35 with New Baby Taking Pre-Reqs

shoegalRN, RN · Apr 17, 2007

Hello!

You'll get a lot of support here on this site! I am 32-soon-to-be 33 in May and I'm in my first semester of nursing school. I am currently on a leave from my job in corporate america of almost 14 years and I have a 10 year old son. It took me 4 years to get my AS by taking 1-2 pre-req's at a time. By the time I graduate, I'll be 35 and my son will be 12. It's hard, but it's doable. I have a great support system and my son's father has been great!

It's never too late to go back to school! Good for you doing it while your son is still an infant because it will pay off so much in the end. He'll be about to enter pre-school or Kindergarden when you complete nursing school. You'll be so glad you did it while he was still a baby as opposed to waiting until he was in elementry school. My son is in the 5th grade and I swear it's like he's growing right before my eyes.

Good luck to you!

Agenyc · Apr 17, 2007

Congratulations on your baby!

I am having the same sort of thoughts. I don't have baby yet, but I am 34 and have finally figured out that I want nursing to be my career and that is so exciting. I'll finishe my prereqs this May, have applications in for this fall.

I have wanted to have a baby for a really long time, got married 2 yrs ago and we are now ready to try. I don't want to wait any longer, given my age. I want to be a stay at home mom for a little while, but I also want to have my own carrer, so it is all happening at the same time. It would be just great if I got my acceptance letter the day I find out that I'm pregnant. That would be two dreams come true! Well....

I think that if it is something that you really want to do, it will work out. Maybe the best way to go is a part time program so you can be with your baby and still have time to study and/ work? That might be a really good way to get it all!! :)

tencat · Apr 18, 2007

Hello! You're not alone. I was 35 with a 2 1/2 year old when I actually went to nursing school. It was well worth it, but not easy, by any means. The hard part is learning to be a 'peon' all over again not that I feel like I know enough to have any standing in nursing (I know pretty much SQUAT), but it's hard to get used to being new in a profession again. Otherwise, I'm not sorry I left my old career behind.

meownsmile, BSN, RN · Apr 18, 2007

Well first congrats on the new baby. I dont envy you your task by any means. You arent alone though. Good luck.

MiaNJ · Apr 18, 2007

Hello,
I'm 35 and got a BS degree in '93. I had a beautiful baby boy in September. I lack 4 classes until I can apply to nursing school. Will be hard. I make pretty decent money right now at what I do, but the work is not rewarding or guaranteed with the older you get.
I want to be a nurse for all sorts of reasons. I have been taking the pre-reqs here and there for about 6 years while working 55+ hours a week. So, now I'm serious because I want to be out of school by the time my son starts playing sports and stuff and getting a life of his own.
Any other new mom's or dad's out there going back to school this late in life?
alliestar

I don't have kids yet, but I recently finished a second degree accelerated BSN program, and can tell you that about 50% of the class was over 30, and many people there were moms with kids, some with school age kids. There were also several women over 40, so you are not that old to go back to school and it's not that 'late' in life to change careers. lol

The oldest in my class was 51, and it was her 2nd career change. You are never to old to follow your dreams, esp. in nursing since there are so many options.

You'd be surprised how many people are changing careers these days, or going back to school and many are over 35, or even much older.

The one thing I can recommend, if you do plan to go to a second degree Accel program, make sure you have a good support system, to help you with childcare, etc. since it's alot of coursework, and can be very stressful since it's a fast paced program. I don't have kids and found the program more intense and challenging, and time consuming (there's so many papers, group projects, etc) that I barely had time for a social life and lacked sleep many times. But with a supportive spouse, babysitter, someone to pitch in with housework, etc, you should be ok. It won't be easy though so be prepared to sacrifice alot of time.