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.:)

I was nervous when I took my first class at the CC but there were a lot of older students there.

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Go to the hospital where you hope to find employment and see if any of the new grads they hire are over 30. Or if they hire new grads at all....

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@Alpine Hiker - I walked into my first pre-req class for my nursing degreed (I already have an MBA so I've been down this road before too) and I didn't feel any different than I did the first. I'm now 2 1/2 years down the road and one semester away from graduating nursing school at the age of 43. Out of a class of 120 at my university I would say that at least a 1/4 of them are over age 30-35. I have one friend who is 56 and another who is 54 and both will be graduating with me. It's been awesome having the 20-somethings in class and clinical with us. They have more energy than we do and keep us motivated 'cause after 2 years of nursing school you're pretty pooped out :) I am glad that I was this age when going through this program, I don't know that I would have been as disciplined with my studying back when I was 20. It is a difficult road ahead of you, but you can do. It's kind of good that you don't exactly fit into the "social circle" of the 20 y o because that helps you keep yourself on track. I've found that I still get invited to happy hours and stuff so I go when I feel like I can. Our class, although very large, has great comradary. The first semester of nursing school we really got a sense of family that was perpetuated via the faculty and that has helped alot. They told us were no longer in competition with each other (to get into ns) and now we needed to help each other, and so far it's worked really well.

Hope you enjoy your experience as i have mine.

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Oh wow. I am so glad to see that I am not the only person who is about to start nursing school at my age. *laughs* I have never felt old being only 36 but it is kind of strange when most of your classmates are in their early twenties.

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I have a 18 yr old daughter.... and a 10 yr old daughter ..Id rather be in the class with the 10 yr olds

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I have a 18 yr old daughter.... and a 10 yr old daughter ..Id rather be in the class with the 10 yr olds

:lol2: No kids here but I understand what you mean!

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No kids here either! Waiting to get married after school is done in 3-4 years! (ugh!) coming up on 35 in about a month. I started taking pre-reqs 2 years ago and will be applying for the fall 2012. It was odd to be the oldest in my classes. Im very glad I came across this post! Once I am in a program I am going to see about the facebook idea.

Good luck everyone!

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Specializes in Psych & Gero psych.

I'm 42 most people in my class of 19 are 30 or above my teach had had 2 65yr old students, and our oldest is pushing 60.

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I'm 42 most people in my class of 19 are 30 or above my teach had had 2 65yr old students, and our oldest is pushing 60.

Yeah another 1969 Girl (Class of 87??) :redpinkhe:redpinkhe Are You MacGirl for the Laptop or StudioTech NW27???:yeah::yeah:

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What a good feeling I got from reading all these great answers to the post. Great answers, and congratulations to each and every one of you on your accomplishments!!! I am starting my BScN in the fall, and leaving a successful (but completely unfulfilling), 15 year career.

Can I ask one question that's been on my mind lately? Maybe I should start a new post, but the right audience for this question is found on this thread. What was it like to enter a university classroom on that first day of nursing school, as an older student???

Deep down, I am fairly confident that there will be other "mature" students there, but part of me is dreading entering that classroom for the first time and facing a sea of 18-20 year old faces. I am friendly, outgoing and make friends easily, but I somehow just dread entering the class for that first time. I truly hope to make friends with both the older and younger crowd.

But I also remember being friendly and getting to know some of the second career students in my first undergrad degree. I don't expect to be included in the younger crowd's social circle outside of school hours (there are certainly different interests, priorities -- I have my established home life with dear husband, 3 kids, our friends, etc), but I'm hoping there won't be a big divide, between the older and younger crowds.

Hopefully there will be some good karma coming my way this time, when the roles are reversed! :D

Thanks, everyone, and kind regards!

First, in my opinion, who cares. I dreaded walking in a little, but as one girl put it; she's 25, "we are all in tgis together." The first student who said, "Hi, I'm soandso...." was 19. Don't forget, in nursing, you are with some of the smartest, kindest 20-somethings; they are going to be nurses, after all. So, just remember why you are there: to be a nurse. Who cares what they think on that first day. Be confident; you have accomlished a lot to be there, and I am sure you will have friends the first day, and you will probably have friends your age as well.

I am 38. And I just got hired at the level 2 trauma center in the ER, my dream job, while finishing my last year of nursing. So as my gramma used to say, "pooey" to those who are saying you won't get a job at a hospital. The only concern I jave is it's hard for a new grad RN to get straight in to the ER....but they said it was hard to get in, very competitive..at all, and I'm in.

Don't forget why you are in the sea of 25 y/o's...You are going to be nurse, and statistics say part of that clas will change their major 3 more times....but you, at your age, know what you want and will jump in with both feet, frienfs or not...right? Who cares what they think, but again, you will make friends.

Sorry for the typos, on phone, but had to jump in when I saw the posts saying people "our age" won't get jobs at a hospital. I've done it.

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first, in my opinion, who cares. i dreaded walking in a little, but as one girl put it; she's 25, "we are all in tgis together." the first student who said, "hi, i'm soandso...." was 19. don't forget, in nursing, you are with some of the smartest, kindest 20-somethings; they are going to be nurses, after all. so, just remember why you are there: to be a nurse. who cares what they think on that first day. be confident; you have accomlished a lot to be there, and i am sure you will have friends the first day, and you will probably have friends your age as well.

i am 38. and i just got hired at the level 2 trauma center in the er, my dream job, while finishing my last year of nursing. so as my gramma used to say, "pooey" to those who are saying you won't get a job at a hospital. the only concern i jave is it's hard for a new grad rn to get straight in to the er....but they said it was hard to get in, very competitive..at all, and i'm in.

don't forget why you are in the sea of 25 y/o's...you are going to be nurse, and statistics say part of that clas will change their major 3 more times....but you, at your age, know what you want and will jump in with both feet, frienfs or not...right? who cares what they think, but again, you will make friends.

sorry for the typos, on phone, but had to jump in when i saw the posts saying people "our age" won't get jobs at a hospital. i've done it.

:yeah::yeah: you go girl !!!!

"don't forget why you are in the sea of 25 y/o's...you are going to be nurse, and statistics say part of that clas will change their major 3 more times....but you, at your age, know what you want and will jump in with both feet, frienfs or not...right? who cares what they think, but again, you will make friends."

our age group was taught and socialized differently. we did everything in groups , we had no hand held devices -except for the walkman. we had no iphones, pads,pods or even i dogs. there was still corporal punishment back in the 80's and it was very effective. we all knew that sound in the hallway of someone getting licks. and if you were like me involved in sports or cheer squad or drill/dance team ...we had to tryout to be on the team and every week there was a grade check,attendance check,weight check and yes weekly tryouts for that weeks spot. if you did not make the cut for that week you sat in the stands or rode the bench. it made us bust butt to get there and bust butt weekly to do our very best!! :yeah::yeah::heartbeat:heartbeat

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Thank you everyone, especially butterly journey, studentinnursing and tex42 cares, for your supportive and informative replies. It is so incredibly encouraging to read about other people's experiences and successes. You seem like such nice people (you are in nursing, after all, so goes with the territory!) ;)

Only 10 more weeks before classes start, and life as I know it with my present career finishes. It still seems a bit surreal, I must say! It has been a long wait (applied to BScN in Oct 2010, accepted in March 2011, classes start Sept 2011), and that has perhaps given me too long to think about things such as 'what it is going to be like in class with high school grads...' Lol! I am looking forward to finally rolling up my sleeves and getting to work in my studies.

And a huge congrats to studentinnursing, for landing your dream job. I am so happy for you, knowing that it is possible to actually end up working where you most want to. That's just great.

Thanks again, and best of luck to every 'mature' student out there.

Cheers.

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