new here...38 years old, just finished first year of college!

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Hello everyone! First I would like to say how happy I am to have found a site dedicated to current and future nurses! Here's my story...I did everything rather backwards. I got married at 24 years old, and am still currently married to a very supportive husband. I have 4 children, and I was a cake decorater for 10 years. Then, I lost my dear dad to emphazema 5 years ago, and then unexpectedly lost my dear mom 2 years ago. Her death really hit me hard, we were EXTREMELY close and her death was very unexpected. She passed away the morning I was discharged from the hospital from having my last child :( Anyway, although I have a great husband and great kids I felt very alone in the world and realized that I needed to do something with my life. I decided at 37 years old to enter college and go for my bacholers degree in nursing. I've just finished my first year of college and I did very well. I received a 4.0 both semesters and was just asked to join the honor's program(haven't decided to join or not). I will not graduate until I am 42 years old and I'm afraid that no place will want to hire an older nurse. I worry about this a lot, I don't want to exceed in college just to find out that nobody will hire me...Okay, so that's my story :)

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Congratulations on going back! So sorry for your losses :-(

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I'm so sorry to hear about your losses. Life can be so unexpected. At the same time, congratulations on your accomplishment. I think that your personal experiences will help you to be a more sympathetic nurse who can relate to their patients. And as far as your ages goes, I think nursing is one of the few careers where age is not a factor. Good luck.

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keep doing what u are doing...........you will find a job when u graduate....

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Specializes in Critical Care, Postpartum.

I want to congratulate you on doing well in school. I would encourage you to join the Honors Society .

As far as age, that is the beauty about the healthcare field, age isn't a priority. I'm in an accelerated BSN program and age ranges from 23-45+. As long as you are able to function mentally and physically, you can aspire to be a nurse at any age. I'll be starting my nursing career at the age of 30 (which is still young) and I can still put in at least 25 years into the profession if I want. So, no more focusing on age!

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My condolences for you loss, that must have been incredibly hard. :(

I'm 38 as well...and going back to school for a career change into nursing. I've had those reservations, but in my former life as a coffee house owner, I had many customers who were in the nursing program and many of those were older than us, or our age, also starting anew after another career, or being a SAHM. All of those students got jobs after graduation. I don't think the healthcare industry is as biased on age as other career fields may be. As long as you can do your job, physically and mentally, I think age is not really a barrier. If you look at it this way, being in our early forties when we're done with school, we still have plenty of years (over 20 perhaps) until retiring! After all, 40 is the new 30, right? :cool:

Best of luck!

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Hi. I just thought hearing from me may be a huge boost to you. I decided after working as a unit clerk part time for 10 years (I was a stay at home mom who homeschooled) to go back to school. The place I worked at closed down. I decided to go back for nursing. I am 50 and after 2 years at ccp I have a 3.85 gpa and have been accepted to Aria school of nursing. I will be going and I have the same concerns as you, but with an added 10+ years! Bottom line is - I have a heart to help people celebrate their lives the best I can. If one place doesn't hire me, it's their loss - I'll move onto the next and that place will have an excellent, caring, mature nurse as a result!:redbeathe:redbeathe:nurse:

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congratulations on a successful first year! Don't worry about age - its just a number. I was a CPA for 20 years and now, at age 45, have just been accepted to nursing school. You obviously are a great student so I'm sure you'll do just fine in nursing school. And don't worry about your age as far as getting a job - for one thing its illegal to discriminate based on age. Also, many employers prefer more mature employees who are committed, focused and not afraid to work hard. Often in our younger years, we are not so strong in these areas but we develop them through our life experience. If you are physically able and competent, you will find a job. Good Luck!

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