Going Back at 40 years old...

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I have been a medical assistant for over 15 years. When I was right out of high school, I attended college with hopes of becoming an RN. Life took me on a different path. Here I am, 40 years old, and enrolled in that very same community college, taking gen ed classes. I am excited, nervous, but mostly I am READY. I'd love to hear from anyone else out there that is on a similar journey.

Specializes in Hospitalist Medicine.

Congrats! It's never too late to pursue your dreams. I went back to school at age 43 and graduated May 2015. I'm now 47 and working as a critical care RN (will be 1 year in July). Sure, there were times when I felt like I was old enough to be everyone's Mom in the classroom, but it was worth every bit of my time to finally get the chance to go after my goals. I'm working on my BSN now and will go on to get my acute care Nurse Practitioner starting Fall 2017 :D

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Specializes in Pediatrics Telemetry CCU ICU.

I'm 50. I've been an LPN for 28 years now. Going back for my ADN then straight onto BSN. I have all prerequisites. ...hoping to start in the fall or next spring. I can't imagine not being a nurse. I don't think I could do anything else for a living.

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I got my ADN just 10 days before my 32nd birthday, so I can relate, especially since now, 25 years later, I will be starting my BSN schooling. I hope to finish before I'm 60. You're never too old for school.

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Specializes in LTC Facilities/Home Health.

I am 38 and started a 2yr program October 2015. I thought I was too old to go back but when my job decreased my pay I had no other choice. I've worked as a cna since 2002 and put off going to school, and with my kids getting older I figured now is the right time. I have learned so much in this short amount of time that I've attended college and can wait to graduate. Good luck to you on your journey to become a nurse!

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Specializes in CMICU.

Not in my 40s but I worked with a nurse aide in her 40s who was in a BSN program. She was an amazing aide and now she is an amazing nurse. Age makes no difference. Good luck to you!

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Just started gen-ed portion of my RN program at the age of 39, with two kids.

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Hi all I'm 44 and just got accepted to Mercer (GA Baptist College of Nursing) I'm super excited and nervous. I have been working as a PCT for 2 years on a Burn ICU Unit. I think it's never to late to follow you dreams. Good luck to us all!!

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Your journey is similar to mine. I was a stay at home mom for 12 years, went to school to become a medical assistant was lucky to be hired out of my externship into a wonderful Pediatric practice. Two years into that, my husband decided he no longer wanted to be married. I tried going back to school then but it was too much change on my 3 kids so I waited. Four years ago, I finally decided it was time and got myself onto my schools waiting list, it's a 3 year wait. During that time, I took all of my "non-nursing" classes like bio & chem. I finally started the actual program last May, one month before my 47th birthday! I love school & can not wait to put those letters, RN, behind my name! Best of luck in your journey!

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From my own experience as a nursing student, when you are older than most, experience does give you an advantage and you get to play "mom" to your fellow students. They just seem to respect you more. Not once have I felt odd or out of place due to my age (I'm 47, with one year completed) which actually surprised me!

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I decided to change careers and started taking the science pre-requisites at 44 (general ed satisfied through by bachelor's degree) at 44. I'm now 46 and finishing the 2nd of 3 semesters of an LPN program (no classes during summer). The struggle is real but doable with supportive family (wife and teenage children). I've had nights when I asked myself, "what did I do?" My wife said, "You did the right thing, I've got you." Those times you feel like you made a mistake, keep going. Those times you're too tired to study for the upcoming test, study. Those times you get disillusioned, come back to allnurses.com and read this thread.

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It is so comforting to see others on the same path! I am 36 years old and a mom of 5 and am FINALLY going back to school this fall semester. It will be interesting because my oldest is also starting college this fall. With my youngest child starting kindergarten this next year then it finally feels like the right time. I have been a stay at home mom for the last 8 years so this will be a big change. But since my husband is currently a full time college student(in addition to working his full time job), I am only planning on going part time until he graduates in 2 years. I am trying to take it one step at a time and not worry about the future and how I will juggle it all. Right now my plan is do my pre-reqs and GE at the junior college and then transfer to a university to get my BSN. I have waited a long time but raising my kids was always my top priority and the timing never really felt right until now.

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Same here! Hi-five!!..have a daughter, pregnant with my second , Will be turning 27 this year and also four pre-reqs away from nursing school!! Im scared to death, dont know how this is going to work out but gotta give it a try.....lets stay positive :yes:

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