Is this for me?

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Okay, I am 51 years old and have decided to go back to school to be an R.N. I just finished my second semester of prerequisites, college algebra and Anatomy. Got an A in anatomy and a B in math.

I am taking care of my Mother who has stage 4 emphysema. I bought a home this semester and also had a lawsuit I was dealing with.

Well, I woke up this morning exhausted and not knowing if I could do anymore than this. I was planning to take an accelerated program. Knowing how demanding it is, I am now questioning if I could do this.

I am healthy and young for 51. Granted, by the time I am ready for the program, I will not have a lawsuit and I will be moved.

I guess I am concerned about the demands and the stress.

Any opinions?

Thanks.

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Specializes in Home Health/Geriatrics.

In my CNA program we had somebody who was almost in her 60's and then we had me who was 16 at the time. Big age gap...but she did just fine and was super healthy and could do everything that everybody else could. I don't know about the mental strain of the RN program but I know that the physical strain is not as bad as the physical strain of a CNA. I think you'll be fine if you can mentally handle it.

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Specializes in Psych.

I'm afraid chronic exhaustion is pretty much par for the course with an accelerated program. If I had REALLY understood what I was agreeing to...I think I might have opted to do this over a longer period. I'm glad I'm nearly finished because I'm totally worn out.

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Starting second year of my RN program, and I'm a little younger than you. If you want this do it - all of the "mature" students (no matter their age) in my program do better than the kids. Will you want to quit, break down and cry, throw temper tantrums about how hard it is and how unfair life is? Yes. But the 20 year old feels the same way - the difference is that you know you'll get up the next morning and get over it, you can get through it because I guarantee you've already been through worse. I have an older parent who is declining that I am caring for - not easy juggling all of these things. But this is the best thing I have done FOR MYSELF in my life! Go for it!

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yes it's tiring, i'm about 8 years younger, but my best nursing school friend is closer to your age, and is doing well, dealing with a divorce from an idiot, two kids at home and keeps her eyes on the prize!!

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Specializes in ob/gyn med /surg.

yes honey it's worth it !! don't you give up !! we all have days we feel down and you have alot on your plate. i take care of my mom just like you and it is alot. but you can do this.. i send you prayers and hugs .. if you need a dose of encourgement you come to this site and many will help you. the people at this site are so awesome , we all may not always agree but i count them as friends.

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Thank You all for the encouragement and reply. I decided today that I have one more year of undergrad work and in that time, I am going to train for this like I would a marathon. I am doing it!

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Specializes in med-surg, dialysis.

I'm glad you're sticking with it. Your age & maturity will help you alot in nursing school & even more when you graduate & start practicing as a nurse. One of my instructors in nursing school didn't start nursing school herself until after she was retired. She was one of the best instructors I had & I really loved her class. She was tough, but very supportive. One piece of advice she said was when you are doing a procedure on a patient (foley cath, IV stick, whatever), don't hold your mouth open!

I went back to school in my 30's, worried to death the whole time that I might be making a mistake. I stuck it out & now I am glad I did. You will be, too, when you finish and become the nurse that you want to be. Hang in there!

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