I'm so old!

[Laraine]

Hey everyone,

I start my second semester clinical next week. I'm 54, doing Practical Nursing in Toronto. I'm nervous as usual about being so old and doing this hard work. I keep thinking it will be too hard for me and that I won't be able to get through. Honestly, if I do reach the end of the program it will be an absolute miracle. Are there any other old bags out there doing this stuff? I'd love to hear from you, about getting through this thing.

[Laraine]

I'm going to remember this! I'm a pup. Thank you for the encouragement. Everyone's comments are helping to alter my self-perception.

[Laraine]

Oh, thank you, I really appreciate your encouragement. Good luck to you as well!

[Laraine]

Ya I wonder if I can get through when I'm knee deep in exams! But then I always pull through (mostly with A or A+ and I'm always surprised). Even still, I guess I keep worrying about the physical side of it. My son says he doesn't worry about things anymore. (He's 24) He said he realized that it didn't help him, so he just stopped. I want to forget my 'old' hangup and just focus on learning how to be the best nurse I can be. If I wake up one day and find out I can't do it, then I'll deal with it then. Everyone's comments are really helpful.

[Mainergal2000]

My cousin~in~ laws told me that their neighbor went back to school and just became a medical doctor at 75! You are not old. I am 45. I think I am old too. I got to class with a lot of kids in their 20's! I am always afraid my brain won't retain more than anything else.

[DJAYS]

Hello....I am 50 years old, and I finish up with nursing school 2 years old for my LPN program I finish with a 3.75 gpa. Now the only reason I have waited to take my nclex-pn was life. I finally took it a few months ago and I failed with all 205 questions. I didn't really know how to study to tell the truth, do I pay for a review class $300 to $500 ,do I just try and go after it myself. What I have found out was I knew much more then I thought , I had 4 near passing level, one above level , and one below passing level. Not a very bad test but you got to understand the questions for sure. Don't let age be a factor in your nursing career, I took the test once and trust me I will retake soon and be ready on point . When I started my lpn program I was 47 years old finish time I was 48 years old now I just got to get my nclex to become a LPN...good luck it can be done ....

[amygarside]

Just stay strong. Age is not a boundary for learning new things. There are actually a lot more to learn and it is a good choice entering the nursing career. Don't give up.