Is 32 too old to start nursing school?

MrsK1223 · Mar 15, 2003

Hi there. I say go for it....most people in my class were non traditional students..those who weren't right out of highschool. I've been out 2 yrs and will be 32 this year. There were many in their 30's, 40' and 50's. I always said, what else are you going to be doing in those 2 yrs or 4 yrs...mind as well pursue something you want. Bypass all the EMT stuff and CNA stuff....just go for exactly what you want. Funny how most guys I have known want to go to ER...hahahaha...they love that rush. Good luck to you.

JasonC · Mar 15, 2003

Originally posted by maia1212
Hi there. I say go for it....most people in my class were non traditional students..those who weren't right out of highschool. I've been out 2 yrs and will be 32 this year. There were many in their 30's, 40' and 50's. I always said, what else are you going to be doing in those 2 yrs or 4 yrs...mind as well pursue something you want. Bypass all the EMT stuff and CNA stuff....just go for exactly what you want. Funny how most guys I have known want to go to ER...hahahaha...they love that rush. Good luck to you.

I love the ER...I used to do transport at Yale New Haven in the ER and I saw alot of stuff...

cokie · Mar 15, 2003

where does your Mom work???? i want to work where only cna's do the so called scud work. at my med-surg jobs, many times we are shorted one cna by staffing leaving us only a desk clerk/cna. we rn's have to team up to clean, turn dependent patients, just like icu. last weekend another nurse and myself, neither of us who ever worked as cna's are struggling to clean up a pt. we were actually laughing about how slow we were. the people who first work as cna have an advantage, especially in nursing school, where usually one does TOTAL CARE of one's pt. as to 32 being too late, i graduated at 45 and i love it. my co workers assume that i'm an old hand and so do my pt. have a great time whatever you decide to do.

SC RN, RN · Mar 15, 2003

Jason,

I see that you live in San Diego ... if this is where you plan on getting your RN license, then you MUST become a CNA before you can go through classes for your ADN. This is a new rule for California ... I believe it became effective in January 2002.

I thought I was done with my pre-req's when I found out about this little addition. I've heard some nursing students say that they have experience as EMT's or as a Medical Assistant so why would they have to get their CNA license, too? But it hasn't seemed to matter ... everyone I know has had to go through the CNA class and then take the state test before being admitted into the program.

Be sure to go talk to a counselor where you want to do your studies. Doesn't Mesa College have nursing courses? Or is it the one up in North COunty? I may remember wrong, I haven't lived in SD for six years now.

Good Luck! (Oh, and heck no, you're not too old! Go for it!)

Stasia

JasonC · Mar 16, 2003

Originally posted by cokie
where does your Mom work???? i want to work where only cna's do the so called scud work. at my med-surg jobs, many times we are shorted one cna by staffing leaving us only a desk clerk/cna. we rn's have to team up to clean, turn dependent patients, just like icu. last weekend another nurse and myself, neither of us who ever worked as cna's are struggling to clean up a pt. we were actually laughing about how slow we were. the people who first work as cna have an advantage, especially in nursing school, where usually one does TOTAL CARE of one's pt. as to 32 being too late, i graduated at 45 and i love it. my co workers assume that i'm an old hand and so do my pt. have a great time whatever you decide to do.

Well my Mom works at a local Hospice here in San Diego as the V.P. of Clinical Services...I think she was just telling me what CNA's generally do. She has told me she has hired CNA's to do what they are suppose to do...I wasn't trying to down grade CNA's...I didn't know what they did. Now I do...which is fine with me. I have no problem doing what a CNA does.

Jason

SmilingBluEyes · Mar 16, 2003

My heavens no! The oldest gal in my RN class was well into her 50s and a gramma. I was quite happy for her and she was proud, being pinned before her kids and grandkids that day. I truly admired her. The average age of the RN student rises with the age of our population in the USA. Last I read, it was 34 years old. SO NO WAY IS IT TOO LATE! GO FOR IT. look at it this way: in 4 years you will be 36. Do you want to be 36 WITH that degree or WITHOUT IT? Good luck!

Chuckie · Mar 16, 2003

I've been an RN for 15 years and was over 32 when I started Nursing school.

mario_ragucci · Mar 16, 2003

Cracks me up. Lol. I am sorry you are so old Jason. Do you suffer from accelorated decrepitude? Everyone is different. I started going for nursing at 36 and at 38 I can tell you, no one gives a damn about your age and no one feels sorry for me at my over the hill age which is greater than yours. Lol.

obeyacts2 · Mar 16, 2003

34 in NOT old!!!!!!!!!! In my classes (just finishing prereqs) there are numerous students that are old enough to be my parents. Example, a 55yr old female, a 52 yr old retired male cop, a 50 something local building contractor, and the list goes on. Im 34 and I feel like a kid in these classses.

Laura

hogan4736, BSN, RN · Mar 16, 2003

jason,

I was 28...

Anyway, being in ANYTHING patient related is a good start...Do what you must as far as California goes, but find a hospital that will hire you as an extern in the department that you will eventually work, at least one year before boards...They get a seasoned new nurse, cheap orientaion, and a hell of an ER tech, CNA, PCT, MA, etc...

It's a win/win, and I wish ALL hospitals did this...It would help w/ the shortage, and increase retention...

I worked in a peds psych facility for 9 years before nursing, got my pre required classes, convinced a DON to take a chance on me as an ER tech (takedowns/restraints on teens/preteens for 9 years is a great preparation for about anything), and started as a CNA on tele, and 3 months was in the ER (I even got an "assignment" one night when we had 3 call offs) as a tech that was eventually allowed (before graduating) to triage, lavage, start IVs, etc, WHILE getting paid as an ER tech...I passed boards, and started the next day as an RN, and hung Nipride in my first week!

anyway, w/ the right (pre) training, you can start most anywhere in the hospital (minus cath lab and oncology) immediately after graduation...

Oh, and I had a 55 year old (recently widowed) classmate...she waited ONE YEAR after graduation before taking (and passing) boards on the first try!

She now works L&D

SandyB · Mar 16, 2003

I PM'd you.

You are never too old!

And you can go to ER as a new grad if you find the hospital willing to train you

(some are up near me-I PM'd you two names).

Go for it!

Tweety, BSN, RN · Mar 16, 2003

I was 34 when I graduated nursing school.