Please be honest...

[shellntx]

I'm new to this site, so I don't know if this has been discussed before or not. I'm thirty years old, and I have wanted to get into the Nursing field since I graduated from High School. For mostly financial reasons, I put off college until last year. I will be eligible to start a two year program this fall, but I've been wondering if I'm too old to start this type of career.

I guess I wonder if I will be able to be of use to others long enough for it to be worth all of the trials and tribulations of nursing school. I appreciate any advice.

[Xenia]

I'm getting together with an advisor at UNMC in Omaha, NE to see what I have to do to get into the Nursing career. I am 32 almost 33 and I feel great making the decision to go back to school and start my journey's to a new career. I'm sure there will be prerequisites and such but I'm willing to work hard at it to get where I need to be. YOU GO FOR IT.. Don't wait until you are old to wonder WHAT IF?? Whenever you get down you look towards the future and see what your life and those that you will help will be like. :) Always have a possitive outlook on everything. And always remember that you will always have someone that will feed you negativity.. Don't listen to it.. :)

Lots of Luck!!!

Mrs. Xenia Mullen

[nate]

I'm currently 25 yrs old. By the time I finish my pre req's I'll be 28 and applying for the nursing program. Go for it's never to late.

[BarbaraC]

I am 45 going on 46 and am considering a mid-career change into nursing. I will have to take some refresher courses since my chemisty and physiology are 20 years out of date, so that will add a year to the process.

You're not too old!! If it is your dream, then go after it.

BarbaraC

[susanmary]

You write you've wanted to be a nurse for many years -- try to job shadow nurses in different roles to see what nurses really do (rather than the "image" of nursing.) There are many opportunities out there in nursing. You are a great age to start your nursing career. I graduated from nursing school in my late late late 30's -- it was the PERFECT time for me & I still don't feel old or consider myself old (but sometimes my feet do.) Go for it -- try to job shadow first. Take a prereq course to get your feet wet. And if you do decide to go to nursing school -- surround yourself with supportive classmates & stay away from the terminally negative ones. Do if for you -- follow your dreams.

[lncmitch]

I don't think you are ever to old to do anything. As a matter of fact I think that the older the better. It seems as if the older students going into nursing are doing it for the right reasons. I went into nursing straight out of high school to a BSN program...I was born to be a nurse. However, I don't notice this type of commentment very much among the youngsters going into nursing. As a matter of fact I have a young friend that I am trying to talk out of going into nursing...she would just mess the field up more so than it is now...She says she has no intention of taking care of any sick people...she just wants to go into nursing because of the flexible hours, steady source of income and because you "can do so many different things with it" She may have the brains for it..but there ain't no heart and you gotta have a whole lotta heart to be a nurse.....

[Future RN in WA]

Shell,

Don't ever think you are too old. I am 33 (almost 34) and am starting the program this fall. I will be 36 when I am done, but it is worth it. This decision has changed everything for me. Most of all I am working toward my goals and there is no feeling in the world that is quite like this one.

GO FOR IT! And enjoy every minute.

[SmilingBluEyes]

Graduated in 1997 at 34.......hey i would have been 34 whether i went to school or not...i prefered to be 34 AND have my RN degree. Look at it that way. You will get older...do you want to be older AND an RN or just be older? WHAT'S STOPPING YOU????? don't be afraid, go for it!

[Brita01]

Hi shellntx. I'm 34 and an LPN. I need to start taking prerequisites for the RN program, get into the RN program, find a boyfriend, get married, AND have kids. Hmmm....how much time do I have again?

[Love-A-Nurse]

shell, you aren't too old to be a nurse.

i was 31 when i graduated from lpn school and if it is the lord's will, i will graduate from rn school at the age of 43. all the best to you and as always, keep the faith!

[dstudent]

Hi Shell,

I'm a nursing student in New Zealand and started last year at the age of 30 and our programme here runs for three years to become a registered nurse and four years if you wish to specialise in a specific field.

I also had an issue only withmyself thinking that I was too old to go back and it turned out that 30 was the average age at the uni that I attend.

But don't give up because if you want it bad enough you'll get through it all.

Good luck and best wishes

Doreen

[mececil]

discipline is key to any sucess story, as you well know; remember life is going to happen it is within those that stand fast win

[cpgrn]

I started pre-req's at 36 and graduated RN at 41. You work a lot harder when your older and have some life experience to lean on. Follow your dream and don't worry about age. At 30 you're still very young for this.