Older Nursing students

shunyo · Jan 23, 2010

Ok, I'm not here to bash dreams. I only responded with an honest opinion. Why do I care? I guess because I'm human.
As I said in a previous post, I think education for the sake of education is great at any age. The OP desires to work as a nurse upon graduating. Nursing school is a career driven course of study that prepares one to work as a nurse, an English degree can fulfil a variety of needs. I was responding to an individual who expresses interest in working as a nurse, not having RN on her obituary. In my experience, nursing is very difficult for the first few years. I based my comments on that.
It seems like many in this forum are responding with unconditional support, that's all well and good but some people actually come on this site to get honest ideas and opinions about what nursing is like. Some of them, like the OP, have no experience in nursing or healthcare and really don't know what it's about. My responses are based on that. I would still NOT recommend to any person in their late 60's or 70's that they go into nursing with no prior healthcare experience. If you think that makes me cold hearted and cruel then so be it.

Buzkil, I have to agree with you. Frankly, I'm somewhat scared about the whole nursing thing. :crying2: I've seen the threads which speak of the large amount of grads not equal to the amount of jobs out there. And also the age discrimination thing. I was at the hospital last night with my husband, and sorry to say, I didn't really see many "older" nurses. If there are 200 applications to 1 position, they're going to pick the younger person. THAT IS THE TRUTH. Talking about our "life experience" is just a way of making ourselves feel better about getting older. Let's all be real, dreams aside. The bottom line is, the large amount of people are sick of the jobs they have been doing their whole lives and are looking for a change. With just an Associates Degree in Nursing, you can walk out the door and make $70,000. Of course this is if you can get a job. And also if you can be accepted into a nursing school. And if you can make it through the nursing program passing all of your tests and clinicals. And if you can get through it all with your sanity intact.

When I went to school to take my big 1 Anatomy class, I can't believe the amount of stress it was on me and my family. Between finding babysitters so I could have uninterrupted study time, to hanging my head over the books at five o'clock in the morning. And let's not forget all the hours of being locked in the library on nice days while my kids were in the house all day. And this was not even Nursing school!! Do I have a love for nursing? Yes, absolutely. But, am I willing to put this much time into this? I don't know. Much, of this is the pushing from my brother, who is a nurse, to get into a field where I can quickly makes a decent living.

At the age of 47, with two small children at home, I'm somewhat leery about putting in that amount of time into studying, being away from my family, stress, lack of sleep, etc, etc. Would I advise anybody, to pursue this field in their 60,s or 70,s? No frigging way!!! I certainly would not, at that age. Isn't there better things to do with your time, like volunteer work, spending time with friends, family, grandchildren.

I'm sorry to have gone on so long in this post. I guess it was my own fears and venting. If you love, love, this, and feel a calling, then by all means do it, no matter what. But, I think some ships have passed for some of us. The same way at this age, I assume my dreams of being a rock star are out! I am applying for HHA training this week, to get some experience in the field on my resume. I've been out of work for six years with my kids. All my work experience is secretarial. In the meantime, I am scheduled to take a Corrections Officers examination in April. That's a switch, right?! I'm just covering many bases and just seeing what life brings.

Okay, I'm going to shut up now! Good luck to all :clown: !!!

cmonkey · Jan 23, 2010

double post!

cmonkey · Jan 23, 2010

Again, though, where did she say she wanted to work ER, for instance, or psych, where there is going to be a lot of physical labor? What's wrong with working in a doc's office? You're still a nurse, right? Or did I miss a memo about that? 'Cause until my kids are all in grade school, I have to work a job with predictable hours, and I'll be looking hard at offices.

I also disagree with the upstream poster who said employers will hire the youngest applicants, period. You're forgetting that those are the employees who want to get married and have kids, and that means a lot of time off. Anyone who bases their hiring on age alone is going to have a pretty fractured employee base pretty quickly. They're also going to have a lot of nurses with no one to turn to for advice or experience. Yes, it's harder to get a job at 65. But 65 is not what it used to be. We'll be there soon enough, and I'm willing to wager you'd look back on this thread with not a small amount of chagrin.

May I also point out, because I think the irony is delicious here, that YOU are not yet a nursing student yourself, and are telling her in your experience that nursing is very difficult for the first few year? I'm totally not hating (and I do it myself, so I'm totally guilty on this as well, which is one of the reasons I'm pointing it out, but one should

probably have the personal experience under one's belt before handing out advice about nursing school and nursing work.

I also haven't had my coffee. I may be cranky.

Ok, I'm not here to bash dreams. I only responded with an honest opinion. Why do I care? I guess because I'm human.
As I said in a previous post, I think education for the sake of education is great at any age. The OP desires to work as a nurse upon graduating. Nursing school is a career driven course of study that prepares one to work as a nurse, an English degree can fulfil a variety of needs. I was responding to an individual who expresses interest in working as a nurse, not having RN on her obituary. In my experience, nursing is very difficult for the first few years. I based my comments on that.
It seems like many in this forum are responding with unconditional support, that's all well and good but some people actually come on this site to get honest ideas and opinions about what nursing is like. Some of them, like the OP, have no experience in nursing or healthcare and really don't know what it's about. My responses are based on that. I would still NOT recommend to any person in their late 60's or 70's that they go into nursing with no prior healthcare experience. If you think that makes me cold hearted and cruel then so be it.

buzkil · Jan 23, 2010

Again, though, where did she say she wanted to work ER, for instance, or psych, where there is going to be a lot of physical labor? What's wrong with working in a doc's office? You're still a nurse, right? Or did I miss a memo about that? 'Cause until my kids are all in grade school, I have to work a job with predictable hours, and I'll be looking hard at offices.
I also disagree with the upstream poster who said employers will hire the youngest applicants, period. You're forgetting that those are the employees who want to get married and have kids, and that means a lot of time off. Anyone who bases their hiring on age alone is going to have a pretty fractured employee base pretty quickly. They're also going to have a lot of nurses with no one to turn to for advice or experience. Yes, it's harder to get a job at 65. But 65 is not what it used to be. We'll be there soon enough, and I'm willing to wager you'd look back on this thread with not a small amount of chagrin.
May I also point out, because I think the irony is delicious here, that YOU are not yet a nursing student yourself, and are telling her in your experience that nursing is very difficult for the first few year? I'm totally not hating (and I do it myself, so I'm totally guilty on this as well, which is one of the reasons I'm pointing it out, but one should
probably have the personal experience under one's belt before handing out advice about nursing school and nursing work.
I also haven't had my coffee. I may be cranky.

I have been an LPN for almost 20 years and I graduate my RN nursing program in May of this year. Not so delicious.

carecrafter · Jan 23, 2010

HAHAHA ! Funny how our definition of "old" varies. I am 50 and had to conquer my insecurity about not being a spring chicken. I finally decided that while I will never be that nurse who has 20 years of nursing experience under her belt - I will still be PERSON with many years of very valuable life experience and I couldn't be the nurse I hope to be without that experience. We all have our unique history and skill set and our own special gifts to offer.

My mother went back to school at 53 and had 10 years of a social work career that she absolutely loved.

"Having traveled hopefully is better than having arrived" Stevenson

cmonkey · Jan 23, 2010

Well why not say so, then?

I have been an LPN for almost 20 years and I graduate my RN nursing program in May of this year. Not so delicious.

CrazierThanYou · Jan 23, 2010

I am 32 and starting nursing this year. If all goes well, I'll be 34 when I graduate. I also have 2 kids. It is kinda nice to know that there are other older students. I had a friend (in her 50's) who went back to school. All the other students in her classes were fresh out of high school and she had a really hard time adjusting. I am hoping there will be some older students in my class. I know there are some in the current first year nursing class at my school.

buzkil · Jan 23, 2010

well why not say so, then?

from page 11 of this thread:

in my last post i didn't mention i was also an older student. i'm 41 and have been an lpn for almost 20 years and i graduate rn program in may.

i still feel that maybe someone in their late 60's or early 70's might be a little "off" for wanting to be a new nurse. education for the sake of education is great but nursing school leads to a career. why invest all of that money if you are not going to have a career? i'm asking because it just doesn't make sense to me. i'm really not trying to be insulting but if my mother who is 66 told me she was taking pre-reqs for a nursing program i would get a psych eval. for her. and yes, she is in excellent physical and mental health..exercises, eats right, non-smoker at a healthy weight.

shunyo · Jan 23, 2010

hahaha ! funny how our definition of "old" varies. i am 50 and had to conquer my insecurity about not being a spring chicken. i finally decided that while i will never be that nurse who has 20 years of nursing experience under her belt - i will still be person with many years of very valuable life experience and i couldn't be the nurse i hope to be without that experience. we all have our unique history and skill set and our own special gifts to offer.
my mother went back to school at 53 and had 10 years of a social work career that she absolutely loved.
"having traveled hopefully is better than having arrived" stevenson

hi carecrafter,

i have an even better quote:

"to laugh often & much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the appreciation of children...to leave the world a better place.....to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. this is to have succeeded." ~ ralph waldo emerson

i hope i can live by these words.

graceomalleyRN, RN · Jan 23, 2010

Hello!

I am 43,the third oldest in my traditional BSN program.

My experience is that I am a much better student now than when I was younger, and I have the maturity to keep my mouth shut when needed.

I say:yeah:to you and all of the others reaching goals at this time of life.

goldone · Jan 23, 2010

I am finishing up pre-reqs and applying to an RN program for the fall - I wonder how many of you are out there that are non traditional nursing students - I have a feeling I may be the oldest nursing student on this site.:)

I am 51 and will graduate in a few months. Our class is full of non-traditional students so you would fit right in. I hope you enjoy this chapter of your life!

frogpirate · Jan 24, 2010

Wow, I feel less isolated already. Actually, there are a number of non-traditional or returning students in our pre-Nursing program as well. I am on my 3rd quarter, and have 2 more to go for pre-reqs, and then can apply to the nursing program. I turn 50 in a couple weeks, hope to have by RN/ASN by 53 or so, and then work towards a BSN degree. Some days I feel like "oh my, I am too OLD to be starting a new career", but most of the time I'm just excited by the possibility of doing something I enjoy for a change.

Ken