Nursing

ilstu99 · Aug 31, 2008

When is never to late to become a nures...............you made face a set back in your life, also family play a part and saying age has roll when going back to school...............I have a family member who is 28 year old she think that going back to she made never fit in, I told don't worried about other it's all up to you.
In this case what can I do she is a very nice girl with low self-esteem.
what can I do?

If I understand your post correctly, you have a family member who is worried that she won't fit in, should she decide to return to school.

I think it's a common concern, and in some classes it might feel rather true. Many prerequisite classes can have a great deal of 18-19 year olds just out of high school who talk about nothing other than what's "hot" and where the party is this weekend. Luckily, they weren't the majority of students in most of my nursing classes or in my workplace.

There's not much you can do to raise her self-esteem, but you might offer to take a tour of the campus with her, and just provide lots of support. If she finds enough excuses, though, there's not much you can do. Some people just can't get beyond their own brains.

Good on ya for thinking of her, though. :)

pattylpn54, LPN · Aug 31, 2008

I am 54 yrs. old and went back to school at 53 yrs. I got my LPN license on 8/8/08. I was the oldest one in my class. 5 got kicked out for grades & that didn't include me!! Most of the ones in my class were in their 20s. Never too late to go back to school. She'll make friends when she starts school.

Reno1978, BSN, RN · Aug 31, 2008

I went back to school in my late 20s. I wanted to be a RN by the time I was 30 and I accomplished that goal. If you want something bad enough, you'll do what it takes.

Encourage your family member to do what her heart feels right.

rn-jane · Aug 31, 2008

I did not start nursing school til I was 33 years old and graduated from a 4 year program til I was 37. I had 3 young kids from 2 years -9 years and frankly my inlaws thought I should be home with my kids and probally that I could not do it. t. My family other than my husband was against me going, saying it would take too long, costs too much money but honestly we would not be able to afford our home, college tuition(for 3 kids) if I had not. Tell her to go for it, not to worry about fitting in, she is certainly not too old to get started.

nrsang97, BSN, RN · Aug 31, 2008

Tell her to go for it.

NewRN12109 · Aug 31, 2008

It's NEVER to late to go back to school. I went back at 31 and started to take my prereqs. This took me 8 years. At 36 years old I started Nursing school and just graduated in August at 38 and am preparing to sit for my NCLEX for my RN. Oh did I forget to mention that I am married and I have 4 children ranging from 5-18 oh yeah and I worked part time as well. I was also the oldest in the group and I fit in GREAT with all the girls who were significantly younger than me. I was the "mother hen" of the group but we are all great friends and talk to one another almost daily. My advice is to tell her if it is something she wants really bad just JUMP RIGHT IN AND BE HERSELF.

Aimee03, BSN, RN · Sep 1, 2008

my nursing class ranged in age from 19-55. The MAJORITY of my class was in their late 20s-early 30s.

College can be stressful and intimidating but its usually worth it. She'll NEVER know til she tries.

kenny b · Sep 1, 2008

There's not much you can do to raise her self-esteem, but you might offer to take a tour of the campus with her, and just provide lots of support. :)

I agree. A lot of self-esteem problems can be cured through the helping of others (certain types of self-esteem problems that is). Nursing might be just the thing.

I'm 36 and going for it. I've noticed that older students tend to be valued by the younger students because they seem to sense that their life experience is an important resource they can tap.

Regards,

Kenny B