I think that I may be the oldest male nursing student when I enter this fall

[mmrush1]

I have completed my pre-req's after this semester and have applied to a couple of ADN schools. I've been assured that my scores are high enough to get into either of the schools. I will be 64 years old when I start this fall. I decided after retiring from a career in medical diagnostic sales to do this because it is something that I've always wanted to do. I became interested when serving as a Navy Hospital Corpsman but got sidetracked and ended up with an MBA in Healthcare Administration and a long successful career. Now I am fulfilling a dream. I'm in great physical shape with good longivity genes and expect to work at leat 10 years when I get through school.

Am I the oldest guy doing this?

[madcow2bsn]

I graduated H.S. 23 years ago. I hated algebra then and my heart hasn't grown fonder in its absence! I will say the aids to studying,research,etc. have greatly improved since '86 though! We have Blackboard online for homework, assignments, everything! To give you an idea of the difference btwn me and other students, in my Bioethics class yesterday, the Prof and I were only ones who knew who Dr. Kevorkian is! Many weren't born went I graduated! It is fun for the most part.

[madcow2bsn]

I believe the delay enabled me to grow and sharpen my mind and attitude. I don't believe I could have mustered the self-discipline 23 years ago to do as well in my classes. The D in Chem dropped my GPA to 3.5. Most classes this spring are non-major related and will give me the chance to improve my GPA. We only have 60 nursing seats and even with the advantage of being male, the competition is tough. Several females missed the cut last year with 3.8s! Only 3 guys applied and only 2 made it in. Knowing how the world "works" helps a lot. I worked as a transporter at Hosp. in Memphis during the day and worked nights in ER as scut monkey! It was great! Met my wife(ER RN)learned some skills and terminology, got even more from wife, although we I told her I was going to go to be an RN/BSN, she decided she wanted a divorce. Go figure!

[doesdad]

Stick with it brother, we're pulling for ya.

Should we call ourselves the "Grey Caps"?

[madcow2bsn]

Well Doesdad, I don't have enough hair for it to matter! If its not the glare, it may be gray! Thanks for the encouragement. Its much needed! Despite everything, I don't want to be anywhere but here, doing what I'm doing. My Dad has told me all my life, "Boy, if you're gonna be dumb, ya gotta be tough!" Thanks, Dad! The older I get, the smarter he's always been.

Its been a really long hard road getting here.Giving up a union job in Las Vegas, moving to the back of beyond, losing my wife, getting over the squimmys at sticking people, etc. etc. Still, I'm here and too dumb or tough to give up now. I know if I can do it, damn near anyone not dragging their knuckles can do it, too.

[itsmyturn]

Well, the oldest nurse in the United States just died last month and she was still working at 108! So, it looks to me that you have decided not to be idle and help out others at the same time and you have plenty of time left to make something of it if you go by her standards. Good luck to fulfilling your dream!

[madcow2bsn]

Thanks. all this support has me confused, though. My soon-to-be-ex has been an RN for 16-17 years and has always said nurses eat their young(if they like them)& everyone is in real trouble if they cross a nurse. I saw some of this when I worked in the ER, but being a guy and not a nurse I may have gotten off light. I did see the toll 12hr shifts 3&4 days a week in the ER took on her, and there was no mercy for injury/illness unless there were compound breaks and lots of blood. In my previous incarnation, I had need of her skills. I can't count the stitches she put in my hands and head or the number of bones in my hands she set and splinted. No telling how much $ she saved us in med bills! One reason the job wears on her so much is that she's never really liked being a nurse. All the years we've been married, I would have gladly traded jobs with her. Being a nurse has been my goal for at least 15 years. Having my mind as my main tool, using learned skills to help people, it beats the %6&$#$ out of being an industrial carpenter for the last 20 years. No rain/snow/mud/heat/ etc. etc. I'm sure its going to be different than I expect, but I'm sure it won't be worse than pouring concrete at 3:30 a.m. in December 1

[Krystin]

Man. Thanks so much for posting here.

I'm 27 years old and am beginning prereqs for a BSN. I was a terrible high school student and went directly into the army when I turned 18. Now I'm an excellent college student and I finally know what i want to do. It hit me like a ton of bricks this year as I began exploring degree options.

I thought I was deciding "later in life" ...until just now.

Thanks for that =)

And don't let anyone ever tell you it's not the right thing to do!!!!

[doesdad]

Good for you - here is somthing from another post that you might relate to:

I have been in college since i graduated highschool and I can tell you that nursing school is a bit different ...alot different..the material...the way its taught and the way you have to train yourself to learn. Figure out your learning style and you should be great!...my thoughts on everything is that nursing school is different from typical college classes but easier to get into?!? does that make sense?...I like it more because it has one focus. Its more interesting than taking alot of classes that have nothing to do with my job outlook. Nursing school is great!

[Miller86]

There are many many individuals in my program of all age groups and especially around your age. It is NEVER too late to accomplish your goals and really do what you're passionate about. I wish you the best in your future!

[Deep C]

This thread is great. My first foray onto the forum, starting school in the fall at late 40s yo, retired military. My wife keeps telling me that all my fellow students are old enough to be our kids...aargh.

[hale'akala]

"Age...its' only a number" just finishing up my prereqs' this Spring..then I'll be able to "apply" and pray I get "picked" by the "lottery system"...I'm older than most of my Profs' never mind the kids!!........I'll be 55 end of April!!! Good Luck!!

[mochabean]

I know a male nursing student who has adult children a couple years younger than me. I don't know exactly how old he is, but it's just great in general to have more male nurses because they're very task-oriented. The older males are more mature. I really enjoy working with male nurses!