How old were you when you finished nursing school?

Nurses General Nursing

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I'm just wondering, it could be for LPN or RN, how old you were when you completed nursing school. Thank you!

I think 30's is a good age.. I had good perspective in my 30's. Yet I felt I still had the energy and stamina to do everything the way I wanted. Work 2 evenings, raise 3 kids, tutor other students. I am happy I had my kids first.

Now no one get all excited, I am merely speaking of me... I know some of you have all the energy in the world in 50's or older.. Not me, I get tired so I must work smarter not harder.. which is good! And I know I have read posts form some in their 20's who knew exactly what they wanted when.

In general terms 30's is a nice middle ground. I bet you will do great!

Thank you! I hope I'll do good, I'm very excited about it. I, too, had my children. I have 3 as well. I'm done having babies.

I will anticipate working the evening shift - as I've always LOVED that shift!

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Specializes in ICU.

30, with my BSN (last month, just passed NCLEX last week). I had a previous bachelor's degree in another field, then had two kids, then went to nursing school. I agree with the above poster saying that 30s is a good age. I had so much more life experience to draw on that made school so much more enjoyable. Good luck! :heartbeat

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BSN, RN at 20.

what route did you take to finish your BSN at 20? i saw someone else say they would've been 19 if they went for nursing right after graduating. i'm not saying i don't believe you - this just wouldn't be a possibility at the schools in my area so i'm curious what course of study you followed to finish so quickly.

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Specializes in LTC, Hospice, Case Management.

LPN - 19 years old....I got not respect, told I was just a "teenager" & later heard they took bets at who could run me out first.

I got the last laugh on that one...I am 44 & quit that job just this past Friday...not a one of them has worked there for years!

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30, with my BSN (last month, just passed NCLEX last week). I had a previous bachelor's degree in another field, then had two kids, then went to nursing school. I agree with the above poster saying that 30s is a good age. I had so much more life experience to draw on that made school so much more enjoyable. Good luck! :heartbeat

this is pretty much the mirror image of my story. i think when you're older you are more sure about what you want to do. my first degree was something i pursued bc i "thought" it was something i'd enjoy. when i pursued nursing, i was SURE it was what i wanted to do, and being older, having kids, etc. made me more serious and dedicated to my studies.

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Specializes in LTC, Hospice, Case Management.
what route did you take to finish your BSN at 20? i saw someone else say they would've been 19 if they went for nursing right after graduating. i'm not saying i don't believe you - this just wouldn't be a possibility at the schools in my area so i'm curious what course of study you followed to finish so quickly.

I graduated high school at 18 & went for the one full time year for my LPN, which put me at 19 years & 8 months to be exact. :)

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LPN - 19 years old....I got not respect, told I was just a "teenager" & later heard they took bets at who could run me out first.

I got the last laugh on that one...I am 44 & quit that job just this past Friday...not a one of them has worked there for years!

Good for you! :D

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Specializes in Acute Rehab, Progressive Care.

Hopefully, I'll make it through school and graduate in 2013. I'll be 42 years old. I did other things earlier in life; now is when the fun begins!

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Specializes in LTC, MDS Cordnator, Mental Health.

Nursing is my second degree. I worked full time though the whole thing I started the LPN program at 45 and graduated as an RN at 48. During that time I worked Nights fulltime and went to school full time. I graduated with a 3.47... I will be startig my BSN this fall and then doing my masters.... should be a NP by 57.

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Specializes in Acute Rehab, SCI, Clinic, HH, Med/Surg.

LVN 37 RN 41

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Specializes in Geriatric.

I was 18 when I finished my LPN. Got my license 3 weeks after I turned 19. I will graduate next month with my ADN, and hopefully take the NCLEX before I am 20.:nurse:

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Specializes in maternal child, public/community health.

I did an associate's in prenursing at a community college, graduated at almost 50. Did an accelerated program that started a few months later and graduated at the top of my class with a BSN at age 51. Don't let anyone tell you that you are too old to go back to school. I agree with others who said life experinence helped in nursing school. Overall, I think my life experience made me less stressed in nursing school than many of the younger students. Although they tell you not to work in the accelerated program, as a single mom with a daughter in college, I did work some. I do think the sleep deprivation is harder when you are older but if you really want to do it, you can.

Becoming a nurse was one of the best decisions I ever made; I would do it again in a heartbeat. I love my job and I make a good salary. I know if I get tired of what I am doing, I can do many other types of nursing. I thought I would get my MSN but have decided I do not want to give up the time to do it at this point in my life. I have young grandkids and I want to be involved in their lives.

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