Newbie student at 50

**NICU Guy, BSN, RN** · Dec 29, 2014

Every job has it's negative aspects. If you go find an accountants message board, I am sure you will find many venting about coworkers and clients. It is universal in every profession, nursing is no different. Nursing has numerous different areas that you can specialize in, you need to find an area that you are passionate about. That helps make the bad times a little more tolerable.

rntobe1121 · Dec 29, 2014

I truly believe it is what YOU make it.....who cares what anyone else thinks. Nurses started in that profession for a reason....a feeling....and they just knew that that's what they wanted to do with their life. If you truly feel like that is where you can see yourself, than by all means push through your negative thoughts and focus on the reasons you do see yourself doing it. Age isn't anything but a number, and some of the best nurses I know are older than 50. I was in nursing school with a woman who was in her 50's.....brightest one in the class and was an absolute doll. Don't give up on something if you really want it-prove anyone that has an opinion about it wrong...because in the end it just comes down to YOU and YOUR patients!!!

Summers3 · Dec 29, 2014

Do not let age scare you at all! Fear and doubt about starting something completely new/different is scary to ABSOLUTELY EVERYONE. Nursing, just like any other job/experience, is really what you make it out to be. Please know that with everything, there will be hard times but good times just like everything else. So really, persevere through it and before you know it, you'll be a nurse! :)

Best of luck a nd believein yourself!

NurseGirl525, ASN, RN · Dec 29, 2014

I wouldn't necessarily worry about the intellectual aspect as much as can you physically handle it. I thought at 37 I would be the oldest in my class, but far from it. I just turned 39 last week and did my first round of clinical rotations this past semester. It is hard and demanding work. We would have 12 hour clinical days on Thursdays and on Fridays I was beat. I was so glad there was not class on Fridays. At 38, a twelve hour day is not the same as a 12 hour day when I was 25.

Lots of people will say age is only a number, which is true. I know of people about 60 who have done it. Just be mindful there are going to be challenges and make sure you are ready for them.

LoriRNCM, ADN, ASN, RN · Dec 29, 2014

I graduate in May at age 51. My worries have gone from not fitting in at school (which didn't happen, btw) to age discrimination at hiring. It happens, even though I can pull my own weight and then some physically. (As a CNA you learn whether you can handle the physicality of this field). There are several older people who have graduated from my program and don't have trouble finding jobs around here, so I am keeping my fingers crossed.

caliotter3 · Dec 29, 2014

At fifty years of age, there is nothing we can tell you that you don't already know. If this is something that you want to do, then go ahead and do it. If you talk yourself out of it, then ten years from now you may be regretting that decision just as easily as regretting the decision to go into nursing. It's your call. Good luck.

hockey24 · Dec 30, 2014

I started nursing school at age 50 and will be graduating in June at the young age of 52! I too was worried about my decision to attend nursing school, but I was more afraid of NOT attending nursing school. I couldn't live with not at least trying, and it was the best thing that has happened to me. Yes it is hard, and I have little or no time for myself or my family, but I love it. Younger students in the nursing classes behind me seek me out as their mentor and I take great pride in being able to guide them through the ups and downs of nursing school. I have no doubt you will be great.

sch-64 · Dec 30, 2014

Thanks everyone for the comments. I appreciate them. I go through days of excitement about starting school and then I start second guessing myself. I think I have read way too many negative comments and of course it starts me thinking....should I really do this? Am I too old? Will I ever get out of debt I'm going in to get through school? I don't know why after all these years that I've decided I want to try nursing. I think because I was hospitalized several times and just watched the nurses. My grandmother died two years ago and I stayed with her for the last two weeks of her life. It was just me and the hospice nurse most of the time. I don't know if that's why I'm gravitating towards that career or not. I have 2 weeks to make up my mind for sure if I'm going to do this. I'm just very scared.

allnurses Guide · Dec 30, 2014

It's tough to get into nursing school, so obviously the school thinks you can do it! I've had a lot of older students (including in thier 70s). They actually do better because of their age and experience.

Every single student in your cohort is scared about one thing or another. This is where we come to vent about lousy days; I've started positive threads, but they die out because, well they just aren't that interesting. People love to kibitz, offer advice, feel superior, or just share misery.

I love nursing, enough that I went back in my 40s to do a masters in nursing ed. Still work bedside, and teach on the side.

tnicnat · Dec 31, 2014

DO NOT second guess yourself, I will be 54 when I graduate, my goal was to graduate and be an RN by the time I was 55. Age has never stopped me form anything. I still plan on specializing getting my PCCN after working for a year, the education never stops. You have life experience, I don't feel the need to go hang out of have other things to do when I have to study. I remember those days when I went to college when I was younger. If I can do it so can you!!!

anime09 · Dec 31, 2014

Sch-64, I am here to tell you that you are not alone in the fifties age range. I am 54 years old and is in my last semester of a BSN program that runs 8-weeks sessions. Rigorous, but doable. I will tell you to get going and forget age. It truly means nothing in the grand scheme of things and you have made the right choice. Step out in faith and do it.