Late career choice @ 35

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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Hi everyone. I am new here and so far I really enjoy the information and experiences that everyone is sharing.

I just turned 35 years old in Jan and after years of not knowing what I wanted after I left the Navy, I have finally chosen the one career that my Great-Grand mother told me that I was going to be. Matter of fact every since I was a little girl she would always ask me, "So, you are going to be a nurse like Florence Nightingale, right?". And I would always tell her that I would.

So far, I have really liked what I've learned and have even passed my A&P I with an A. I have always liked feeling like I am making a difference in people's lives and I want to help people get better physically as well as emotionally and spiritually.

Are there any other 30 something year old people out there that have just now chosen nursing as their career and do you ever feel like sometimes you may be too late in choosing although you know there is no way that you want to stop now? (Sometimes I feel that way)

I am 31 and am hoping to start my pre-req's this fall. I have never been in college, but have a very good paying job regardless. I have always wanted to be a nurse but college wasn't for me way back when. Now I want to be an example to my children.

Now if I can only get my husband on board instead of trying to figure out how to pay for it myself!

These posts have been a great inspiration to me!

Yeay! So glad you've been inspired; the posters on this board inspire me, too!

A piece of advice I wish someone had given to me when I started in college: take a Study Skills class. It really taught me how to earn grades I was proud of, which not only looks great on your transcript but will help you get accepted into a nursing program.

Good luck to you!

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I just turned 36. There is no way I could have handled any of this when I was 20 yrs old. I didn't have my priorities straight back then. I'm still nervous about it now, but I'm more confident in my abilities and I know I'm much more mature now as well. 30's rock!

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Specializes in Telemetry and Psych.

I will be 38 this summer and starting the program one month after my birthday...lol. I'm nervous but very excited to get this going. I'm also looking at....right before my 40th birthday, I'll graduate and hopefully have passed the NCLEX....

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Specializes in Cardiology (ITU), Acute Renal/Dialysis.
Pussycat--you are so very very welcome. let me know if I can help. Just steel yourself with that thought--it is creating a patient safety issue, and we as a department and a facility would be lax if we don't fix it. I can't tell you how much better ours is. Good luck!!!!! and good for you for not giving up!:yeah:i'll be thinking about you.:heartbeat

Thank you I will keep you informed:redpinkhe is it worth speaking (anonymously) to my union? I'm just aware that unions these days serve the needs of management as opposed to the workers :nurse: you're so right about safety issues, as while we're worrying about bullies & stressing about what they might say or do, the patient care is/can be suffering, which afterall is what we're all supposed to be there for. However, these people continue to treat work as ana extension of their social/private lives :redbeathe

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My mom is 44 and is in school with me! She is also doing nursing. Obviously she wishes she would've done it earlier, but she is happy with her choice and quite excited. She will finally be doing what she has always wanted to do.

There is a lady in my A&P class that is 65!

You've got to do what makes you happy and it's never too late for that.

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Thank you I will keep you informed:redpinkhe is it worth speaking (anonymously) to my union? I'm just aware that unions these days serve the needs of management as opposed to the workers :nurse: you're so right about safety issues, as while we're worrying about bullies & stressing about what they might say or do, the patient care is/can be suffering, which afterall is what we're all supposed to be there for. However, these people continue to treat work as ana extension of their social/private lives :redbeathe

Honestly, I don't have any experience with the unions in the hospital setting...when I worked at the prison, I did not find the union to be any help to the workers either--I think you would be best off approaching it as an educational/pt safety issue and probably the lower you can start the better...however... if you are feeling that your job is in jeopardy, a friend and mentor of mine suggested this to me: write down with date, time, and signature, events that have occurred and each time as they occur, take it to human resources and ask them to file it in YOUR file. It will do 2 things, document what is happening to offer you protection (just remember that unless you tell someone you are being harassed, they are not responsible for making it stop), and call attention to what is going on in your department. They may tell you they want to talk to the person/people who are doing it. The one who told me to do this did not allow them to do that, and only repeated, I just want this placed in my file. Also, if there are others in your department who are being bullied, encourage them to place documentation in their personnel file also. In fact, come to think of it, when you are creating your antibully program, I wonder what would happen if you included not only the victims, but the bullies in the presentation. Although, nurses are so good at intimidation, they might defeat the purpose of the program. Use your best judgement. Good luck. I'll talk to you soon.

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Specializes in Cardiology (ITU), Acute Renal/Dialysis.

Thank you thats so helpful :nurse: I am to be honest worried about my job but if I can leave documentation of this in my file & believe that it will stay confidential until I need to use it then that is an option. Including the bullies in an education programme would be great. Thanks again- its certainly food for thought :hug:

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Thank you thats so helpful :nurse: I am to be honest worried about my job but if I can leave documentation of this in my file & believe that it will stay confidential until I need to use it then that is an option. Including the bullies in an education programme would be great. Thanks again- its certainly food for thought :hug:

i hope it does help...just remember...a bully will bully in any situation. so, plan carefully what they will do and what you will do in the program, and set clear boundaries from the beginning. Otherwise, I can just see them saying, that isn't really bullying, we aren't going to do that, and belittling you or taking over the program. you will know those people best, but depending on how assertive you are, and I am not so much, choose carefully ahead of time and try to think (also ahead of time) how they might act and how you will react. I don't want you to start to feel empowered and have it fail, and again, check your resources. There is a ton of stuff on the internet about this. and hey, I just noticed your flag and I just have to say this--I think it is so incredibly awesome that a nurse in the UK and a nurse in the US, not ambassador sorts, but everyday nurses, can work together to improve patient care and work environment.

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Specializes in Cardiology (ITU), Acute Renal/Dialysis.
i hope it does help...just remember...a bully will bully in any situation. so, plan carefully what they will do and what you will do in the program, and set clear boundaries from the beginning. Otherwise, I can just see them saying, that isn't really bullying, we aren't going to do that, and belittling you or taking over the program. you will know those people best, but depending on how assertive you are, and I am not so much, choose carefully ahead of time and try to think (also ahead of time) how they might act and how you will react. I don't want you to start to feel empowered and have it fail, and again, check your resources. There is a ton of stuff on the internet about this. and hey, I just noticed your flag and I just have to say this--I think it is so incredibly awesome that a nurse in the UK and a nurse in the US, not ambassador sorts, but everyday nurses, can work together to improve patient care and work environment.

Yes it's "brill" that we can get our heads together from across an ocean :redpinkhe such useful & thoughtful advice is one thing, but the camaraderie that it has been given with is lovely and refreshing :redpinkhe you're so right, I can almost write their script and hear them argue that what they have done or said isn't bullying but being "honest" or "assertive" :jester: Thats a common way around here after insulting someone - just say " I'm only being honest"!!!!!!!!!!!!! aaaaaaaaaaaahrrrrgggghhhhhhhhhhhhh :mad: But as my lovely Grandma used to say - "take insults as compliments from the lower class" LOL thats from a real working class Grandma who learn't the hardway through life & was very kind & humble :redbeathe:redbeathe:redbeathe:redbeathe:redbeathe Take care , I will be in touch :nurse:

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I am 47 and if I have gotten this far, anyone can!

I decided to go into nursing last summer. I checked the local community college, and since I had been out of school for over 20 years, I would have to take a Compass test (similar to ACT) which determines your math, english and reading skill levels in order to determine what classes you need to start with. I took the practice test, and I couldn't answer one math problem correctly. I was completely discouraged but determined!

So, I went and bought a basic math book, an algebra book and a geometry book and studied daily. Four months later, I took the Compass test and I tested OUT of all developmental classes! The people at the testing center said I had the highest scores that day! And I had perfect scores in English and Reading. Was the test easy? No way, I spent two hours on the math portion, sometimes in tears, cause I couldn't figure out some of the answers. But I wouldn't give up and made myself figure it out. I was pretty nervous as well.

I am taking AP1 now, AP2 and Micro this summer, and the pre entrance test this summer as well. I am preparing to submit my application this fall for the spring program. I have an A average right now. I study, study, study, with the support of my family. My energy isn't what it used to be, but I am determined, and I'm giving it everything I have to succeed.

My oldest daughter is now in a BSN at her college, and she is my biggest supporter. When I start having doubts, she is there to tell me I can do it. So I am here to say, if I have made it this far, anyone can! I just takes complete comitment and hard work!

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