39 and just starting?? Am I crazy?

Nurses General Nursing

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Hi, my name is Jeanie and like I said in the title of this post, I am thirty-nine. :eek: I know there have been other people that have posted about their age, but it looks like I might be older than they are.

My question is... is it worth going back to school to get my nursing degree, when I may not finish until I'm about 45? That is, if I go for the BSN. I'm considering the local ADN, but the jr. college is on a lottery system and sometime it takes up to FIVE times to get in.

Anyway, do you think employers would be eagar to hire a new grad that is 45 or 46? Also, I'm curious to know if you guys think it is worth getting the BSN or just go for the ADN. :nurse:

Thanks so much. - Jeanie in Modesto California

Specializes in CNA - Nursing Home/Home Health Exp.

Jeannie....

You are not crazy @ all... Like everyone else...I'm along with you. I'm one month shy of my 37th birthday and I actually will be 38 when I'm accepted Fall 2011 to the LPN program. Instead of waiting around to get into the RN program here in New Orleans, I decided to at least be happy and proud that I'm in a program period.

Good Luck to you and please keep in touch!

~Erica~

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Are you crazy? I hope not cause that would make me insane I guess.:bugeyes: I just turned 44 and am in my first semester of nursing school. I'll finish in Spring of 2012. Go for it!!

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I was 42 when I got my LPN - 47 when I finally finished my ADN. I am now working on my BSN. No - you are not crazy. If you are, so am I. ;)

Forgot to add, I work at the bedside 12 hour nights anywhere from 48 -60 hours a week. I'm only hired for 36, but love my job so much I sign up for extra.

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Specializes in Psych.

There's a 57 year old man and a 43 year old woman in my class now. We graduate in Dec. (yay)! They are both really cool, smart, and focused. I like them both a lot and think they'll be great nurses. It's never too late to do what you love. BTW, I turned 30 a few years back myself!

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Specializes in psych,maternity, ltc, clinic.

I started an ADN program at 32, and in contemplating whether this was a good idea, told my father I would be 34 when I graduated! (Of course at 51 I realize how very YOUNG this was, but at the time....) Anyway he asked me how old I would be in 2 years if I didnt go. He was right of course, and making this career change was, for me, a very wise choice.

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Specializes in OB/GYN, Peds, School Nurse, DD.

My mother entered RN school at age 46. She worked full-time in L&D and was quite in demand for her caring and competent demeanor. She retired at 62, but she still keeps her license current. She just turned 76, so probalby no chance she'll ever go back to it, but she so identifies with being a nurse I doubt she'll ever let it lapse.

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Specializes in ER, ICU.

I got my RN at 40, now you might be crazy, but not because you want to be a nurse. ;)

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I do not believe your age would be a hindrance in obtaining employment. I do not know your work background, but if you were employed for a number of years anywhere, it would reflect favorably. Also, as one ages an individual is able to obtain wisdom from life itself, which any employer would find "next-to-gold".

Problem solving and every good decision made requires one to have the basic or foundational decision making steps, which I believe are honed and developed from the accumulated lessons of life itself, which can only occur with increasing age. Do not sell yourself short.

Even one's physical abilities are not affected with age, as long as one eats right, sleeps well, and gets the proper amount of exercise. Younger co-workers could even have issues with the physical demands of nursing, if they do not take care of those aspects. Believe me, it is true! As in this example: A younger worker actually needed assistance in getting off the floor, after she demonstrated to the tester, how to properly "take down" a patient who is starting to faint and fall. :down: Ouch! So, don't sell yourself short!:twocents:

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You may be crazy but I'm crazy with you. I am 35 and I've seen posts from others who started older than you. I already have a BS so I'm going to go for a BSN.

The only thing I've heard here though is that California seems to be one of the worst places for getting a job in nursing but if you are willing to relocate/work at less desirable locations, you may have a chance.

I'm thinking by about 40 I'd have a BSN and hopefully the economy will clear up a little bit plus my area doesn't seem to be hit as bad as other areas in terms of overall economy although all sectors are suffering somewhat.

Thx, everyone for your responses. This site is wonderful! I feel so much better knowing that I'm reeeeeally not alone in starting late.:yeah: I just find myself constantly "doing the math" in my head about when I'll grad (year), then how long I could be working in the field. Because of all the pre-reqs and that the local ADN is a lottery system, I'm worried that it will take much longer just to get IN to the program. There's also a BSN at Calif. State Univ. Stanislaus nearby, but accepts only about 20 per 200 applicants per year (or is it semester?). A good friend that recently gave me some advice said to apply to several programs at once and the first one I get into, take it.

Regarding CA being harder to get a job/bad economy... Yes, I agree. I have considered moving to Boston in 5-8 yrs. My son will be in college then in that area and my daughter will be almost finished with high school (who wants to be a Pediatrician!). We'll see.

- Jeanie

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Specializes in School Nursing.
I started an ADN program at 32, and in contemplating whether this was a good idea, told my father I would be 34 when I graduated! (Of course at 51 I realize how very YOUNG this was, but at the time....) Anyway he asked me how old I would be in 2 years if I didnt go. He was right of course, and making this career change was, for me, a very wise choice.

This is such a good point... I had a friend who said the exact same thing to me when I went back to school in my mid-30s. It was part time and going to take me years just to get an associate's degree.. I told her I'd be 40 before I got anywhere and she said to me, "you're going to be 40 either way"..

Go for it!!

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Specializes in Psych/CD/Medical/Emp Hlth/Staff ED.

Of the students currently starting nursing school, more than half are going into nursing as a second career.

There is certainly no disadvantage, either in Nursing School or in looking for a job, in having a wealth of general life experience.

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