Older Nursing students

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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.:)

Granny Rn......you are THE inspiration! I am also in my 40s and will be starting my RN in fall 2010. No opportunity is lost for us! Congrats on making US proud! :yeah:

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I turned 50 recently and am just finishing up my prereqs. I have a BBA in marketing but had to ask myself if it was better to be 52 and have a nursing degree or 52 without one. So here I am... Good luck to you--the youngsters these days are so helpful and nice.

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Specializes in Renal/Cardiac.
I am soon going to be 51years Old I graduated with my RN in May of 2007 I work in a LTC (my 1st love) I am a Nurse manager and a house charge. I work hard and on the run all day.... I love it. But I am so glad I graduated at 48. School and clinicals were exhausting. ( i worked full time thru the whole program CNA, LPN, RN it took 3 years.) I cost me $23,000. now I make $60,000. a year. to me that is cost effective. I had thought that I wanted to continue on with my education. but at this time and at my age I don't think going on to further my education is cost effective. I have 15 years that I want to work.

I hear ya GrannyRN I went to school for my RN degree at the age of 51 I graduated when I turned 54 and I too worked fulltime and went to school fulltime---but it was worth it all--all though where I work is treating me horrible I actually been thinking of going to work in a SNF I maybe checking into it---but I totally agree with you on being an older nurse

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Well I understand too. You're not out there alone. I am 43 and trying to finish RN school now. I have 3 tests to take then I graduate, problem is I ran out of money. I work two jobs and although I do not have kids, I take care of two older parents and a disabled brother.

YOU ARE NEVER TOO OLD TO BETTER YOURSELF THROUGH KNOWLEDGE.

I tell myself that everyday. I have been a Paramedic for 12 years and thought nursing school would be a breeze. Boy was I w-r-o-n-g! It is also hard to listed to some of the younger students (in any field) talk about how hard it is, and yet they do not work and take care of others and pretty much have no responsibilities yet. Just remember.... someday, a patient is going to NEED your senior experience in LIFE, or your insight since you have so many experiences.

Just stick with it. It has taken me 6 years to get this far due to finances and time constraints, and I am still not finished yet. I will probably be 50 before I finish my BSN. :-)

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I'm 37 and there's maybe 7 of us in the "older" crowd out of 78 students. I love how the younger ones are always willing to help the old fogies out! They are the sweetest bunch I tell ya!

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I'm 46 and have just started my first semester. There is two other women and one man my age in my class, so don't feel like the lonely one out there! :clown:

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While I realize that there is a lot of age discrimination in most fields of endeavor, including nursing, I was able to hire on at an area hospital in the People's Republic of Maryland right out of nursing school at the "young age" of 58. I am now 60 and going strong in my new profession. Yes, there are many employers who disregard the non-age discrimination laws of our land, but the jobs are there for those who are willing to search for them. Sometimes we must start out in a job that may not be our dream but, with some experience and patience, the geezers of the nursing profession can be gainfully employed. Believe it or not, some employers believe that the "older generation" has a much better work ethic than many of the younger hires! All you older nursing students/nurses, hang in there and reap the rewards!

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I am turning 50 next month and getting ready to start my clinicals. I think older nursing students can bring to the table life experiences that can make a difference to younger students and to patients too!

Thanks.

number49

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How is it going now, 1 year into the program? I start at Queens in 3 weeks! I have all prereqs. finished. Should I still quit my job? TKs!

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Specializes in MS, LTC, Post Op.

I am 33. I became an LPN when I was 25. I think that age has worked to my favor, I am more focused and find that being older with 2 kids really makes me work harder for this.

My best friend went to LPN school a few years before me and in her class was a lady who used to be a postmaster locally. She'd retired after she had a stroke. She was in her late 50's then. She said she had always wanted to be a nurse, so she went to LPN school. She was one of the best nurses I ever worked with!

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I'm 53 and will be graduating RN school in May. With no kids at home it's the perfect time for me to do this!

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How is it going now, 1 year into the program? I start at Queens in 3 weeks! I have all prereqs. finished. Should I still quit my job? TKs!

I'm 38 and been a single mom (after married 20 years) for the last year and a half; I just finished my first semester of nursing, and graduating with my AA this Saturday: nursing is more awesome than I ever believed it could be, and now that I've actually gotten through some, I can for sure say b--- s--- to anyone who says age matters; when you actually shadow an RN for a day, you can do it at any age; it's not all running arouind and doing manual labor, it's from the heart, and if you have that in you, you can be a nurse; I will mention I also have a medical problem in which I have been told I could be on disabilitu, and again, I say b--- s---; I can be a damn good nurse and can do it with easeaj when I see that patientan it's phenomenal what happens, and I have had no problems doing physical things, and first semester we do all that a patient care tech does and all that an RN does, and I loved everyu single second and other than a sore back at the END of the day, I can still come home and take care of my 10-year-old and my baby, who just turned 3 yesterday, and he has been in "terrible twos" since he was mobile at 6 months; no, it's not easy, but like I tell my my boys, nobody said it was gonna be easy :). Enjoy nursing school; one of the coolest things I've ever done! Sorry if there are typos, gotta go get my boys up for school...

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