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.:)

Specializes in Trauma, ER, ICU, CCU, PACU, GI, Cardiology, OR.

This subject is close & dear to my heart, for the simple reason that I'm a season nurse who is back in school for my MSN... and trust me for me is not easy to compete with younger classmates. However, I have set a goal and I'm going to achieve it. Moreover, by the time I'm through I'll be 57yrs. therefore, it is never too late to following any dream, best of luck in all of your future endeavors:yelclap:

Specializes in criminal.
Don't commend me yet! :) I have been slowly working my way thru my prereqs and it has been a huge adjustment for our family, but I got all of them finished up. I start my RN program at Queens University here in Charlotte this coming Wednesday! Hoping nursing school won't completely destroy my family. ;)

I was the oldest in my class, I was 44. The other students came to me for support and that was great for me. In clinicals I was dx with bone ca and told to " clean house" so I quit and did. I had been going 51/2 years part and full time. I had gpa of 3.8??. One year later- only Osteoporosis. In clinicals at St Davids I took a LONG REAL look at the RNs ( have been LVN for 36 years ) and asked them if they were happy with their choice of profession. Not ONE told me yes. That blew me out of the water. I will stay a L.V.N. as I do not want to " eat my own". In all those years I have worked under ALOT ALOT of supervisors. and found that the LVNs' personalities and team work more to my comfort.

THe first day of class my Professor told the whole class " You will think,dream,live and have nothing on your mind but RN work. The majority of you will either, get a divorce,( I did ), seperate, have break down, and most will fail." I will never forget those words. In one class the Professor said, " Look to your left then look to your right, those people will not be there in 2 weeks. This was a microbio class. He was right. I told my lab partner, I WILL N0T drop this class as I will NOT take it over. Of all my classes I made "A"s and 2 "B". and one B was in Micro.

I commend all who pursue this field and wish the VERY VERY best to you. Stay strong as that is WHAT IT TAKES!!!!!

REMEMBER THIS WILL PASS, and you will survive, just tell hubby and family that this ISSSSSSSSSSS only temporary!! and you love them

respectfully and hang tough, ohhh and also blessings

Dee

I am an older student too - but have to ask where are you that you can finish prereqs in the Spring and apply for Fall? Here in So Cal they have stopped all conditional acceptance, so I have to finish this spring then apply next fall for the following year (which puts me out of school and work for over a year). All colleges do conditional acceptance (can you imagine if every high school student had to sit out a year before starting college?) except nursing schools. They have so many applicants now days, they don't need conditionals (which only means you have one semester to go and they accept you based on your keeping your GPA up for that last semester). It wasn't like this when I started the prereq program, but it is now. So, where is it different?

Specializes in Internal Medicine, Pulmonology.

46 year old here. Hoping to graduate RN program by Fall 2012. :-)

Specializes in criminal.

I was 40 something when I went back and made A's in A&P 1and 2. I used a buddy,flash cards, and real stuff. My husband hunted so I had him take a deer head cut it lenght way. I took it, the lungs,heart,liver and kidneys to class. Most students had only seen stuff in Formaldahide. It was really great. I saved the " private parts" in a zip lock, hair and all. gave them to a young student that was struggling and told her she had to identify 4 parts. After she stopped wencing, she did it. Wiith more real stuff, her interest peaked and she made a great grade. One student even took the lungs home to her daughter, she was supprised that they floated.

Use your imagination, be strong but most of all be committed, it WILL take All you strength and ALL, that is ALL your attention.

Prayers

Thanks. That's very interesting that you did that!! I used to help my dad dress deer after his hunting trips. My professor doesn't "teach" us, he just expects us to do the work on our own. He says he is not our "teacher," he is our "coach."

Specializes in criminal.

You might want to read my A&P suggestion about deer in another quote.

Dee

Specializes in Care Coordination, MDS, med-surg, Peds.

today, I am 52, and am working on my BSN. I was 33 in LPN school, 38 in RN, andw 52.... everyday learning!!!!!

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.:)

How old are you? :lol2:

I am 37 and start nursing school in Fall 2011!! In my Micro class there are a couple ladies quite older than me who are going into nursing.

Specializes in Community Health.

Hi, Keep your chin up! In every class that graduates someone is the oldest. :nurse: I was the oldest in my graduating class. I was 42 at the time. Now I'm back in school getting my Masters of Nursing, Family Nurse Practitioner. I am no longer the oldest in my classes. :D Most of the class is around my age or older. Plus, when you start working and have been a nurse for a year or so, your age will benefit you in many ways. People in general like having a nurse that looks like she knows what she is doing. ;)

I am 43 y.o., I just graduated with BSN in 12/2009 at a traditional college and there several older nurses in my class. I was a LPN for 10 1/2 years degree received from a traditional college but I did my RN thru Excelsior College and have been RN for 2 years now. I wish all nurses luck because it can be done.

i started my pre-req's just as i turned 45....i'm still pushing through and officially start my second semester next monday. i'm sure by the time i'm done with the entire program, i'll be somewhere between 47 & 48...i don't care; i just want to graduate and keep going as far as i can.

i will say that it makes my heart smile to know that i am not alone in pursuing a career in nursing at this stage in life. in fact, someone i grew up with just asked me what took me so long to realize my calling! anyway, as this thread shows, you have a lot of support and age truly is a number.

good luck & God bless!

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