Nursing Students over 35

gaajr1, RN · Feb 5, 2008

Grab your favorite beverage, pull up a chair and settle in front of the roaring fire...er computer screen. Share your stories, concerns and triumphs over starting nursing program, dealing with homework, balancing study +children + spouse, stingle parenthood + work + school, carying for parents + school, math anxiety,.....study tips and tricks, squeezing in ME time....
We learn more from OOOOOOOOOOOOPS moments than sucess somtimes.
Have fun too.

Hello Everyone,

I am new here and very glad to be a part of this team. First of all, "hats off" to each of you for your help, support and understanding that you give each other. After reading some of your posts, I feel I am not alone and that we all can do it! I think this is a very good place to intro my self.

I had a great desire to be a nurse but due to family commitments I could not pursue my dream. 2yrs back my husband suggested I go back to school and do what I wanted to. I was 38yrs old and could not think of it! I was very nervous and needless to say lacked the self confidence to go back to college. After a lot of thought I took a bold step to start my prereq.

Once I registered, I had a talk with my girls who are now 14 and 10yrs old. I told them the long road I have in front of me; the adjustments we all have to make; and that I needed their cooperation. I was surprised at their maturity, for they asked me to go ahead and promised to do their share. Still being kids I was skeptical.

On my part, I planned the lunches and dinners over the weekend(I would cook 5 dinners over the weekend); divided the house work amongst us; depending on our schedules, my husband and me planned who will take the girls to their activities etc. All this planning helped us a lot though one has to be realistic and be prepared to face all sorts of unexpected things. I had to also plan as I don't have any extended family living close by in case of emergency.

Today, I am proud to say I am done with my prereqs and start nursing program in Fall. However, I have 2 classes starting on 11th- pharmacology and patient assessment. I have a very long way to go but I want to take one day at a time and take things as it comes. If I look back I am surprised I came so far, but family support was the key factor for me. You will also be surprised how the kids can rise to the occasion.

I know some of you can relate to what I am saying and I only want to say- let's DO IT and be an example to our kids :cheers:

DermNP2Be · Feb 5, 2008

Wow- I needed to read this today. I want to say 1st that I'm so proud and happy of everyone for embarking on this journey. I'm 35- will be 36 next week (yuck, yuck, yuck!). I'm a single mother of 5 (17, 16, 14, 13, 10) and a Junior in the nursing program. It's been too tough a road to even talk about. My support system consists of my mom; I love her to death and plan to buy her a condo as a surprise when I'm a big time CRNA, lol. As busy as she is, she runs the kids around to Dr. appts, and alot of the unimportant errands they want to go on. I try to make it to as many of their activities as I can, but it is soooo hard! During nursing finals I had to help my daughter with her science fair project "The Effects of Evaporation on the Crystal Growth of Copper Sulfate Pentahydrate" (I know it's a mouthful), someone always needs my help for something... so I just try to juggle it all. I am one of the oldest in my classes, but most of them don't even know it til I remind them. I'm blessed in that I still get carded for cigarettes (don't even say it- I'm on a "quit smoking plan"), but I still feel so much older than everyone! I beat up on myself alot, sometimes catnap for a couple of hours over the span of 2 days, and what is "me" time?? But I just try to keep my eyes on the prize.

Susan863 · Feb 6, 2008

I love this thread, and I love the idea of a forum for us older students! I am 39 years old and doing my pre-reqs, so there's a long road ahead for me. I have a 13-year-old son on one end of the spectrum, and a 7-month-old daughter on the other end! I'm doing my pre-reqs part-time, and boy, has it felt like I have my work cut out for me! I'm inspired knowing the rest of you are out there, though. Let's keep talking amongst ourselves!

twinkerrs · Feb 6, 2008

Hi all! I am 36 year old student in my 2nd semester in an ADN program. I have three kids: a 9 yo daughter, and 3 yo twin boys. The oldest of the twins is just mildly delayed due to his prematurity. The younger has severe delays(thankfully no cp) and moderate autism. He is completely non verbal and I think I spend every free minute(when I have them and when I dont) fighting with his service providers about not providing adequate therapy time, fighting with the insurance company to keep his coverage, etc. My hubby is an OTR truckdriver who spends a lot of time on the road to try and keep us afloat. So basically I am a single mom with financial benefits. My sister is a big help in getting my kids to school on my early days and picking them up on my late days. But I still have to juggle all of the doctors appointments on my own.

I am so glad to see that there are so many of us here. :w00t:

eldragon · Feb 6, 2008

I'm 44 and scheduled to take the NCLEX PN next week.

I would love to go on to school for my RN, but financially, it wouldn't be smart!

I was the second oldest person in my class at the beginning, but the oldest (48) dropped the third block.

There were a few women in their 30's, and everyone else was in their late teens and early 20's.

I didn't make any life-long attachments at school, which was a bit disappointing, but had more to do with the fact that I'm from another part of the country, then my age, I think.

I was older than one instructor, and two years younger than the other. That was awkward sometimes.

But in my defense, I was a great student, much much better then the first time around! I missed no school or clinicals, and was never late, either.

(Unfortunately, nobody ever commended me on that, but oh well.)

I made all A's and B's, and made it through a tough program that eliminated 60% of the class.

So I did good!

Now if I can just pass the NCLEX and get a job!

MisMatch, LPN · Feb 6, 2008

Count me in - as the waaaayyyy over 35! I'm 51 y/o and just started LPN clinicals last month. I'll be 52 when I finish LPN and almost 54 when I finish ADN RN:w00t: I'm the oldest in my class (including the instructors). I'm a happy camper, though - just found out I got a 96% on my first test - highest grade in the class, and 1 of only 2 A's. I honestly believe that the wisdom and life experiences that come with age sharpen the "critical thinking" skills imperative to succeed in school and nursing.

I'm a survivor of domestic violence - got out 5 years ago after 20+ years of marriage, most spent as a full time homemaker. Only the youngest of 3 is still living at home - she's 18 and will graduate HS this June. After 25 years as an unlicensed, unregistered, impractical nurse (aka mom), I returned to school so I could become a licensed practical, then registered nurse.

By the time I finish school, all my kids will be over 21

Although school is a lot of hard work, the biggest challenge was getting to where I am now.

Life is GOOD!

Oh, another good thing about being an "older" student - I figure by the time nursing stress/burnout hits, it'll be time for me to retire!!!

meditate · Feb 6, 2008

:redpinkheoh, i feel at home with this post. i am 41 with a husband and two teenage kids. i was just thinking last night in micro. class, it would be so easy to quit and not have to deal with the extra stress. :bugeyes: then i thought, this is my last pre-req and i am applying to the adn program in the fall. it is definately harder as a a wife with children. the guilt of not being home two nights a week until 9:30ish is hard. they are very supportive, and if i quit, i am sending my kids the wrong message. everybody, hang in there. we can get thru this, just takes extra work. being older is a benefit though, we have more life experiences than the younger kids. i will be checking this post often when i am feeling frustrated about micro. take care, lisa

trjohnson0213 · Feb 7, 2008

Hello everyone it has been a long time since I have been here. I will be 40 next week (2/13). My children are in college and I have never been married so I am alone and will be graduating in July 08 LPN. It has been wonderful, great, exciting, and some days pure HELL but it will be all worth it in the end. I am glad that my children are adults and out of the house and I don't have to worry so much about spending quality time with them but I still worry about them because they are my children. This is something that I have wanted to do for a long time and my dreams are finally coming true. Sometimes I can't believe it. It will be here before I know it. I am so excited. Please pray for me and I will do the same for all of you because I know that it gets hard sometimes with all of the things that we as women and men take on but we can do it. JUST BELIEVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

80s chick · Feb 7, 2008

I am going on 42. I decided two years ago to return to school. My Fathers' passing made me more determined to fulfill my goal. I have three children ages 14, 10 & 9. Sometimes I wonder what I got myself into. Then I look at my Three Beautiful children, and I know why. It's been one wild ride with getting over my basics & pre req, now looking forward to the real nitty gritty! Taking it ONE DAY AT A TIME!!!!

Kunda · Feb 7, 2008

I'm 48 and keep asking myself why I'm putting myself through this! I'll graduate in May :anpom: with an associates and was planning on continuing but am having a rough time justifying it at this point.

It feels like I spend so much more time learning this stuff but then again my grades a pretty good so maybe age doesn't make too much of a difference. What does everyone else think? Is it harder when you get older?

gaajr1, RN · Feb 7, 2008

I'm 48 and keep asking myself why I'm putting myself through this! I'll graduate in May :anpom: with an associates and was planning on continuing but am having a rough time justifying it at this point.
It feels like I spend so much more time learning this stuff but then again my grades a pretty good so maybe age doesn't make too much of a difference. What does everyone else think? Is it harder when you get older?

Hey! congratulations to you! You are going to graduate soon and that speaks volumes of what you can do. But tell me,did you always want to be in this profession or are you here due to different reasons? For, that will define if you should go through all this or not.

Sometimes, the years of being a student, combined with family responsibilities and everything else that comes in the package, makes one question if what we are doing is right/ worth it.

I start the nursing program in Fall and I don't exactly know what it is like, though I know for sure it is not easy. I too sometimes(when tired or overwhelmed) get into these questioning modes, but what keeps me going is that, this is what I always wanted to do; I came so far and would like to do my best and be an example to my kids.

Don't let anyone or anything push you bakwards. You will be a great nurse for you seem to have the courage and perseverance to surge forward. You are a great example to all of us! Good luck.

KimysbugNS · Feb 7, 2008

I am 38 and I found out yesterday I got into a LPN program that starts March 10th.

I am so happy! :yeah: