How many of you were older when you went into nursing?

[ohcomeon]

Hi all. Just curious as to how many people went into nursing later in life. I am getting ready to start A&P I Tuesday and will hopefully be getting into nursing school next fall. This will be a second career for me. I graduated with a BS in 1999 and worked as a social worker before having kids. Now, three kids later and 5 years have passed since I quit my job to be a sahm, I am getting ready to go back to school. I was just wondering if I am going to be the only old one in my classes. I am sort of nervous about going back to school after 9 years, but also so excited as it has been a dream of mine for a long time to become a nurse. I am excited that I am taking steps towards that.

Anyways, just curious about your story, that's all. :)

Carrie

[romantic]

" Rather than looking at age in a negative manner; think of all the life skills you have learned as a mother, wife, employee, employer, etc. Critical thinking is highly important for nursing students (as well as seasoned nurses). Think of how often you use critical thinking just raising a family. You most likely already have critical thinking skills - you just need to add the nursing knowledge and skills."

Hi. I am 42 and graduated this May from Nursing school, BSN program. I have three children (all grown up people, of course, but still need my attention-- boy, 21, and twins girls, 17.) I don't see our age as a nuisance but as an advantage. Look at all good staff that goes with our age: experience with managing family demands, knowledge of how to take care of a sick child and how to recognize an impending disease which helps to develop your sixth sense (not every youngster has it!) --- you'll need it, trust me. I remember my first clinical days in the hospital. I recognized a patient with oxygen deprivation by watching her behavior and noticing her perspiration. Of course, I didn't recognize that the pt needed oxygen but I felt that something is wrong with her. Then after taking her vital signs, I saw that her satO2 is 82. The pt had a nasal cannula but it was disconnected from the source of oxygen somehow...

With all your experience and "critical thinking", you are bound to see things that youngsters don't see.

Patients are willing to open themselves to you than to someone who is younger. Your understanding of life, relationships, people's nature is very useful -- and so it makes easier for you to build trusting relationships with your patients, which is very important in every day in the hospital. For example, I can admit that my age and life experience were very helpful during my psych rotation. I didn't have difficulty to build trusting relationships with my pts.

Moreover, if you have children, you will know what to expect from some of your patients -- many become very needy and act as small children, and so your knowledge will help you here too-- some tricks play the same magic :). My first pt was an old lady with dementia -- a very difficult trait to deal with when you have to give drugs-- usually the pts are very suspicious and stubborn. I gave the patient a good back rub (she had renal failure and very dry and itchy skin), and she agreed to take her meds :). Your creativity and old tricks become very handy in the hospital environment.

Oh, almost forgot. I have five friends: 50 years old, female, graduated last year, works in CCU; 45, female, graduated last year, works in CCU; 49, female, graduated this year, works in ICU; 48, female, graduated this year, works in SCU; 40, female, graduated one year ago, works in Med surg.

The average age in my group was 38.

I wish you the best!

You are only as old as you feel it.

[jessi1106, BSN, RN]

I was 32 when I became a nurse.

It is an excellent profession and people enter at all ages...you will be fine.

Good luck to you!

[ilstu99]

I would say the average age of the students I graduated with was about 33. The average age that I started the program with was about 25. Several of the "youngens" decided that it just wasn't for them. In the pre-reqs, though, the average age was much younger - many kids right out of high school. I often avoided much of that by choosing night classes.

The age/experience thing can be both a blessing and a curse. I felt very much like I was exactly where I wanted to be, and felt very focused on my goals. Also, that I was a better student than I was the first time around. This degree was MUCH more for ME. It was hard on my family at times, and I did miss some things for school...but I would do it again.

We did have a few people who felt as though their age made them smarter than everyone else. "Uhhh....listen, sister....we're ALL in the first semester of nursing, here....you know?" But I made some great friends in school, and they far outweigh the stinkers.

I also have a background in social work, and I've found that it's a great foundation for nursing. Sometimes, though, I have to remember that their social issues aren't my primary concern. Also....not to tell the social worker on our floor how to do her job. That's a toughie.

Anyway....good luck!!!!!!!!!

[NurseCard, ADN]

I graduated nursing school at 30. It was also a second career for me, as I had went to college straight out of high school to try my hand at a lucrative career as an ARTIST (yeah right). Most of the students were as old as me or older. One lady was in her 50's.

[nursej22, MSN, RN]

I was 28 when I graduated from LPN school and was the second-youngest. I had 3 kids under the age of 5, so peds and OB were easy-breezy.

In my BSN class we had a 60 yo, and to quote a previous post, she was a hoot!

Just finished MN at age 52. Yes the memorization gets tougher, but life experiences definitely balance that out.

[AuntieRN]

I graduated nursing school at the age of 41:yeah:. When I graduated HS I took a year off before going to college.....well that year turned into well over 15 years. Knowing myself now...I know that had I gone into nursing school at a younger age I would not have finished school. I am glad I waited until I found myself and was more mature. There were students in my class both much older and much younger then myself. It was an awesome experience for me. The much younger students griped about everything....the older students understood why things were done the way they were. We understood why our professors pushed us like they did. I dont think you are ever too old to enter nursing. Good luck to you hun....may you enjoy nursing school as much as I did.

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

I was 45 when I started, and worked full time till I got my ADN, BSN and MSN. I was in a peripheral role in the medical field till then.

[CT Pixie, BSN, RN]

I just graduated from LPN school at the age of 39 and 2 months

I have every intention of going back and doing the LPN to RN bridge schooling. I should graduate right around the age of 42 or so.

[Sandwitch883RN]

I was 31 when I got accepted into the ADN program at my local community college. I graduated and began working at 33. I've been working for two years now. We had a range of ages. For the most part the bulk of the class was comprised of late 20's to mid 30's however our "baby" was 18 years old, fresh out of high school. The oldest was our only male student who was 50. It was great having classmates of all ages. There is something to learn from everyone. I'm planning now to go back to school to do an RN-MSN program in nurse midwifery. My goal to to be finished by 40. :typing

[jimthorp]

I was 45 when I entered nursing school and I was not the oldest!

[NurseExec]

I graduated at 30, and also had a prior career. I was a technical writer in the nuclear power industry, if you can believe that, LOL! Amazingly, those writing skills came in very handy once I entered nursing admin.

[Bill E. Rubin]

I became an RN at age 46. Three of my classmates were in their 50's