nursing at 40

marilynmom, LPN, NP · Aug 17, 2003

All I can say is I know a LOT (and I mean a LOT) of LPNs at my school getting there RNs. You certainly would not be alone and with your experience can only be a benefit :)

My husband work for the university here (specifical the med and nursing school and all the other science fields and has for a very long time) and he said there are a *lot* of older and non-tradition students in the nursing department.

I say GO FOR IT!!

I am sure each colleges nursing school is different in tuition, mine is very affordable and with student aid (grants and student loan) I get all I need for tuition and all my school expenses. I think everyone is eligible for student loans.

I am almost 30 myself

Marilyn

Nurse2bSandy · Aug 17, 2003

Hi!

I started working towards my BSN at almost 45. I had no real college credits... well, 6 that transfered... but I am half way there now. I will start my nursing clinicals in Sept.

I spent many years as a wife and mom... now I'm going to be a working wife and mom. It's exciting and hard for me to believe that I am this old. I don't feel too old for school at all! Go for it!

Oh, btw... it will cost me about $20,000 by the time I am done. Seems like a lot... but it will be worth it! And at least I didn't spend it at the mall!

studentdeb · Aug 17, 2003

Hello, I am 40 and have been taking my pre-reqs for nursing for the last year and a half. I sometimes feel that I am too old, but there are so many people especially on this board in this age bracket who are also going for nursing.

I think it's great.

rncopper · Aug 17, 2003

I wasn't quite 40 when I started (for the 3rd time........alot of things went wrong in my life from the 1st time at 19!). I was alot older than 80% of the students; had alot of "life" experiences. But, it was well worth it!

I was very lucky when I went to school (graduated 10 years ago at age 37). I was a single mother, of Spanish decent, with very good grades! I received alot of financial aid and I worked almost full time (though my school HIGHLY recommended that we didn't work! How was I going to feed my kids! :confused: )

After 19 years of schooling, either full time or part time, I ended up with only $5000 worth of loans. I was very lucky; some of the younger ones ended up with >$20,000 worth of loans.

I think being older helped me cope with the high stress of school! I don't think I would have done very well with school if I was younger (esp the way my life went......that is why it took me so long to finish!)

Go for it! YOU CAN DO IT!!! You will make a great nurse! Good Luck!

;)

Rapheal · Aug 17, 2003

The question is how important is fufillment to you. If you acquired $25,000 in debt you would be able to pay it in about about 4 years if you paid $500 a month on your school debt. This would probally leave you with about the same salary as if you were an LPN for at least those 4 years. After that you would come out ahead in wages.

I would recommend that you find out how many students who enroll in the RN nursing program actually complete it at the school you will be attending. My school had a less than 50% passing rate and some of my friends acquired a huge debt without finishing school. My one friend is in debt for over $20,000 for the school we attended together. She is in another school now and will be over $60,000 in debt when she finishes. If she had known before what she knows now she would have applied to the school that nurtured it's students even though she would have to have watied 2 years to get in. So look carefully before choosing schools.

I hope this has been helpful. The biggest determining factor will probally be how badly do you want to function in the role as an RN. The LPN and the RN roles both have their positive and negative aspects. I wish you the best of luck.

essarge · Aug 17, 2003

I will be 48 when I graduate in May. There are quite a few "non-traditional" students in my class. I am going for my BSN and transferred in 17 credits. It has been a tough road at times but well worth it (I work full time and attend school full time). I will finally accomplish what I should have done 30 years ago!

After all is said and done, I will owe close to $40,000 in student loans but plan on paying it off as fast as possible.

nurse2be in ny · Aug 17, 2003

I just turned 41, and am returning to school as a second-degree student. Once in a while I used to think that I was too old to be doing this, but now that I'm into it, I don't think that anymore. (I don't know why!) I will be 45 when I graduate w/ a MSN. I think there are a lot of "older" students out there. Good luck!

ST_NURSE_MLD · Aug 17, 2003

At age 37, I'm in Level 2 of 4. I'll always continually better myself. That's just the type of person I am. Does it really matter how old any of us are? Sure there are some reasons why people don't change job/get degrees/invest in things at certain ages. But, I have no desire to retire. Maybe when I'm 72 :) I just do what "I" want to do because I can.

rncopper · Aug 17, 2003

ST_NURSE_MLD:

You are so right! When I graduated in '93, there was a 92 yo female who got her PhD! I said to myself then: "That will be me!!!"

I have told my recruiter that we need to start looking for hospitals that will take travelers in wheelchairs, because I plan on doing this for a long, long time!!!!:roll

LoriB · Aug 17, 2003

I'm 38 and will be 41 when I graduate. There are plenty of us. Check out this thread. Welcome aboard!

https://allnurses.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=12993

Lori

Jen2 · Aug 17, 2003

I was a Medical Assistant and NEVER felt fullfilled. I loved patient teaching, giving injections, and all the other clinical aspects of the career, but wanted a much larger scope of practice. I now how not being fullfilled feals. However, even though I am not 40, mant people beginning my program are 40+ and three of them are LPN's. I am only 25, but I choose to study/discuss with the more mature people in my class. I find that most of the students my age and younger are not very seriouse about school. Thats why I hang around with "The golden girls", this is what I teasingly call them and they call me a "teenie bopper." We all have alot of fun learning and sharing together. I think that life experience is one of the greatest assets in going into nursing school. Good Luck.