oldest nursing student?

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Hi everyone.I was a nursing student twice , had a 4.0,dropped out to take care of seriously ill children and would like to go back.Problem is that I am now a 55 year old grandmother of eight. I don't want to be unrealistic, but I still want to be a nurse so badly!!

You go girl!

Life is short - don't live with regrets...

Nope, I agree - student at age 52 - welcome to the group of "older and wiser"! If we can do it, so can you.

I am in my late 40s and into my second semester. Some classmates are in their 50s and 60s. You have nothing to lose. Go for it!

Dialunda

I am 54, shortly to become an official "senior citizen" at 55 (and start the senior discount train :). When I am scheduled to graduate I will have been 56 for a month or two.

Who knows what's next??

NurseFirst

Hi all! I'm a 58 year old, burned out real estate broker of over 20 years who has been traded in twice by husbands wanting newer, sleeker models. Have been married this time for 12 years... so far so good ... as well as I can tell.

Have wanted to be a nurse since I was 3 or 4. Last week I finally started my first steps to a late life nursing career. The only opportunity for me right now is the CNA, to LPN, to ADN route. I just completed my first week of CNA/Home Health Aid classes. They weren't as simple as I thought they would be, but thats probably because the school that I am attending uses them as a first step to their LPN program.

The last class that I took was over 38 years ago, so this past week was definately brain strain. I made it through the week, surviving my one hour trip to and from the school parking lot, the eight block walk from parking to school and the four flights of stairs to my class. I'm not a night owl, so I get up at 3:45 AM and study till 10:30 AM, then get dressed, have lunch and travel an hour to my 4 hour class. I'll certainly be in shape for 12 hour shifts when the time comes.

It hasn't been an easy week. My brain hasn't been exercised this much for decades, but it was interesting, stimulating, the other students accepted me fine, the instructor is great, the volume of material we are covering is a little overwhelming, but I made it fine.

We'll all be fine. We might have to study a little harder in the beginning, but it will come easier as our brains limber up an become more accustomed to absorbing again. Think how much better shape our brains will be in, than our age counter-parts who haven't learned anything new since they were 25... let alone the stamina that we will develop working 12 hour shifts into our 60's and 70's. :rotfl: Don't know why they are all so worried about Social Security. I don't know many who can, or want to retire.

Just like we led the Baby Boomers into the 1960s, we are the "new breed of seniors"! Look out world, we're still coming on ... and we're coming strong! What we didn't get to do in the last 50 years, we'll do in the next 50. If you are like me, we'll all die trying to accomplish all that we can do and be!

I just stopped by to peek in, but can't stay. I have a ton of homework. If I can do this, you can do this, and I know that I can and will! So will you! God bless us all! :chuckle

Hello: This is my first time here and I wanted to say hello to everyone, I must say that after reading your post gave me a boost. I am 52 myself and I am interested in the 2 year RN Program. Anyone has any advice?

Thank You Everyone!

I went to a two year RN program and thought it was the way to go. We were able to get the sciences and other general ED classes done before the nursing classes. For those that want to pursue their BSN, it can be done after. There are also LPN to RN programs that may interest you. There are tons of job opportunities out there for an ADN. The NCLEX exam is the same. To me the ADN, 2 year program was more intense, in that you had 5 semesters, one being in the summer, and you didn't have long holiday breaks.

Good luck!

Hi, I started at my local technical school for the LPN program with the intent to go from LPN to RN, I will finish in June. Being older has its advantages, as I believe we look at things a bit differently. I wish you the best of luck.

I went to a two year RN program and thought it was the way to go. We were able to get the sciences and other general ED classes done before the nursing classes. For those that want to pursue their BSN, it can be done after. There are also LPN to RN programs that may interest you. There are tons of job opportunities out there for an ADN. The NCLEX exam is the same. To me the ADN, 2 year program was more intense, in that you had 5 semesters, one being in the summer, and you didn't have long holiday breaks.

Good luck!

Hi everyone.I was a nursing student twice , had a 4.0,dropped out to take care of seriously ill children and would like to go back.Problem is that I am now a 55 year old grandmother of eight. I don't want to be unrealistic, but I still want to be a nurse so badly!!

Hi again everyone. I orginally posted this and just wanted to update and tell you how much I have enjoyed all the responses. I still have not decided what to do about going back to school as I have been thrown a "curve ball". Will be having some tests done this week and seeing a surgeon next week for possible breast cancer. I am hopeful, but at the same time, ready to take on whatever happens and fight like heck ! Will deal with this and think about nursing again.Wish me luck !

My thoughts and prayers are with you

You can do it! The eldest member of our class is in her late 60s. She said that when she was younger she wanted to be a nurse. She married at 18 had her first baby at 19 and was unable to persue her dream. Now, 6 kids and 3 grandkids later she's finally going after her dreams.

:chair: i have a phobia of math ,but yet i would like to be an lvn.i'm not good in math,and in nursing you have to be good in math.i'm 35 and everyone like my mom would tell me i'm too old to go to school again!I get mad when she tells me that.my husband is supporting me. i'm just debating on the quickest route .private vocational schools which are hard i heard.or the long community college route and wait on a two year wait list?

grammyd, hope and pray all turns out OK with your health. Regarding school, I say do what you want to do and don't ever let age be a factor. There will always be somebody younger and somebody older doing what you want to do so just GO FOR IT and have a blast!

Lots of people regret not chasing a dream, few regret chasing one.

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