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 NICU RN.
And, once I got into hard core A and P, no one else cared. We all bonded in our mutual terror, and I now have close friends from 23 to 45.

..... bonding through mutual terror - I love that (and it's SO very true!)

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Family Medicine.

WOW..thank you so much for leaving your comments and stories for all to read!!! I never guessed there would have been such a HUGE response when I first started this thread!!! I am almost done with my first semester. One more semester to go, and then I can apply for the program. Thank you so much for the encouraging words...:)

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You go girl! Thanks for sharing your story! I know exactly what you mean about being one of the 20 somethings..... but then feeling "old" at the same time. I think because we have a large family (and I have a lot more experience raising kids than the younger moms) I do feel older, kwim? But I am very cognitive of not being the "know it all" older mom, I can't stand those kinds of people!

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Family Medicine.

Well guys....finished up the first semester, not too shabby. Unfortunately, I didn't do as well as I wanted in the math placement test, but in a sense, I'm glad that I will be taking basic algebra. It was always a struggle for me, and I've always been bothered that I didn't master it. So, although it puts me back for when I wanted to start the program, I'll get a chance to finally conquer the beast of math! I can only take 2 classes per semester due to family/work obligations..but I'll get there!!!! How is everyone doing with their gen ed classes?

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Congratulations on finishing your first semester! I'm starting my third of general education classes next week. When I took the placement test at the beginning (my school uses Compass), I got full marks on reading and English, but 29 on math, lol! I tested into intermediate algebra, and I am so thankful because college algebra straight out would've killed me. I ended up getting an A in college algebra last semester. My last actual pre-requisite is A&P 1, I have a 4.0 in everything else so I'm hoping I do well in A&P this semester.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Trauma.

I'm going on 25 and love it when I can pair up with a 30-something, 40-something, 50-something year old classmate who is motivated to do well and focus on working together to go over the material. If not this scenario, I usually wind up with the certain teenagers fresh out of high school with their minds on a different planet.

Anywho, congratulations on your first semester back! Math is horrible. I placed at the very bottom and had to work all the way up to statistics. Now that I'm in statistics, my school reorganized their pre-college math so it can be completed in two terms, rather than four. Murphy's Law.

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Well guys....finished up the first semester, not too shabby. Unfortunately, I didn't do as well as I wanted in the math placement test, but in a sense, I'm glad that I will be taking basic algebra. It was always a struggle for me, and I've always been bothered that I didn't master it. So, although it puts me back for when I wanted to start the program, I'll get a chance to finally conquer the beast of math! I can only take 2 classes per semester due to family/work obligations..but I'll get there!!!! How is everyone doing with their gen ed classes?

I passed my English Comp 2, Lifespan & Development and my Math for Allied Health. I start A&P I and Basic Chemistry on 8/22. I need to get an A in A&P to get the most points I can for ranking to get into the program I'm applying to. I also took the NLN-PAX (my school uses for ranking) and got a 97% on that which helps immensely on getting into the program.

I'll be 39 in October and have 13 year old twins who are involved in Scouts (one boy, one girl) and now HS Marching Band....lol.

Good luck in the upcoming semester!

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New here and happy to read this! I'm 37 with 2 young kids and just starting the journey to being a nurse! I'm excited and encouraged by what I just read! I took the PAX this morning and patientlly waiting for my results! Hopefully I can officially apply to the program tomorrow!

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Specializes in Telemetry.

This thread makes me feel so much better! I am 39, we have a 3 year old son, and I am taking prereqs one at a time so that I can enter nursing school when he starts K. I am excited and nervous! I start A&P in 2 weeks, that will be the real test!

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This thread makes me feel so much better! I am 39, we have a 3 year old son, and I am taking prereqs one at a time so that I can enter nursing school when he starts K. I am excited and nervous! I start A&P in 2 weeks, that will be the real test!

You can do this!

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I'm 39 taking one class a month. I've already gotten through my first three classes with a 4.0. keep killing it guys!:cat:

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Safety in numbers, indeed! I'm 45 and I'm starting an ADN program in August. Any and all feel free to PM me and lean on each other as we go forward. Don't be surprised if I message some of you! Us older students need to stick together. We can do this!

Evening Primrose - I received your sweet PM, but unfortunately I'm such a "newb" that I still can't respond. Hopefully, you'll see this and know that I'm not ignoring you ;). I'm so excited for you to start your ADN program this month - eek!!

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