In my 40s... Where to start?

zenman · Jan 31, 2005

I'd pick out a few schools and talk with them to get the ball rolling. Most are glad to help out and get you on the right track. Good luck.

z's playa · Jan 31, 2005

Just do it! Don't be scared or think people will laugh at you. Going back to school is the best thing for you. As long as you feel it is. Call everywhere! I cant help you ceause i live in Canada but I'm sure you will get plenty of support.

Z

Tweety, BSN, RN · Jan 31, 2005

Good luck to you!!! I agree with Zen, check out the local schools and talk to a counselor or two. There are a lot of pre-reqs and co-reqs that you can take online, if not all of them. Most schools are moving towards offering the distance learning as part of their cirriculum. I find the online way fits in very well me and my lifestyle.

When you finally get to the nursing part, of course, this can't be done online, but even then some of the nursing courses might have an online option.

Good luck to you. With some determination and focus, you'll go all the way.

fotografe · Jan 31, 2005

I am also in the Boston area and am completing my pre-requisites for nursing school online through both www.iowacconline.com and www.ccconline.org

Those are the consortium of Community Colleges in Iowa and Colorado, respectively, and both offer a wide variety of courses. THe Colorado consortium offers everything you need to get into nursing school in this area.

Take a look at www.allnursingschools.com and find the schools that are near you. Contact them about open houses and ask if these courses will be accepted in their programs (the schools are accredited and the science courses include lab).

As far as a purely online nursing progam, www.deaconess.edu is the only one that I know of for someone not already in the medical field. You would have to find a hospital willing to precept you for your clinicals, and in the Boston area that is a tall order considering how tough it is for all the brick and mortar nursing schools to find clinical placements for their students.

Their are a lot of options so take a look around. Good luck!

Hi all I'm rather new to this but would really appreciate any advice you have to offer. This really is my only source of advice for the time being.
I'm 47 years old and married with two children, one in college and one in middle school. I completed high school overseas and took a few courses at a college in Florida, studying to be an X-Ray Technician. Because of circumstances at the time I took a job at a local Dunkin' Donuts and 16 years later, I am the GM of several stores now in the Boston area.
While this job pays well, it is unfulfilling and would love to do something in the health care field, medical assistant or pursue a degree in nursing all the way.
I would prefer taking classes online as it would fit better into my schedule, but if I have to commute then I will.
My question is, where do I begin. If I have few prerequisites, is that a difficult foundation to build upon? Are there any online colleges that you have used and/or recommend?
Looking forward to hearing from you all. I know this is the right move for me at this point in my life.

scuba4321 · Feb 2, 2005

I just requested info from the deacon college, seems pretty cool, I can get the locat Hospitals in the area to precept me, We have Grady in Down town that does it!

11:11 · Feb 2, 2005

One of my classmates was 52 yrs old when in school and a mom.

She is now a great medsurg nurse and happy with her decision-

11

DDRN4me · Feb 2, 2005

look into the community colleges in your area. I know the one i graduated from has great "returning to school" counselors and programs. they also encourage you to take all of your prereqs first, so you could either do them online or one at a time , either days or eves (i did my prereqs all at night , then tood the clinical during the day cuz it fit better for me.)