TOO Old??? 41 1/2 years old

donsterRN, ASN, BSN · Apr 1, 2007

I'm going to be 51 at graduation. In this business, ain't no such thing as "too old"...!

persistence23 · Apr 8, 2007

Hey Chubby,

Although I'm not a nurse at this moment, But would like to tell you to pursue your dream on becoming a nurse, and do not let money the real motive on not pursuing your dream.

First of all, since you do not have any college experience, you need to make a visit to a college. Once you get there, this where you will get all the information that you need to begin your educational career. It might be a little intimidating at first, but you'll feel that you belong there once you've settled.

On the money issue, there are lots of people out there that attends college due to financial aid. There are some money that will be payed back to the institution once you're graduated, depending on your financial need you might get grants from the state, which does not need to be payed back.

much success to you, do your research, and ask lots of questions.

Persistence 23

Sheri257 · Apr 8, 2007

I don't know why we keep getting these threads about being too old.

I started at 42 and got my license at 46 so ...

No.

:typing

GeekyRN · Apr 8, 2007

I was > 40 when I go my RN. It wasn't easy because I hadn't been used to social positions where I touched people. But it depends on what you did before how easy you'll adjust. But it's definitely doable and if you want to do it, than go for it!

GeekyRN · Apr 8, 2007

PS - one thing I will tell you is to go the LPN route or at least the ASN route at a community college. (if you then want o go on and get your BSN let someone help you with the tuition in the form of an employer)

I got an ASN at a community college and came out with a total nursing school cost of

So now I'm in an MS program , and as said, my employer picks up some of the tab.

purplemania, BSN, RN · Apr 8, 2007

I was 45 when I started my pre-reqs then graduated at 48 with ADN. Later I got BSN and MSN. Definitely worth it to me. The time will pass anyway. You might as well be doing what you like.

KYCNM · Apr 8, 2007

Your first step should be to look at the programs in your area. Consider how long you want to be in school. ASN (2 year) vs BSN (4 year). Remember so many ASN programs have long waiting lists (as do BSN programs) but both may have courses you can take (pre-requisites and electives) while waiting to get in the program. Next find a program that looks like it meets your needs. I would not go to a large state university if I was anxious or intimidated. Look for a program that has smaller groups/classes of students. You probably wouldn't feel comfortable in a lecture hall with 150 students.

Once you have your program chosen, make an appointment with an academic advisor. Some admit students directly to the nursing program and have academic advisors that advise only nursing students; others do not admit students until pre-requisite courses are complete and have advisors that guide you until you are admitted to nursing.

As to finances, there are many scholarships that go unused each year. There may be a financial advisor at the program who can give you additional advice.

I went back to school at 48 to become a nurse midwife. I took my boards after my 50th birthday. As the others have said, you can do what you set your mind to do. Good luck :nurse:

hlfpnt, BSN, RN · Apr 16, 2007

Hello everyone,
I am soon to be 42 years old, April 2007. I am interested in becoming a Registered Nurse...Should I forget about that dream because of my age?
chiari

I graduated at 42, the longer you think about doing it the more time goes by...follow your dreams & GO FOR IT!!!!! Good luck to you!!! :)

gt4everpn, BSN, RN · Apr 16, 2007

OLD, YOU'RE STILL YOUNG 41, IM 18 AND THATS NOT OLD TO ME

LET NOTHING STOP YOU, NOT EVEN YOUR YEARS ON EARTH

I SAY GO FOR IT GO

GOOD LUCK FROM ONE NURSE TO ANOTHER:nurse:

nursemike, ASN, RN · Apr 17, 2007

My advice to anyone who wonders if they are too old is: Yes, you're too old. You should wait until you get younger.

Being a mature student has it's cons, but it has a whole bunch of pros. It's tough to juggle the other commitments we usually have with the large amount of time school requires. You have to learn to cultivate your resouces carefully. By resources, I mean anything that keeps you going: money, sleep, time, health. You'll be spending all of those, but you want to be careful not to run out of them.

If you already know where you want to go to school, you can start with a visit to their admissions office. They can explain the admissions process and give you a copy of FAFSA, a financial aid application. Fill it out ASAP. It's your key to nearly all forms off financial aid, including Pell grants and student loans. Grants are tough to qualify for if you have a decent household income. Loans are easier to get. I took the maximum loan amount available, but you have the option to take less. My thinking was it would be easier to give some back than to ask for more. Not everyone is comfortable with the idea of having loans to pay back, but I get my loan payment deducted from my bank account automatically--it's 178/month on a 15000 debt, and I don't even miss it. (Getting my RN doubled my hourly wage from my orderly job, and since I can work more hours now that I'm out of school, I tripled my annual income.) Even after you've covered tuition and books, a few extra bucks for unexpected expenses is worth having.

I'm a big believer in ASN/ADN programs. Community colleges are often less expensive, and two years is less than four years. I do plan to go back for a BSN, eventually, but an ASN gets you started, and getting started is the biggest hurdle. Also, if you have to work during school, a job in healthcare is a definite plus. My facility offered tuition assistance after you worked there one year, and my manager was very helpful with scheduling around classes. I'd actually worked there awhile before deciding to go to nursing school, but most places look upon hiring nursing students as a good way to recruit nurses. It doesn't make finding a job automatic, but it surely helps.

(Nurse's aide is probably the best job to prepare for nursing, but my job, transporting pts around the hospital, wasn't bad. Even a unit clerk position would be some exposure--in fact, since a lot of nursing is about paperwork, a clerk's job might be a great way to learn about that end of it. I'm always bugging our clerks to print computer-generated forms and such...)

Waitlists for CCs can be a problem, but also an opportunity to get some of your support classes out of the way. Most financial aid requires you to be a full-time student (12 semester-hours, or equivalent) so you can't get too many hours out of the way, but I'd have hated to carry more than 12 during the nursing program. Also, if you can swing the tuition to take one or two classes on your own, as a part-time student, it's a good way to get your feet wet. I started by taking my required English classes in summer school. It's a subject that always came easily to me, so I didn't have to strain my brain a lot, but the workload was intense enough to challenge me a bit, since each summer session was only five weeks long. Enrollment for summer school was also simpler, and it was a good way to learn my way around campus.

I don't know about everywhere, but at my school, any dealings with the administration were best accomplished face-to-face. Phone calls tend to get forgotten, and letters are slow. An initial letter for an admissions packet is okay, but after that it's best to go see someone in person.

HikingNinja, BSN, MSN, DNP, RN, APRN, NP · Apr 17, 2007

My mom went back for her very first degree when she was in her late forties. I myself am 34 and returning to school. TOO OLD DOES NOT EXIST!!!! You are never to old to learn and grow as a person. Go for it!!!

NPs4health · Apr 19, 2007

I know two people that started working as nurses when they were 50. they are both excellent nurses and bring with them lots of knowledge and experience. And just because they look older, many of the patients respect them and many actually assume that they have been nurses for a long time. Age is to your advantage on this part. The only thing may be the physical labor of lifting patients and bending and standing may be tiring.