am I to old to start?

Grumpygs, MSN, RN · Apr 21, 2008

Check out your local community college. Most have online course outlines or information that you can look up pre-requisites and may also provide some information on the costs.

I'm jumping on the band wagon and agreeing with the rest - I'm going to be 44 this summer and will be starting a 2 year ADN program in August for my RN! I'll be 46 by the time I'm done and looking forward to a good 20+ years as a nurse! :[anb]:

chihuahuaman · Apr 21, 2008

I'm getting close to 43 and I just finished my first term of nursing school. There was tons of work to do, but it was very easy to comprehend. I got good grades. As others have written, I too wish I had started earlier, but better late than never :-) I've always been a late bloomer. One of the best parts of nursing school is that I was so busy with assignments 'n stuff that I had to quit my job (which I've disliked for about 20 years now!! lol!).

Lorie P. · Apr 21, 2008

never to old to go back to school! depending on what state you live in could depend on how soon you can get into an adn school.

here in south ga the wait for rn is up to 2 years, but for lpn is only about 6 months, plus with lpn school one gets 95% of it paid for through the ga hope grant and pell grants that do not have to be repaid!

i say go for it, if this is what you want to do, also you will find out us mature students tend to study more and have excellent time management skills!!

forrester · Apr 21, 2008

GO FOR IT!

Just watch your back, literally.

:yeah:

DebanamRN, MSN, RN · Apr 21, 2008

I graduated LPN school at 40 and will graduate with my RN at 43. I feel that I wouldn't have made a good nurse any younger. I'll be 43 no matter what I do, so I might as well attend school!

TeresaB930, BSN, RN · Apr 21, 2008

I love this question! I started back to school when I was 40. I did 2 years of pre-reqs then 2 years of the nursing program, graduating a month ago at the age of 44.

I did this as a single mom of 3 children. It was the hardest most rewarding accomplishment, next to my children of course, of my life!

I say, NO WAY are you too old to go back. How badly do you want it? I think that's the question you need to be asking.......age has nothing to do with it. You bring life experience to the table which, I have found to be priceless.

Best of luck!

Teresa

RedhairedNurse, BSN, RN · Apr 21, 2008

I'm 46 and will graduate in 18 days. I started when I was 42. The way I look at it.....you're going to get older each and every day, so it doen'st matter one way or the other. May as well be going to school.

husker_rn, RN · Apr 21, 2008

I started school at the age of 38 and got my BSN at the age of 42. Four of my clasmmates were older than me and one feshman in the dorm was 55. Us nontraditional students seem to do very well since we have some life experiences and really know what is at stake. Good luck....we'd love to have you join us.

SkyGoddess · Apr 21, 2008

I am in an RN program right now that started in Jan 08. It is a two year program. From looking around the class, I would say the AVERAGE AGE is 30. In fact there are hardly any 20 somethings. You would also be amazed at the ones who are in their 20s are married with several kids. Most of the people (male/female) in my program have 2+ kids.

When you go to class no one is going to ask your age because no one is really going to care. You are the only one bent out of shape about it. Everyone is trying to make it through so they can graduate and make money for their families. That should be your concern as well. We are all going to get older. Furthermore when you start doing clinicals and get in the nursing homes and rehabilitation centers, you are really going to realize how young you are when you see the patients chart and it says they were born in 1918, 1925 etc. Now that is old!!!!!! When I see a patients chart and it says they were born in 1944 I wonder what such a young person is doing in the rehab center (this is where we are doing clinicals)!

Also if you want to know about cost you must find ALL of the schools in your area and GO TO them to find out all of the criteria. In fact, do not even call or speak to a counselor. Get all of their written brochures and READ EVERYTHING for yourself. Educate yourself first from written materials and the schools Web site. My experience has been that a lot of these counselors have NO IDEA what is needed for the nursing programs since they advice so many students on many topics. Plus being a nurse is a highly paid position, guaranteed work, high social status, etc. and many people will not want to help someone acheive it. Being a nurse will garner jealousy in many of your "friends" and other people. I said all that to say this.......educate yourself in this nursing process, read EVERYTHING, research everything on your own and then ask questions later. I have found many counselors had nasty attitudes towards me when I went to them.

Good luck

deleern · Apr 21, 2008

It took me 3 semesters to complete my LPN.... I started when I was 45 years old.... I went on for my RN and graduated Last year. Currently considering a RN to MS program. The more "Mature" students did better in my group because (in my opinion) D/T being more focused.

BlueRidgeHomeRN · Apr 21, 2008

another "second career" nurse saying go for it!! :up:

look at it this way--even if it takes you 5 years (probably less!) you'll have another 20 years before retirement age to work as a nurse. just take care of your older back muscles, and try to learn skills that may help you get an out-of-hospital position as you get older.

good luck! :yeah:

CiCigirl · Apr 21, 2008

Hi I am wondering if I am to old to start a nursing career? I am 40. I was a CNA in 1988 for 3 months but thats it. I was always a stay at home mom and now im wanting to work and nursing is what my intrest is but I want to be a LPN not a CNA. I also want to know on average as I know it differs from one school to the other how long it will take and how much money will it cost me to go to school.

There's a girl in our class in her 50's...and she's getting some of the highest grades in the class.

Don't wait. You'll never get any younger than you are right now!

Good for you!!

:yeah: :yeah: :yeah: