My friend needs guidance from an RN preferably in middle of life w/ responsibilities

Nurses Career Support

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Hello amazing people!

I am looking for support for you extremely supportive people. I just got accepted into nursing school woohoo!

However, my friend is thinking about nursing school but isn't too sure. I keep telling her she can do it, but its based on my research on all nurses.com. Its not coming from my own experience. I'm a single 29 year old guy aka not too many responsibilities. My friend is middle aged not married but has to take care of her sick parents. She will probably have to work full time. There's a program in my city (Philadelphia) designed for adults and its "Part-time" but even still the counselors recommend not working. Being single I can get away with working minimally while going to school. She needs someone to inspire her and guide her through. She has many valid concerns such as getting hired as an older person. She says I will be a better prospect for a hospital because I can work long term compared to herself. I didn't really have much to say after she said this. She totally got me. If you're the one to help my friend please pm me your email address and we can then converse over email. Thanks much!

My name is Phil.

Peace

Edit: O yes. To make matters worse english is her second language, though for many people with english as their second language she is probably better than most. She's taken college course Esol (I think that is what its called. Its like english 101 but for foreigners.)

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Specializes in Certified Med/Surg tele, and other stuff.

How old is she? There are many people that enter nursing in their later 30/40's and get hired. I have seen nurses even in their 50's be hired right out of school. There are pluses to these workers. Being older, many are more responsible and most likely going to get onto a floor and stay there, or a SNF.

Has she ever worked in the healthcare field? Maybe she should be a CNA and try healthcare to see if she likes it.

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Yes! That's what she was thinking. She was going try to work in health field as a technician first. But I can't tell her you wrote this, bc I've told her what you just said but she just kind of shrugs it off. She needs someone with first hand experience to talk to her directly. Can the three of us all talk over email?

I never asked her age but she's probably at least 40.

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Specializes in SNU/SNF/MedSurg, SPCU Ortho/Neuro/Spine.

Nurse, as my second degree, English as my 3rd language LOL some times the three f them come out on the same sentence! An alcoholic uncle and a needy dad, 2 dogs, and my own issues, I managed it just fine! The sky is the limit.... Just like the song says!

Ps. Never in the health field before, ditched med school for business and marketing on my first career go figure!

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You guys are so inspiring! Every time I go on this website I swear I get re-inspired into nursing and get excited about it all over again.

I'm just going to send her a link to this thread so she knows I'm not making this up lol. Please post more if you can relate to my friend.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

Have her join AN and let her see for herself!!!

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I know you want the best for your friend but she has some legitimate and very powerful reasons for not wanting to do this right now. A lot of responsibilities, a lot at stake. Taking care of ailing parents is a full time responsibility, and on top of that she has to work full time. Where would she find the time or money to go to nursing school?

The world looks different at her age than it does at 29. At your age you have more freedom to take chances and make mistakes and then pull yourself back up again and go on. When you are older you have to weigh the pros and cons; it's not possible at that age to just up and follow your dreams, because there is a lot to lose.

And in terms of family and finances her back is up against a wall right now.

My suggestion is that you go to nursing school and hold onto your friendship with her, and allow her to see what it's like, and maybe by watching the process you go through she will truly be inspired to follow in your footsteps.

Well. I can give you one piece of inspiration and that is that age is not such a huge problem. I was over 40 when I started out in this profession, and some of my fellow students were over 50. Maybe further on down the line she will have space in her life to do this. So there really is no urgency right now.

Just keep doing what you're doing and maybe further on down the line she will want to do it also.

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Specializes in ER.

I have to agree with Mazy. You have to have a passion for nursing at any age. School is intense, and not to be taken lightly. I agree that working as a CNA can be extremely helpful, both from an experience standpoint, and so she will know what she may be getting into. Continue to be her friend, but don't try to pressure her into something only she can decide. Good luck to both of you.

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Specializes in geriatrics.

I finished my BSN at 36. I lived on my own and worked through school. I also completed a year of prerequ's, so altogether, it was 5 years. Was it worth it? Yes. However, I would caution her about taking out expensive loans. Some of your schools are ridiculous. Realistically, you don't want to be 40 and paying loans for 12 years. That's something to consider.

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Thanks. Right now I enrolled at Lasalle's Achieve program which is 35k TOTAL for 2.5 years of nursing school. This is much more doable wouldn't you say???

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