38 too old for school?

cathy Danyluk · Jan 23, 2005

Hi all! I am 38, married, two (2) children, ages 15 and soon to be 13 (boys). I have my AAS Degree. I am currently a Corporate Paralegal. I just started doing CRNA's employment agreements three (3) years ago. Three (3) years ago I want to started nursing school and too be honest I was scared of "starting over". Now I am ready. I have a lot of prereqs., but I a fine with that. I start in Feb. My husband who is also my BEST FRIEND is extremely supportive and our children are amazing and supportive. I haven't mentioned it to one (1) person at work. When I am doing an employment agreement for one of the groups we represent I work directly with the Chief and President of Anesthesiology for surgical corp. He is affliated with major hospitals in my area. I know that he would be happy to know that he played a major role in regard to me wanting to become a CRNA. I haven't told him because he is one of my boss' clients. I was think about getting a job in a hospital, so that I could work until 3 or 4 the latest. Right now I have to work until 5:00pm and I cannot change my schedule not even for school. Back to my question. One (1) of my friends that I told said, that I was too old to begin and by the time I graduate with my RN degree I will be 41 at least. That is true I most likely will be 41 because I am going part-time. What do you think? I have prayed on it. God bless.

I just did a 12 month refresher for my LPN license. I started at 59 years of age and finished 1 month after I turned 60! I can still keep up with the youngest ones on the ward.

Go for it.

Cathy

robin29860 · Jan 23, 2005

This only makes about my third post, but I feel led here. I will be 37years old this fall and will hopefully be Starting my clinicals. I have a 14yo a 4yr old and a 21mth old. My best friend and husband is working in Florida and we live in South Carolina. That means I am virtually on my own with three kids-two of which arent even in school yet soooo.....YES YOU CAN DO IT!!! AND NO YOU ARE NEVER TOO OLD!! Just to add to my story, I had no college behind me at all when I started in 2003, and I wont finish my BSN until fall of 2007. GO FOR IT!!!! Time is marching on regardless...

Robin

allamericangirl · Jan 23, 2005

I am a non-degreed high school graduate. The few college hours that I have are so long ago that I doubt if anyone could even find my transcripts. When I was 40 years old I was going through a divorce, starting a new life and was pumping myself up about starting to nursing school. A well meaning friend and my Mom both told me that I was nuts because I was too old to begin a career like nursing. I let them convince me that I was too old.

I am now 58 years old and still want to be a nurse. I am going to be a nurse. Janurary 31st I begin my first step into nursing. I will begin classes to prepare for certification as a CNA. I have to work and go to school, so I decided that working as a CNA would be helpful in teaching me about a lot of things that I will need to know anyway. Step #2 is to get into school to be a LPN. There is a LPN program here that is 11 months going full time, or 18 months part time. When I finish the LPN I am told that I should be able to complete the RN with another year.

If I had followed my own instincts and desires instead of listening to other people I would already be working as a Nurse. Listen to yourself. :coollook: You're just a babe in the woods compared to me! Do what you want to do with your career, not what others think is right for you.

You'll be GREAT! Good luck and God bless. :)

akanarn · Jan 23, 2005

:) You are only as old as you feel...
I started nursing school when I was 37, and I just graduated in December! I am SOOOOOOOOOOOOO glad I followed through with becoming a nurse. If I had listened to my own doubts, as well as the negative comments from others, I'd still be the age I am today, sorry that I'd never gone back to school, and I would be stuck in the same thankless job I was in. I'm telling you, those few years of school really go by quickly. Yes, it is a challenge, there's no denying that. But you are mature, you've lived life, and because of your age you may be a little more savvy about prioritizing, juggling, etc. Keep talking to your husband for his support. And once you start school, develop a network of students who share similar interests and goals that you do, and be each others support system! You will be surprised how many students are nervous, fearful and afraid of change. Before you know it, the whole group of you will be up on stage graduating, and you WILL be able to look back and be so thankful that you followed through with your dream of becoming a nurse.
Look, we only get one life, so make the most of it. Things could end tomorrow but if you try and do your best, you cannot go wrong!
GREAT LUCK!!!!

lisaow-Thank you. Especially about the networking tip. I love it. Please contact me again some time in Dec, so that I can be there for you--like you are with me. Best of luck.

akanarn · Jan 23, 2005

I am a non-degreed high school graduate. The few college hours that I have are so long ago that I doubt if anyone could even find my transcripts. When I was 40 years old I was going through a divorce, starting a new life and was pumping myself up about starting to nursing school. A well meaning friend and my Mom both told me that I was nuts because I was too old to begin a career like nursing. I let them convince me that I was too old.
I am now 58 years old and still want to be a nurse. I am going to be a nurse. Janurary 31st I begin my first step into nursing. I will begin classes to prepare for certification as a CNA. I have to work and go to school, so I decided that working as a CNA would be helpful in teaching me about a lot of things that I will need to know anyway. Step #2 is to get into school to be a LPN. There is a LPN program here that is 11 months going full time, or 18 months part time. When I finish the LPN I am told that I should be able to complete the RN with another year.
If I had followed my own instincts and desires instead of listening to other people I would already be working as a Nurse. Listen to yourself. You're just a babe in the woods compared to me! Do what you want to do with your career, not what others think is right for you.
You'll be GREAT! Good luck and God bless. :)

allamericangirl---I ADMIRE YOUR DRIVE, DETERMINATION AND ATTITUDE. I WISH ONLY THE VERY BEST FOR YOU. I WILL KEEP YOU IN MY PRAYERS. PLEASE LET ME KNOW HOW YOU ARE DOING ALONG THE WAY.

akanarn · Jan 23, 2005

This only makes about my third post, but I feel led here. I will be 37years old this fall and will hopefully be Starting my clinicals. I have a 14yo a 4yr old and a 21mth old. My best friend and husband is working in Florida and we live in South Carolina. That means I am virtually on my own with three kids-two of which arent even in school yet soooo.....YES YOU CAN DO IT!!! AND NO YOU ARE NEVER TOO OLD!! Just to add to my story, I had no college behind me at all when I started in 2003, and I wont finish my BSN until fall of 2007. GO FOR IT!!!! Time is marching on regardless...
Robin

Robin29860-WOW! God is certainly blessing you. You are really doing so much and teaching your children what a great mother and role model you are for them. Best of luck to you. Thanks for your reply.

akanarn · Jan 23, 2005

I just did a 12 month refresher for my LPN license. I started at 59 years of age and finished 1 month after I turned 60! I can still keep up with the youngest ones on the ward.
Go for it.
Cathy

Cathy cathy cathy----ALL I CAN SAY IS YOU ARE TRULY INSPIRATIONAL. I AM SURE YOU DO KEEP UP WITH THEM. STAY STRONG (SMILE). THANKS CATHY.

akanarn · Jan 23, 2005

Yes, your just too old. Go buy a rocker at the cracker barrel and get some knitting needles.:chuckle :rotfl:

Stbernardclub-not sure if you are joking or not. But if you are (hahahaha), with all this feedback, I had no idea that 38 isn't old at all. If you aren't joking, that's ok too. I am going to pursue and do my best. However, I wish you the very very best if you are pursing your career or if you are already established. Thanks for your reply.

crazy_grams2003 · Feb 2, 2005

At my school, 38 is the average age of the nursing students, so I guess I'm right on track - just turned 38 in December, and I certainly don't consider myself too old for this! When you stop and think about all the working years ahead of us, wouldn't you rather be spending them in a job that you really want to do? That's how I'm looking at it anyway... This is my first semester back in school, and I pushed off the nursing courses until the fall so that I could spend this semester and the summer semester working on A&P, micro, and sociology, all of which I never took my first time around in college. I absolutely can't wait to begin the nursing courses in the fall! Best of luck to you as you pursue your dream!

Hi i too am going back to nursing school and i am a young 44... i don't think you are ever too old if its something you really want, my daughter is 22 and is going with me , she thinks its cool that she and her mom are in nursing school togerther!!!

ZAHMAN · Feb 2, 2005

38 may be too old for your friend, but it doesn't sound too old for you. You have a great support system within your family. If your friend is not supportive of you going back to school, well I think that person is not to much of a friend. Take this into consideration for fueling your desire to becoming a nurse, what were you doing three years ago, sitting in the same chair, same office. Get my point! Take care and good luck with your new career path.

ZAHMAN.

Fun2, BSN, RN · Feb 2, 2005

I am 31. IT'S NEVER TOO LATE!!

Frankly, 31, 38, 58, or 61....wouldn't matter to me! I have to know that when I die (hopefully when I am really old), that I didn't live a life of regret knowing I never finished my dream to become an RN.

Don't let anyone stop you from it either! Good luck in school! :)

sproutsfriend · Feb 3, 2005

Akanarn,
This is a post I posted to some time ago concering someone who asked a similar question to yours concerning their age and CRNA school. Hope this helps.
After twenty years in the restaurant business, I changed careers and started Nursing school at 46. I had a previous bachelor's degree so I went through an ADN to finish and get working as fast as possible. After 4 semesters in an ADN program I passed my boards and started working in a SICU at a Level One Trauma center. While working full-time I worked on my BSN. I finish my BSN next month. I applied to 5 schools, interviewed at all five, was an alternate at 2 and accepted at 2. I will be starting my CRNA program a few months short of my 50th birthday! Can you do it? Absolutely! You just have to decide this is what you want to do. Forget worrying about your age. I was worried about it all during school until I interviewed. It was only an issue to me. They did not care. I have been in school for the last three years non stop and will soon be going full time for another 7 semesters. If this old ....
can do it at 50, you can certainly do it at 43. Good luck!!!
I am about to finish my 8th month of anesthesia school and love it. I do not consider my age to be a disadvantage at all.

Trust me, I know this guy, he must be older than 50. I'd say he's in his 70's. Talk about geriatric grad students.