Nursing School! Am I doomed?

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I'm a 32 year old pre-nursing student with a 3.3 GPA based on 51 credit hours. After working as a CNA off and on for years, I finally decided to bite the bullet and pursue a RN license. I need to get into a nursing program no later than next fall as I am running out of pre-BSN classes to take. I'm concerned that my age and GPA will prevent me from being accepted into a 4 year BSN program. If I go the ADN route, it will take me an additional year to get a BSN (i'll be 36!). I'm taking the TEAS after the holiday break and plan to apply to UNCG, WSSU, NCCU, WCU as well as Forsyth Tech. All NC programs. What are my chances of being admitted based on GPA alone? If denied admission, what are some good alternatives to nursing?

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

Age will have nothing to do with it. I was 38 and the oldest in my class was 53. Schools don't care. Your GPA is respectable.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

Moved to the Pre-Nursing Student forum for more replies.

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I would first contact each of those schools and see the steps needed in order to make application to their BSN programs!

NCCU has a bridge stage every fall! You take certain nursing courses and in one of those courses you take the teas. They won't accept a teas taken anywhere else but in that course! During the bridge stage you make application for the actuarial nursing program. From memory they take into consideration your overral g.p.a, bridge g.p.a, Bridge professor recommendations, and teas scores!

Basically every school is differnt And you should contact each one!

Also your age does not matter! Continue to follow your dream and go after it however you may need to!

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On what planet is 36 old?

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
On what planet is 36 old?
I am in my mid-thirties, but many people see that as an older age range.

This reminds me of a job interview I had back when I was 28. One of the interviewers asked a few illegal questions regarding my age range and "where I am from."

She said, "You are older. Why did you become a nurse?" I replied that I was not older.

She responded, "I am 38 and became a nurse at 22. You, on the other hand, became a nurse at 25. So why did you become a nurse at an older age?"

I was offered the position, but did not accept it. The woman who interviewed me would have been one of my nurse managers. The thought of working under her made me feel somewhat leery.

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I've had 50 year olds in my nursing program with kids. 36 is not old. If it happens that you go the ADN route..listen its not the end of the world. Just get the license and sign in for a BSN program online for the next semester easy peasy. I've been in both BSN and ASN..personally I preferred my ASN.

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It may take longer to get the BSN if you do the ADN to BSN route, but you get to spend some of that extra time actually working as a nurse. I personally loved my ADN program, and wouldn't go back and change from ADN to BSN, even if I had that chance.

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Specializes in Hospitalist Medicine.

I was in my 40s when I went to nursing school. I chose to do the ADN and then bridge to BSN because I could start working as a nurse sooner and gain valuable experience while completing the BSN. It was well worth it. I did take me all of 9 months longer to complete, which is a drop in the bucket time-wise.

Your GPA is what will matter for admission to nursing programs. Your age is not a factor (that would be discriminatory).

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Don't even worry about how old you'll be because you'll be that age whether you have your RN or not. So just do what works best for you. And 36 is no where near being old. I just applied to start my local ADN program next year and I'll be 40 when I start. I'll be 41 or 42 when I finish depending on which semester they start me in. I still couldn't be any more excited that I finally get to do this! :)

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I'll be 40 when I graduate. I'm taking the BSN route because that's what the demand in this area is for.

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Specializes in Neuro.

If you do the ADN route, yes it'll take a little longer, but, you're employer may actually help you pay to get your BSN while already working (and earning) as a nurse. Don't give up on nursing so quickly if it's what you really want to do. I've seen many a nurse here on AN start as CNAs, LPNs, ADNs before they bridged to their BSN programs (and eventually higher degrees). Getting an ADN first is not a bad thing, I do understand in many places BSN is the demand, but going the ADN route first is not a negative thing and usually cheaper. I do really hope you get into your BSN program, but, if you don't, please don't drop nursing because *gasp* you have to go the way of the ADN. I'm 32 as well and have not started nursing school, we're still young, we aren't 22 anymore, but, we also aren't ready to retire anytime soon. Good luck, stick with it whatever it takes.

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