Nursing school at 38?

eduka123 · Sep 28, 2018

Congratulations and good vibes to you for wanting to even start this rewarding journey. I apologize for the lengthy post, however when I saw your questions, it inspired me to respond, as I too felt like I was in the same boat as you when I first started.
I am currently 37 years old, just graduated with my ASN in August 2018, JUST passed my NCLEX 2 weeks ago, and JUST landed my first job in a residency w/ the ICU department, which I start in 2 weeks. I started this entire journey at 35 as a single mom, newly laid off from a dream job in the plastic surgery industry, just moved out of my boyfriends home (serious bf but not married, felt like a divorce lol,) practically broke (I had to actually move back home). If I could do it, I know you could too!!! :)
I enrolled in an accelerated program, which allowed me to complete the nursing program in 14 months. I did have to take pre-requisites, however, I was able to find an ACCREDITED private college, that had pre-requisite classes that were only 1 month long for each class. (anatomy, algebra, micro-biology, etc). I had a few college courses under my belt from when I was younger, that I was able to transfer over, so my pre-req's took me 6 months, which I completed online while working. The KEY IS TO FIND A SCHOOL THAT IS ACCREDITED (if you are not attending a state college). I say this, bc some of the Universities that offer the accelerated programs are NOT ACCREDITED by the state, meaning that your credits will not transfer to other colleges should you decide to further your education, and it is almost impossible to find a job in a hospital, as they require you to have graduated from an ACCREDITED university.
Next, yes, you will meet with an admissions counselor who will advise you on what most people have stated on your comments. You will need to take an entrance exam, that you can most certainly study for.
Nursing school, was one of the most challenging things I have ever done in my life, but it has also been the MOST rewarding. I feel that now that we are a little "seasoned" we appreciate life's gifts more than we would have when we were younger, so if you are making this decision now, you are more than likely going to be very passionate about it, and committed. (not to say others at different ages are not, but, our choices now tend to be more thought out as we have life experience under our belts). In my cohort, I was not the youngest and I was not the oldest. I believe there were 3-4 others who were in their 40's and this was their second and even third career move. I also worked in the hospital as a patient care tech, while in school and met several other nurses who were in their 40's, and made this their second career. (both men and women).
The classes in RN school are hard to explain. You will learn the Fundamentals (hands on) - actually first semester, and then move on to disease processes and specialties such as maternity, pediatrics and advanced adult health. The material is challenging, but if you put your mind to it, which you stated you are an ultra marathon runner, then I'm sure you can easily attain it. Also, in school you are honing in on your critical thinking skills and perfecting them. What I mean by this, is that not only are you learning content and material, but you are learning how to CRITICALLY THINK in emergency situations and clinical settings. School will completely change the way you intake information, process ALL OF THE facts and how you initially ACT upon situations. THAT is nursing school. You will learn priority and delegation in ALL situations pertaining to the medical field. So erase the technicalities from your mind, yes you will learn nursing procedures, however you will learn WHAT/HOW to think in situations more. It is very hard to explain, but I feel like that is the best way to sum it up. You will learn a lot about yourself during the process but from the sounds of it, you seem very focused, driven and inquisitive. (All signs of a good nurse... nurses ASK QUESTIONS and want to know the ENTIRE story before making the best clinical judgement. It's all part of assessing, which is exactly what you are doing now.)
Make the first step and get your foot on the campus and meet with an advisor. If you can find a program that is ACCELERATED and ACCREDITED, then go for it. You will be done a heck of a lot faster. Just bear in mind that these programs are private, and can be WAY more expensive and I definitely used student loans to the max. Also, working during school (specifically during the core program) is incredibly discouraged. You stated you were a stay at home mom, so I'm guessing you had a good support system which will allow you to be work free. I only worked part time and for 2 semesters. I immediately had to stop b/c for me, it was challenging. My classes were 2-3 days a week, with 1 or 2 days (depending on the semester) of clinical rotations in the hospital. (each week), So basically, you are full time with 4-5 days a week set aside for RN-ing. Not to mention, exams every week, hours upon hours of studying. I commend those who actually worked full time during school. Plus you also have 2 children that you are raising, so you will want to also set aside time for personal life and family.
In closing, NO, it is NOT TO LATE. Graduating and landing my first job as an ICU RN is something that I NEVER EVER thought I could have done. The emotions behind it, only drive you to move further and further along. You can also experience this, but first you just have to dive in. I admit that when I first started out, I may not have had a full idea of what I as getting into. I just started by doing my pre-reqs, getting into the program and then suddenly I realized this is exactly where I needed to be. You may not have all the answers, or have it planned out to the tee, but take the first step. This will propel you into a journey that will benefit you, and your family, for the rest of your lives.
Best of luck to you!!

Thank you for this amazing post. It is very inspiring to me as well as I get ready to start the ADN program in the Spring. I loved reading everything you shared and your perspective as someone who has just successfully completed the initial journey of nursing school!

Elle7745, I swear when I read your words I feel like I'm reading those of myself from 3 years ago. I know very well how you feel. Getting a GED book to study is a great idea.

Here is what I have learned: the brain is a muscle. We who are in our 30's and 40's or older and who have not been in school or been engaged in higher learning may feel that our brains are rusty and mushy and that very well may be true; however, once we DO start learning and engaging our brains in all the academic experiences and critical thinking needed for college courses - it gets easier and easier. As I wrap up my last semester of core curriculum/pre-req's, it's crazy how much easier everything is for me than it was when I first started out. My mind grasps things better, but I've also learned more about how my own brain works and how to best maximize its ability to study and retain information. That came from school itself and even the most "basic" courses like English and, yes, MATH!!, lol, have helped me strengthen the muscle that is my brain. That will happen for you too!

I am SO rooting for you and cheering you on. I think the feeling of satisfaction and contentment upon starting to study the GED book says it all. You want this and you can do it! And you seem to have a supportive family and husband and that will make a huge difference too. And yes, like you said, establishing a career for yourself doing something you love and want to do also means you will always be independent and I 100% agree that is priceless.

deeray42 · Sep 28, 2018

You are absolutely 100% right with the way you feel about "taking care of yourself" or the ability to have that independence. (Not that you would need it since you are happily married) but, I completely know where you are coming from. Having an RN degree, BSN degree or MSN is something that no one can take away from you. Once you have your RN degree and land a job with a hospital that offers tuition reimbursement, the sky is the limit. And don't worry about being intimidated w/ math and english. I too felt the same way, but that is what we have trusty youtube and google for :) You are going to use these resources for the rest of your nursing career for almost every situation/subject you encounter. The subjects you learn in nursing school will forever have you questioning your capabilities, but it is something that is going to push you to work harder and as you said, after you studied the GED book, will have you feeling accomplished and purposeful. That is exactly what is going to make this so meaningful for you and worth the while. Each minor little accomplishment seems insignificant as you are going through the motions, however, once you get to the finish line, you look back and think... wow! All of those little steps I took is what got me here today!!!

You will be surprised with what you are capable of doing once you just hit the go button. Before you know it, you have already made progress and are moving to the next step.

And I promise you, I absolutely without a doubt, know FOR SURE, that everyone in the pre-req's and in the NURSING CLASSES, will have no idea what is going on! lol!! Don't feel intimidated by the material, b/c there will be others in the class that feel the same as you. This is actually what creates the bond between you and your fellow nursing students. Also, we went from being straight A students to being happy with barely passing exams. It's all a mental game of stamina. You've made it this far, so you will definitely enjoy the road ahead!

metricloveBSN · Sep 28, 2018

Nope- never too late. You only get one life (that I am aware of) so do what you want with it. 38 is nothing. I'm 35 and applying to start nursing school next year (retaking pre-reqs now). I had a moment of "is it too late?" but I then quickly thought "what else am I going to do? Where do I want to be in five years? Still doing this or nursing?" You have PLENTY of time ahead of you, and the advantage of a mature and less restless mind. You've gotten the truely hard stuff out of the way already. Raising kids is harder than any college program or job. Edited to add: I have a 3 year old and a 4 month old.

metricloveBSN · Sep 28, 2018

I just want to tack onto this, you will likely not be able to continue your current lifestyle once you're in school and in the beginning of your nursing career. It's competitive, and nursing students have to sacrifice. Im a runner as well and have so far had to learn how to be SUPER productive with my time. Multitasking is key, and your looks will take a backseat. I haven't dyed my hair in months and I go to school without makeup, something I never would have done in my 20s. If I want to run, I take flashcards with me ha!

gpmedsec · Sep 29, 2018

I was 57 when I went to nursing school - if I did it, you can do it!

momo6boyz · Sep 29, 2018

Well I'm 43 and been a stay at home for 20 years! I have my associates already but now that my youngest ( of 6!) is 13, I'm starting this process too! I have no idea how to really start, but I'm determined to do this! Many of friends have taken this path and have told me

It's not impossible. Good luck !

Elle7745 · Sep 29, 2018

Well I'm 43 and been a stay at home for 20 years! I have my associates already but now that my youngest ( of 6!) is 13, I'm starting this process too! I have no idea how to really start, but I'm determined to do this! Many of friends have taken this path and have told me
It's not impossible. Good luck !

Good luck to you too! I have no idea how to start either! It's all so scary and exciting! At least you have your associates! What a great start!

SopranoKris, MSN, RN, NP · Sep 29, 2018

I have been a stay at home mom for 15 years. I'm almost 38 years old. I haven't been to college. I've just been raising my kids because while they've been young, I've felt that was my duty. Now, I'm having the urge to put me first. But is it too late?
Any advice? Give it to me straight and I really appreciate your comments.

No, 38 is not too late at all. I waited until my kids were grown before I went back to school to start my pre-reqs at age 42. I was 45 when I graduated from nursing school. I'm almost 49 now and I'm working on my dual ACNP/FNP MSN. I will be 51 when I graduate. Believe it or not, I'm not the oldest person in my classes.

You are never "too old" to pursue your dreams. I put my wishes on hold to make sure I was there for all of my kids' sporting events, choir concerts, etc. While I wish I could have gone to school earlier, I don't regret for one moment the time I got to spend with them. By the time I went to nursing school, my eldest was on her own and my son could drive himself.

I had a job lined up before I even graduated. You can do anything you set your mind to do. Age is just a number!!! :)

Best of luck to you!

Elle7745 · Sep 29, 2018

No, 38 is not too late at all. I waited until my kids were grown before I went back to school to start my pre-reqs at age 42. I was 45 when I graduated from nursing school. I'm almost 49 now and I'm working on my dual ACNP/FNP MSN. I will be 51 when I graduate. Believe it or not, I'm not the oldest person in my classes.
You are never "too old" to pursue your dreams. I put my wishes on hold to make sure I was there for all of my kids' sporting events, choir concerts, etc. While I wish I could have gone to school earlier, I don't regret for one moment the time I got to spend with them. By the time I went to nursing school, my eldest was on her own and my son could drive himself.
I had a job lined up before I even graduated. You can do anything you set your mind to do. Age is just a number!!! :)
Best of luck to you!

Ahhh. This is so refreshing. I identify with this so much. I remember a few times while I was raising my kiddos, there were a couple of comments from a few people..."When is she going to work?" said to my husband. My daughter was only 1 year old, my last baby. I felt a sting of hurt and anger. How could I shuffle her off to a crowded day care so young, how could I miss out on so much, and most importantly, how could they not understand why I did not want to miss out on those things? Especially when we were financially doing okay. I would have missed the easy morning conversations with my little boy, the exploring of the backyard every day with my toddling toddler, I would have missed all of the magic in the smallest of moments. When my daughter was 1 year old, I began the process of thinking of nursing and brushing up on learning in general. I remember sitting there with a ged book and my one year old pulling at the pages, saying mama mama mama! My 6 year old boy telling me to watch this, watch this, mom! And I was feeling frustrated with them because I needed to study and they were getting in the way. Soon after, I closed the book for good and just decided to love in the magic for a few more years. I'm so glad I did. Now they are almost 7 and 13 and I feel that I can prioritize myself without missing out on the whimsy of motherhood. I've been so lucky because I've been able to go to all of the chorus concerts, chaperone far away field trips, and volunteer and be active in their lives. They will always remember that I was there and that I cared, and enjoyed them immensely. That is priceless. I'll be able to take that to my deathbed.

Now, it's hopefully my time to shine, right along with them! Thank you for your response!

smast1 · Oct 2, 2018

I'm 28 and applying for fall 2019 ADN program! I'm sure you could say that I'm a bit younger and i get that. But it was just as daunting for me! And honestly, I was SUPER motivated because I saw a photo of a woman (that I didn't know was attending school) in her 40s with several kids, with her cap and gown and she had just finished Nursing school. After years of thinking "i should, but man, i'm so scared", that photo pushed me to think "i can do this. now i REALLY have no excuse!". I started taking a chemistry class and a math class online in the spring of 2018 to fulfill some prereqs and actually had my second daughter right in the middle of the semester! I let my professors know that I was due and they were willing to be flexible with me, however I never actually needed any extensions on my due dates or anything! Everything went so smoothly and I was able to take my midterms right before i had the baby!

I'm currently taking a writing class and a history class, next semester I'm taking micro and nutrition. It's challenging, but I LOVE IT! I learn something, i appreciate the courses and it's my break from mom life for a few hours every week. I love that I'm making myself better and crushing some of these classes I thought i would completely fail at!

This might be a bit deep for an internet thread, but you really do only live once. You've been a great mom and raised your kids and I know they appreciate it! But now could be your chance to do something for YOU! and your family will be so proud to watch you earn that degree. We live in a time where we have access to technological solutions like online learning that makes A LOT of things easier, and we have the right to an education, which some women in other countries would die for. The opportunity shouldn't be wasted, especially if you have the desire!

I'd say you should definitely shadow a nurse, maybe even a few on some different units. And check to see if you can audit some classes at the college you're interested in going to! You could get a sense if you would want to keep pursuing it!

I think if you have the desire, you should give it a shot!! At the very least, you'll find out that it might not have been for you, but then you'll know and not go your whole life wondering "what if". But really, I think You'll surprise yourself at what you're capable of. Age has nothing to do with it! :)

Estateboy, RN, EMT-P · Oct 3, 2018

Im a 52yo male who has only been a RN for a few months. YOU CAN DO IT TOO! i had multiple job offers (upstate NY) and am enjoying my new career. My grandchildren came to my graduation! Good luck kid.

Elle7745 · Oct 3, 2018

That is super amazing! Congrats to you! What a wonderful feeling I bet that was!