Nursing Students over 35

Hotflashn · Jun 9, 2008

I'm 35 I have 3 kids 16,13,9.
I have 1 in each level of school: high school ,Jr high, Elementary so I figured I might as well go back to school and do college so there is someone in each level for sure.

Oh, bless your heart. I remember those days. At one point I had one in college, one in high school, one in middle school, one in elementary and one in preschool! Can you say, AHHHHHHHHH! I was in school too. :bugeyes: Now with just two at home, it is so much easier. Those two youngest ones were pretty much raised by wolves, so they don't have any memory of a clean house, a mom that helped in the classroom, drove field trips or made home-baked goodies for school parties. They have no expectation of me to be supermom, pack mom, group mom, aid, coach or any other kind of mom, but student-mom. So I am off the hook! If I remember to pick them up from wherever, they are pretty pleased with that. Sort of sad. But they are amazingly capable little mischief makers! Whew.

tonyal · Jun 9, 2008

I say as long as the house isn't falling down around me and there is some sort of edible substance in the fridge we are good. I just make anyone comming over give me an hours notice so we can make it presentable. And they must tell me when they are on their last pair of pants so laundry can be thrown in between chapters. Its crazy but I wouldn't have it any other way. And my daughter has helped me out a lot. thankfully she will be driving in a few months and can help cart the boys back and forth to school.

I help out at the school in between my classes and work even if its for an hour. I study anywhere, dr. visits breaks at work, waiting at the school to pick the kids up,and while watching my fav. shows. It all just seems to work out somehow.

*Blessed2BaNRS* · Jun 9, 2008

I am 39, and will be starting my 3rd semester of an ADN program. I am the mother of 4, ages 14, 13, 11 and 9, so I have one starting high school, 2 will be in middle school and 1 left in elementary. It has been a long, hard road, but worth every minute of it! I have been working at the two hospitals here, as an extern, but just recently resigned from one of them. I have had so much fun in school and really miss doing this well in high school. This is my first experience in college, so it has gone very well, so much so that I plan on furthering my career and going for my Master's!

Luckily, I am not the oldest in my class, we are actually split about even with the young and the not so young!! It has been interesting to see the difference between us oldies versus the youngsters! Like previously posted, they talk about partying and what they are going to wear to go out, while the rest of us talk about what to study, when to study, and how to study!!! I guess things just don't come as easy or stay with us as long as the younger ones!!

Anyway, between my school work, my children's and my husband's (yes, he is in school also!!) we are always cracking the books, or working. The house stays a mess, we are always in need of clean clothes and Taco Bell and McDonald's know us by name, but would I do it again? In a hearbeat!! I love that we are all in school together, and hope that it will rub off on our children to do well and strive for the best they can be. In a very short year, it will be over with and I will become an RN, hopefully working in ICU where I am externing at now. Even though it is tough juggling kids, studying and working, I have chosen to work to gain some experience before being thrown out on my own. I love the nurses that I have worked with and have learned so much more than I ever could have imagined. It definitely will make the transition from student to actual RN that much easier!

motivated2nurse · Jun 9, 2008

my philosophy is: life begins at 40. my outlook is different, i see things a little different. i've just completed my first year of ns. i look forward to the future. i still am surprised that i took a leap of faith, quit my job of 13 1/2 years to do nursing. i'm a firm believer that i may have another 40 years on this earth. i might as well live it doing something that i love. 40 is just a number after all.

lvnhopeful · Jul 4, 2008

My LVN class graduates this next Friday, July 11th. Its been a loooonnnngg haul and I thought at times I wouldn't make it through, but now I am thinking about which programs I can enter to get an RN license.

No lie, it was hard. My memory isn't what it used to be, but I have a lot of experience the youngsters will have to acquire only by the passage of time. I am very happy I got through and will pass the NCLEX when the time comes. My grades were some of the best in the class and I worked hard for that too:)

The best part is that I have a more positive image of myself. I did it, and I'm glad!

BSNstudent09 · Jul 4, 2008

Congradulations!!!!! Job well done!

Lericalpoet · Jul 5, 2008

I am 38 and I have worked as a hairstylist for twenty years. I always dreamed of being a nurse, but kept making excuses about going back to school. What inspired me to go back to school were all of the clients that came into the salon that were in nursing school. Their stories amazed me. When I found this site I was taking a basic math class. Reading the stories that the women on here post just blow me away. I mean, most of you have young children, husbands, morgages, and bills. And yet you were brave enough to reach for you dream, make sacrifices, and go for it! I just took every excuse I ever had and throw them out the window. Now here I am, 2 years later with all of my prereq's done with a 3.80 GPA. I was excepted into a ASN Nusing program that starts in the Fall. I will graduate in 2010. I will also turn 40 that same year. I can't wait! Just when you think, "Is this all there is to life?" God opens another door and it's like, "oh, maybe there is another purpose He has for me", "Maybe I can create a whole new life for myself". I just wish eveyone the best of luck.:w00t:

imafostermom · Jul 13, 2008

I quit HS in 10th grade (twice). I got married at 19, had kids when I was 21 and 23 while working as a housekeeper in L&D in Arlington Texas where the (fabulous) nurses told me I was smart and should go back to school. I got my GED and went back to school (community college). I had another child and became an RN at 27 years old. I went back to school after nursing (OB) for 7 years and became an elementary school teacher (and stayed a PRN OB nurse) and taught 2nd grade for 6 years. Now I am on my 3rd year teaching high school students to be CNA's and still work PRN in OB. I became a grandma last year and have been happily married 26 years. I am loving my blessings in life.

Dianacabana · Jul 13, 2008

Silly me---I thought I was too old at 41 to go back to school again!!

Its great to read the experiences of moms with younger kids. Mine is 4 years old (my one & only) and I HATE the idea of leaving him with someone else! I know if I don't go back to school I will regret it for a long, long time.

Thanks everyone!

sophiebready · Jul 16, 2008

i am 43 single mom, retired flt attendant, just starting my second year of an evening lpn program.. and its getting really really hard.. i work full time for a city goverment office and go to class/clinicals 3 nights a week..i am blessed to have a sister whom lives very close that has been great watching my toddler while i am in school till 10:30 at night. but i feel like i never see her, never get caught up on the laundry, the shopping, the cleaning and now cutting the grass now that summer is here.. much less time to study!! that usually starts around 10pm on the nights i dont have class..i love it and cant wait to bridge to rn and then to crna/master..

know its a long road.. but gotta do it!!!

"life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass....

it's about learning to dance in the rain."

pattylpn54, LPN · Sep 7, 2008

I'm 54 yr young and got my license(LPN) on 8/8/08. Never too young/old to go back to school. If I can, after over 30 yrs, then anyone can. Good luck to all. It IS DEFINATELY hard, but well worth it ! :nurse: