I am 51 and I am currently pursuing my BSN. However, I have not trecieved mush encouragement from my colleagues and peers. They seem to think I am too old. I was raised to believe one is never too old for education but I am beuing told I am wasting my time as it is not going to benefit men career wise and these naysayers don't see it as useful personally.
I intend to work as long as my mind and body will allow me and since I come from hardy stock, am physically fit and don't look my age AND can hold my own in ICU/CCU I say I have another 19 or 20 yrs to contribute and to learn.
Looking for different input, opinions and beliefs on this. What do you think????
Age will give you wisdom with your life experiences. You do not need to be perfect student. Do you know what type of nursing you would like to practice?
I also just finished my BSN about 8 months ago. It has opened a few doors already that would have been closed had I not had the degree. I think about an MSN but financially it is not beneficial at this time for me to have a Masters and honestly I believe Education is the only thing I would want a MSN in and I think that would be limiting to a degree. What are your thoughts/insights? Convince me, Please!
I also just finished my BSN about 8 months ago. It has opened a few doors already that would have been closed had I not had the degree. I think about an MSN but financially it is not beneficial at this time for me to have a Masters and honestly I believe Education is the only thing I would want a MSN in and I think that would be limiting to a degree. What are your thoughts/insights? Convince me, Please!
Ask yourself a few questions to help clarify your goals ... like, why do you want an MSN? Why in education? Do you want to teach nursing? Have you asked some of the faculty at your school or other schools what they recommend? You may have a variety of master degree options to teach nursing to undergraduates, such as a master's from a school of education, rather than a nursing degree. Is paying for the MSN the financial barrier? Look into your state nursing schools that may be in your area for programs. State schools usually have top notch nursing programs, and if you are a resident, tuition is very reasonable. Find out if your state or local nursing schools have a financial incentive to educate future nursing educators. There is a dire shortage of them and there may be funds for nurses to get an advanced degree which would allow them to teach.
I recently took a local university course where I was 45 years old and everyone else in the class was 18-20 years old. I only needed the one course so I dealt with it. Other than my personal discomfort, there were no problems from others.
However, if you are in a position to advise anyone on this subject, I strongly encourage you to tell them that there are schools that cater specifically to "adult learners" or "mid career professionals". We really have some very different things to discuss due to being at very different stages of life. One example is Walden U: http://www.waldenu.edu/c/Schools/Schools_7447.htm. If you have not completed your BSN yet, then consider their RN to MSN program and bypass the BSN altogether! They are accredited and affordable in my opinion.
i know the feeling, there is an agism attitude about. ignore it .............it's the opinions of the ignorant who have blinkers on about learning. what about lifelong learning. we learn 'till the day we die.i did my bachelor of arts (hons) and qualified at 51 years. i am now ...... older and am finishing my masters in adult ed. always remember
[color=#454545]"no one can make you feel inferior without your consent"
[color=#454545]eleanor roosevelt[color=#454545], 'this is my story,' 1937
I teach in a BSN program, and I greatly enjoy older students. My oldest students have been in their 50s. Motivated, mature, -- what more could an instructor ask for?
I teach in a BSN program, and I greatly enjoy older students. My oldest students have been in their 50s. Motivated, mature, -- what more could an instructor ask for?
Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.
This gives me hope for my own future! I'm an ADN in my late forties who's never felt any real need or desire to go back to college, as I've done quite a bit with my degree and am content with my position in life........except I WOULD love to teach nursing! I was a substitute clinical instructor for my alma mater a while back, and loved every minute of it; the next year they began to require the BSN, at minimum, for any type of faculty position, so I couldn't continue. But I think if I were ever to want something different from the job I have now, I'd go for the MSN so I could teach. This thread makes me think it might even be worth it............I was thinking I'm too old, but who knows, maybe I'll start chipping away at a master's one of these days.
Now, if I can just screw up enough courage to face statistics and organic chem.............:mortarboard:
This gives me hope for my own future! I'm an ADN in my late forties who's never felt any real need or desire to go back to college, as I've done quite a bit with my degree and am content with my position in life........except I WOULD love to teach nursing! I was a substitute clinical instructor for my alma mater a while back, and loved every minute of it; the next year they began to require the BSN, at minimum, for any type of faculty position, so I couldn't continue. But I think if I were ever to want something different from the job I have now, I'd go for the MSN so I could teach. This thread makes me think it might even be worth it............I was thinking I'm too old, but who knows, maybe I'll start chipping away at a master's one of these days.
Now, if I can just screw up enough courage to face statistics and organic chem.............:mortarboard:
You can do it! Once you've taken the stats course, it's over with ... Your future students need you!!!! Besides that you will have great job security, without the stress of staff nursing!!!! Teaching could be a great "retirement" job for experienced nurses like yourself who love teaching and passing on your knowledge to a new generation.
Specializes in Midwifery, Case Management, Addictions.
MJLRN97, noted that you are a Chargers Fan and couldn't help but wonder if you are in San Diego. I returned to San Diego in 2002 and my name is also Marla. (Not a lot of us around!) I graduated from my ASN program in 1976, now finishing up a BS in another field, then going on to MSN in Education with plans to follow up with a post-MSN NP cert.
:yeahthat: :loveya:
Ginger's Mom, MSN, RN
3,181 Posts
Age will give you wisdom with your life experiences. You do not need to be perfect student. Do you know what type of nursing you would like to practice?