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.
Hope it's okay for me to hop on! I'm 39 with two kids (2 & 4), and in my last semester of prereqs. I should hear something this fall/winter. Eeek!
Right now it's not so much a stretch since I'm just taking A&PII (online, at that), but I think DH has a fair-middling idea of what it'll be like *when* I get it. No ifs here, buddy.
I am 43 and I have been accepted to an Accelerated BSN program in California. It has been hard doing the prerequisites and working, but I have really enjoy the sciences. I do find that at night when studying my mind just turns off around 11pm, and there is nothing I can do about it. Not like when I was younger and could study all night with no problems the next day.
I feel your pain, being 45 myself I have found that there is really nothing you can do. If you get that tired just go to bed. You probably wont remember anything you studied if youre that tired anyway. I find getting up at 5am and studying til 7am with a good hot cut of coffee always helps me. Good Luck
Hi everyone! I am 41{yesterday}.I am an lpn.I have had my pre reqs done before graduating lpn,15 years ago.I always thought I would go for my rn !!,and even further.Finding time,money,and even the want to now days is hard.I think it is hard for me becauses I am just now feeling the pains of ageing,as opposed to you older ones that have learned to deal with it lol.This is how I use to explaine it to my mom!:nono:Oh well,nice to meet ya folks,and remember,"your only as old as you feel" "thats pretty dam old if you ask me.Got to go now and apply muscle cream!!!!
Hi everyone! I am 41{yesterday}.I am an lpn.I have had my pre reqs done before graduating lpn,15 years ago.I always thought I would go for my rn !!,and even further.Finding time,money,and even the want to now days is hard.I think it is hard for me becauses I am just now feeling the pains of ageing,as opposed to you older ones that have learned to deal with it lol.This is how I use to explaine it to my mom!:nono:Oh well,nice to meet ya folks,and remember,"your only as old as you feel" "thats pretty dam old if you ask me.Got to go now and apply muscle cream!!!!
Hi everyone! I am 41{yesterday}.I am an lpn.I have had my pre reqs done before graduating lpn,15 years ago.I always thought I would go for my rn !!,and even further.Finding time,money,and even the want to now days is hard.I think it is hard for me becauses I am just now feeling the pains of ageing,as opposed to you older ones that have learned to deal with it lol.This is how I use to explaine it to my mom!:nono:Oh well,nice to meet ya folks,and remember,"your only as old as you feel" "thats pretty dam old if you ask me.Got to go now and apply muscle cream!!!!
SEE HOW SENILE I AM GETTING I ALREADY DID THIS ONCE!
I graduated December 2007 at the age of 49. I was the oldest in the class but it didn't seem to matter. After 25 years in the business world I wanted something more, and this was it. I didn't want any what if's in my life. It was tough, at times, but determination, family support, and a bit of luck helped me reach this dream. While in school, I cared for my elderly mom, became the guardian to a great uncle, and had two children at home. We shared every victory and struggle (and I love them for that!). I joked and said when I passed the NCLEX and had the RN behind my name - much like childbirth - you forget all the blood, sweat and tears. The feeling of happiness is overwhelming.
Now I hope to return to "normal" and enjoy all the things that had to be put on the back burner. I wish each of you success as you travel this road. It can be long and winding, but always head in the direction of your final destination and you will make it!
Hi, I'm 35 and in my first semester of an adn program. I have 3 kids 16,11,&8. I work part-time as a hairdresser and so far everything is going good. Right now things are not that much different than pre req's but I know that will change. I defintely need work on my time management skills. I do really well for a while with keeping on top of everything and than I seem to slack off for awhile. I'm still looking at this as a positive thing because at least I realize it and I get myself back on track. Looking forward to getting to know everyone.
I'm 46 and will turn 47 a few weeks after graduation.
I started out okay, but lately I'm not doing as well. I am so drained of energy all the time. I know it's because I'm not taking care of myself the way I should. I've been trying to get by on coffee and cigarettes and my body is telling on me. I tried giving up coffee and I felt even worse so I started drinking it again. I'm giving up cigarettes and I KNOW that I'll have more energy. I can't lie to myself and think that I "need" them. I don't.
I graduated December 2007 at the age of 49. I was the oldest in the class but it didn't seem to matter. After 25 years in the business world I wanted something more, and this was it. I didn't want any what if's in my life.
This is the road I've put myself on as well. I don't want any "what if's" in my life either. If nursing school happens for me, I'll bet anything that I'll be the oldest in the class. After being in the business world for most of my working career as well, I'm ready for a change and sitting in a rocking chair isn't the change I'm looking for yet
I am the oldest in my BSN class and have 2 Masters degrees. I am away from my husband going to school and miss him all the time. My children are grown and have lives of their own. I find the way I study is different from the younger students. I do not really like to sit with study groups but on occassion I do. For the most part I study the required material and power point slides and get good grades.
I think finding time for yourself is important...contact with friends/family is always a priority for me. I view this schooling as a full time job, with overtime.
It is the things that come out of my mouth that surprises people as I am prior to school, a Health Care Manager (Administrator). Alot of times I must bite my tongue, my husband says just do it and graduate and come back home to me. In the end it is all worth it. I do not think age is a big factor in nursing school you just have to work for it and know what you are doing.
I'm 47 and will be 48 when I finish my ADN degree next year. Notice - not "if" but "when" :nuke: Kudos to all of us who are in the midst of child-raising, husband-placating (yes, mine is supportive, but he does whine a bit), laundry-mining (I KNOW I saw the machine under these piles a few days ago...), fast-food eating, dirty-dish piling, dust bunny breeding (I don't know when I last ran the vacuum. The kids may have sold it...), exhausting, exhilirating (my mind is numb, did I spell that right?), friend and family ignoring, exasperating, satisfying, frustrating and utterly fantastic time of our lives.
While finding myself much older then classmates and instructor was a bit of a reality check last semester, I have come to (grudgingly) accept it. Youth may be gone, but I know SO much more about life. I know that no one is responsible for my actions but myself, I know how to treat people (patients, classmates, teachers) with respect, and I know to expect it back. This is my time - and although it exhausts me (I also turn off at 11 PM - just like someone took the batteries out of the energizer bunny) I can't imagine what else I would rather be doing. I have waited 20 years for "my time" to come. and it is here. now. And I am loving it. Granted, my family (kids 18, 16 and 12) miss me - but they see how much happier I am to be working toward my goals. And when I tape my good grades onto the frig - they get such a kick out of it, and they are SO dang proud of their mom. Plus, my husband thinks he doesn't see me enough, so he now takes me out to dinner one night a week. We have never done that in 19 years of marriage - and believe me, I'm not complaining!
I don't plan on stopping at my ADN - I'm checking out the ADN-MSN programs. My boss gave me my eval today and we chatted about school. She asked me what i wanted to do when I was done - I smiled and said "I want your job". And I do. And she smiled back and said "go for it".
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cmonkey
613 Posts
Hope it's okay for me to hop on! I'm 39 with two kids (2 & 4), and in my last semester of prereqs. I should hear something this fall/winter. Eeek!
Right now it's not so much a stretch since I'm just taking A&PII (online, at that), but I think DH has a fair-middling idea of what it'll be like *when* I get it. No ifs here, buddy.
Great idea for a thread, thanks!