how many non-traditional students are here?

NurseLoveJoy88, ASN, RN · Apr 11, 2009

I'm sorry for my ignorance... What is a non-traditional student. I see that term alot on here. What defines " traditional student)

LolaBunnie · Apr 11, 2009

Hi !

"non-traditional" is usually used for anyone starting college over the age of 24 or 25..either instead of going to college straight out of high school or to get a second degree/career

ZanatuBelmont · Apr 11, 2009

hello! i am new to the forum. I have recently decided i want to become a certified nurse-midwife, i get a BSN and then a masters degree. I feel like i may be "too old" at this point to be starting out a square one (i never went to college), i think the path i want to take is LPN-->ADN-->BSN-->masters degree....
i'm a little nervous about starting so late in life, with such a large gap between high school and college...
anyways i was just wondering how many of us here are "non-traditional" students..either already in classes or just starting the admissions process and what kind of obstacles you think are there for us vs those who are entering right out of high school
Thanks!!

It's never too late. Some of the best students are the people who are "non-traditional."

Jessshue · Apr 11, 2009

I am also a non-traditional student taking the same path as you are (I just started the LPN program about 1.5 mos. ago, been doing prereqs for the last 6 mos). I'm 28, married, with a 1.5 and a 3 year old. No, you aren't too old. Think about it this way...retirement age is 65, that leaves almost 40 years of work in your life. I don't know about you, but I was already getting burnt out at my first career choice after just 8 years, I couldn't imagine another 40 at it! Here are the things I considered before going back to school: the retirement age thing, the fact that you will always have job security because people will always be sick and there will always be a place for a good nurse, and the flexibility of the field. You can work in what-ever area you want-midwife, surgery, ICU, health clinic, nursing home, urology, school nurse...whatever your passion is, you can do it. If you get burnt out in one area, just switch, you don't have to go back to school or anything! As far as the non-traditional student thing goes, I almost feel we have an advantage. The biggest advantage about being right out of high school is the time restraints. You do what you want, when you want and are only responsible for yourself. In my case, I have to be responsible for my children, my mortgage, my husband, etc. I just think we have to be very good at managing time. I think our advantages in being a non-trad. student are numerous, including the fact that we are adults who know what we want and how to get it. Most non-trad students are also out of the partying phase of life, so we can focus more on what needs to get done. We also have more life experience and maturity (usually :) ), which is important to employers. I also think we are more likely to work harder and take college more seriously, because we understand more about spending money wisely and being in debt (I'm basing this off my college now and right out of h.s.). Anyway, I think it is never too late to go for what you want and I think the nursing field is one of the most stable and rewarding fields to be going into!

sunray12 · Apr 12, 2009

I get the impression that a majority of people who post on all nurses are non-trads. In fact I found this board because I was researching the issue of "older" people switching careers into nursing. And the first thing my search pulled up was a big thread on the pre-nursing student board - all about being an older student.

Obstacles - we have more things to balance along with being a student - e.g. family, job responsibilities, etc., etc. And when you start the nursing journey you usually have to go to school and start from scratch without much credit for prior academic or life learning.

But on the plus side being older often means you have maturity going for you. And maturity promotes focus - something I was lacking when I was in college. So if nursing is what you want to do you will probably rise to the challenge and do fine.

tothepointeLVN, LVN · Apr 12, 2009

Yup non traditional student here. I used to be a shoe designer go figure.

connieindc · Apr 12, 2009

At 27 years old, you are still starting out your adult life and not too old for anything at all! I started nursing school (community college) at age 44 and got my nursing license in the week of my 47th birthday. I have been very happy as a nurse; going to nursing school is one of the best decisions of my life and being in my forties never held me back with anything. I have had great performance evaluations, I have won awards as a nurse, and am generally considered to be an outstanding nurse by my peers. I don't feel too old to do anything else in my nursing career and now, at age 52, I am applying to a MSN nursing program. So, you being only 27 years old (half my age!!), have the entire professional world of nursing is open to you! Go out, put in your best effort, and be a star!

NamasteNurse, BSN, RN · Apr 13, 2009

Add me to the list, I'm 51 and so far have a 93 average. Maturity and life experience have a lot going for it in this profession and in school.

missjennmb · Apr 13, 2009

I'm 32 and in an LPN program headed for my MSN in Midwifery. I never considered myself "non traditional" because really, I've been in college my whole life for one reason or another. I think that this goal will finally curb that desire though, lol.

I would not be all that comfortable with a young 20's person who had not had kids of their own, delivering my child, just my personal preference, but never batted an eyelash about the mid-40s midwife who's advice I took as gospel. Granted a lot of other things factor into the decision to trust someone to help you bring your babies into the world, but having had your own really helps understand just what mommas go through, and I just dont see that as something you can truly understand just from witnessing the path of others.

Good luck and welcome to the journey! :)

Jessshue · Apr 13, 2009

DarkRainyDays, I completely agree. The thing that actually finally gave me that final push to go into nursing was having my son (my 2nd child). The nurses were amazing, and even through the contractions all I wanted to do was talk to them about their job and experiences and children of their own. Those nurses made me decide that this is truely what I want to do. My goal is to eventually go into L&D, but I know a lot of nurses want to do that, so I may have to wait my turn. I'm okay with that though, I'll wait as long as it takes to be part of that miracle every day. I think that only another mother can truely understand what that mom in that bed is going through and what comforts and reassurances she needs and what it truely means to hold your baby for the first time. I want to be that for them.

andeam · Apr 26, 2009

While I'm not over 24, I am 21 and married and fully independent from my parents. It is definetly a lot different. In my opinion, when you are older and "wiser" per say, you are generally paying for your own school, hence you will really try harder because it would really suck to waste that much money. When my mom was in LPN school, she had an 79 year old class mate that made it through to the end with the young ones!!!