if you made cheerleading (of course I never did!:rolleyes: ) But this desire won't leave me either. I just got my grade for Algebra, yeah, an A!!:D I have had VERY few of those in my educational career, so I am darned happy. Now on to the HARD HARD stuff. Geeps, I hope I can at least get a C!:confused: Thanks to all of you who signed up at SNOTF. It's not SNOT, (that was already taken, so I had to do SNOTF) We're gonna try to chat tonite June 7 at 9pm Pacific time, so please come:roll for some fun! C-ya, Heather:zzzzz

Hi there...

I was 42 this spring and I am in my last year of nursing for the ADN-RN. I started back to school after a 20 year absence three years ago.

In the last 3 years I have obtained my LPN and my prereq. for the RN program. I worked some for a peds clinic last winter. I found it too hard to work as a nurse and go to nursing school too. I now work only as a college tutor.

I have four kids I am raising and funding by myself. Life is busy..and sometimes I wonder if I will ever reach my goal or pass my classes. Yet, each semester I pull mostly "A"s and then worry again about the next semester. I cant wait to be a RN!

Nancy

Hi everyone its been a long time since i last posted, i have been very busy doing assignments and working on my clinical placement. It is very nice to see that we older students are a positive bunch. In england students also struggle but we get a bursary of £5000 a year to help with daily living, out of this you have to pay for your accommodation, food, books, travel expences, a lot of the younger students fall out of the course because they cannot afford to live, so they leave and get other jobs. im lucky i have a very supportive husband and i still get paid from the local hospital where i worked as a health care assistant.This is where they sponsor us for three years on our origional pay, you then have to work for that trust for two years after you qualifiy, which is not bad unless you decide you want to do another speciality like mental health. You cannot do that because you are contracted to them. The nursing program in england varys from diploma to degree, is this the same in america what is ADN and LPN i am a bit confused with your system. Anyway good to read the threads very informative.

Specializes in LTC, ER, ICU,.
Originally posted by nuttynurse

Hi there...

I was 42 this spring and I am in my last year of nursing for the ADN-RN. I started back to school after a 20 year absence three years ago.

In the last 3 years I have obtained my LPN and my prereq. for the RN program. I worked some for a peds clinic last winter. I found it too hard to work as a nurse and go to nursing school too. I now work only as a college tutor.

I have four kids I am raising and funding by myself. Life is busy..and sometimes I wonder if I will ever reach my goal or pass my classes. Yet, each semester I pull mostly "A"s and then worry again about the next semester. I cant wait to be a RN!

Nancy

Nany, welcome! Congratulations on your accomplishments thus far. Wow, you are such an inspiration. 4 children, obtained your LPN and now getting your RN all within 3 years and single and 42. May God continue to bless and keep you and yours.

I too am an LPN, 41, 3 children, two at home, seperated, all pre-reqs and general courses for the ADN program out of the way, and I start clinicals this August.

Again, welcome to the board!

StephanysGetaway

Originally posted by tonicareer

I'm definitely past 35. I have almost completed a certificate in medical coding. I am now deciding whether to stay in the medical assistant program, go to nursing program ( my first choice ) or just quit because of cost of attendance. Financial aid not available. How to other people fund school? I'm not married don't qualifiy for any state/federal aid. I have been taking one or two classes at a time and paying for it myself. My state has budget deficit (Indiana) and huge tuition increases at all colleges. The nursing program requires full time attendance and are not allowed to work but job opportunities are tremendous. The MA programs is part time but pay scales will be much less. I am too old to join the armed forces, employers here generally do not refund tuition costs, I have applied for many scholarships but most are for "young" students. How do nurses feel about medical assistants in hospital work I would actually have more credits than an LPN plus more clinical hours? How did you fund your education? I have looked at colleges out of state and they would require out of state tuition. I can understand why there is a nurse shortage because most people can't afford tuition, books, uniforms and such. Should I borrow money on charge cards or what? to pay for school? Remember I don't get state/federal aid in any form I have applied and don't qualify.

:rolleyes:

I was lucky and got a scholarship that paid tuition & books for the fall & spring. I worked Fri, Sat & Sun and got by. I agree though, they gripe about a nursing shortage and then don't have any incentives such as "helping out with survival-paying normal bills, eating, gas etc..." during school.

I'm 37, going on 38 next month. I'll take my pre-reqs this Fall/Spring and start my accelerated BSN program May of 2004. I'll graduate just before I turn the big 4-0. :)

Lori

Edited to Add: Married with two sons: 16 and 14

I just graduated two weeks ago. I'm 43. There's a woman in my school in her junior year who is 65! I think that is so awesome.

My class started with 50 students and we graduated 18. None of those who dropped were over 35. Maybe a coincidence, but I think that life experience can give older people an edge in some respects.

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