Going Back at 40 years old...

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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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 Pediatric Home Care, Dr Office/Clinic.

Hi there! I'm a 44 yr old mom of 3 (23, 12 & 9). I'm the breadwinner in the family due to my hubby being disabled & we homeschool our children.

I spent 12+ years in the Marketing/PR field. I got laid off 4 1/2 years ago & I spent 2 1/2 years of that time unemployed. I just could not get anyone to hire me! However, I've always been interested in nursing & I come from a family that has a lot of nurses in it, so I grew up around kind caring nursing souls & a lot of their ways rubbed off on me but I put going back to school on the back burner many times because my old job kept giving me more responsibilities & started sending me out of town on business trips, so I kept putting starting nursing school off. I wish I hadn't because in the end I got laid off [emoji16] but during those two years not working, I really discovered things about myself & really felt like nursing was my true calling & that now was the best time to get going!

I became a CNA almost 2 years ago & I am currently working on my prereqs for RN school. My only regret is not starting sooner! I'll be 45 this year & by the time I finish RN school I'll be 48 [emoji85][emoji30][emoji85][emoji30]. I plan on working as an RN on the floor for 1-2 years & then I'm very very very interested in getting my DNP but due to my age, I may just go for lactation consultant & childbirth educator and go into a patient education/baby wise program educator type position.

I am in love with both the geriatrics health (cardiac, pulmonary, BP, Diabetes education) & maternity/women's health specialties, so it's tough for me to choose, which route to take but I've got time [emoji6]

Nice to meet all of you!!

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No worries... I am too 40 and just about ready to apply to the program. I feel I am ready I have worked as a CNA for the last 15 years. Since the kids are grown I decided to go full time now and just get it over with.

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I'm 37 years old and have 6 kids. I'm a CNA and I'm taking my prereqs for the LVN program. The negative thing about this school is that there is a waiting list, and I kept thinking by the time I get in, I will be around 40 years old, and that was making me discouraged. After reading these comments I am inspired and motivated to keep going. It's true age is just a number and we can achieve anything we put our minds to. I've always dreamed of being a Labor & Delivery Nurse and I'm going to do it no matter how old I will be when I finish. :up:

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Hi [COLOR=#003366]kjkolesar[/COLOR], I just finished my first year of nursing school and I also went back after many years since my first degree. I started my pre-req's about 6 years ago (very slowly) and now at age 37 I am in the program. I feel like I take school WAY more serious now than when I was 18-22. It is really exciting to feel like I am going to love what I do when I am finally done, which I have never felt! I always had the feeling like I wasn't finished... So good luck! I hope you love it and it is all worth it for you!

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I wanted to thank everyone for sharing their journeys, it is really inspirational and a big motivation.

I had been feeling really down that an ADN was going to take me 4 years, and I would be 31 before I graduated. I'm 28 now, two semesters of pre-reqs done, three kids at home. I had been stuck in immigration limbo for many years, and the thought of college algebra made me feel very ill. I just got an A in it last semester. I feel like I am waiting for everything to come crashing down at some point, that I am not good enough. A&P is coming in fall and I'm nervous (it's my last pre-req but I can't apply for nursing school until next April).

You are all awesome!

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Specializes in Emergency.

I love this thread so much!! I'm new here, just turned 39, and taking my pre-reqs for the RN program. I will apply next March, and hopefully begin fall 2017. We can all do this!

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Good luck and best wishes to everyone! I am 48, no kids at home, I am also an LPN, and have been for 20 years, I badly want to get a BSN, I don't know what my chances are, but I understand nursing better now, than 20 years ago, so I am thinking my chances are good, but I don't know weather to go to Indiana state online, or Chamberlane college, if I go to Chamberlane I will have to take prereqs over, not looking forward to that, I will see.

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Specializes in IBCLC, Mother Baby.

I am planning on starting courses in September, at 35. I am a single mom of 2 working as a certified phlebotomist, but I am also an IBCLC and was a CNA before I let my license lapse(I wasn't in the country for awhile). I first entered college at 17 and took pre-reqs for Nursing but dropped out of all of them. Lots of time lost and life lived, but I am eager to start again with the right frame of mind. Best of luck to everyone!

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Specializes in EMT since 92, Paramedic since 97, RN and PHRN 2021.
I am planning on starting courses in September, at 35. I am a single mom of 2 working as a certified phlebotomist, but I am also an IBCLC and was a CNA before I let my license lapse(I wasn't in the country for awhile). I first entered college at 17 and took pre-reqs for Nursing but dropped out of all of them. Lots of time lost and life lived, but I am eager to start again with the right frame of mind. Best of luck to everyone!

Good luck and welcome!

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I'm 38 and after 20 years in retail management I'm returning to cc this fall to work on pre reqs. If all goes well ill start the ADN program when I'm 40. I was pursuing this years ago, but the timing wasn't right. Now my kids will be a little older and hopefully by the time I'm enrolled our finances will be more stable as well since I'll have to stop working (or get a job as a nursing assistant). Yikes! Exciting and scary all at once but trying to not get ahead of myself. Have to pass all those science classes first!

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Imagine at age 48, everyone called me Ma'am :( LOL!!

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