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 am "nontraditional" as well, 37 years old, 2 kids, just divorced after 19 years, yikes! All I can think is I really must want to do this, as I believe I was born to do it, but every day I get through I know I'm one step closer to helping people as well as being a role model for my two boys, who unfortunately don't have a male role model. Anyhoo, I'm on my last prereq for the ADN program at my community college after a year and a half and have stayed full-time, and to fill in "holes" am almost done with my BSN prereqs as well! One thing about us "older" students, we are there to learn and we get way more out of it, in my opinion, because we put more into it. I am awaiting acceptance (have to wait til April to find out) for the fall 2010 ADN program. I feel older than I am some days because I'm always on the go, but I am not the oldest in most of my classes; there are older and then there are lots of younger of course, but I have had no uncomfortable situations; ya know, like the first day felt strange and I made 3 friends that day, all about my age, and we ended up in half our classes together. I even had to transfer after my first year to a bigger city, but there are just as many "older" students here as well.

Good luck to you! Who the heck cares how old you are anyway?! :rolleyes: We are here to do one thing, be nurses! :nurse:

I was 38 when I graduated RN school. Guess that was pretty young compaired to some stories here!

Specializes in Acute Pulmonary, Intermediate Care.

I'm 43 and not sure that i'm the oldest... but i'm the only one with kids, and they are all grown :yelclap::cheers::w00t::w00t:

Ok, I love my kids, but I'm having a GREAT time now that i've gone back to school. I love nursing school! I'm in a BSN program, and there are 40 in my cohort. I'll graduate in 2012 and i'll be 45.

Hi! I am taking my first prereq right now and am 42 years old. I was pleasantly surprised that there were 3 other women in my class who were there to pursue nursing and were my age and older. I will be 44 when I go into the nursing program, as I am only planning on one prereq per semester.

I am 42 as well in my 2nd semester of LPN school, so you are not alone! Go for it!

I'm 44 and not (quite) the oldest in my classes. I think the first few weeks in school everyone was sizing up everyone else for age, culture, smarts, social status, etc. Sure there are differences between me and some of the 20-somethings, but I remind myself not to hold it against them. I encourage them and we work together.

Speaking in broad generalities, I will say that some of them have greater physical stamina than I do after 12-hour clinicals. I will also say that I have more professional behavior than some of them. Age can be a huge benefit -- so enjoy!

I am 65 - once I enter the program I should have my RN in a year and a half if all goes well

OH THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR AGE!!!! :yeah::yeah: I'm 60; just finishing up my pre-req's. My sister and husband think I'm absolutely insane for doing this. I really don't care what they think because I'm going to continue on this new journey and you have definately inspired me! THANK YOU! And, yes, I know what I'm in for...I taught school for 30 years and if anyone thinks that's an easy job---they've never taught 180 kids every day.

I am 50 years old and just went back and finished my RN from LPN. This made me 48 when I finished many of the students in our class were in their 40s and there were young ones too. We all learned from each other from different life situations and points of view related to our ages but each had something good to offer. I know that I make a much more patient nurse and student than I would have when I was younger. If you want this you can do it don't let being older discourage you. We should always seek to keep learning along lifes journey.:twocents:

Specializes in OrthoRehab/Med-Surg.

Hi Marie,

I am 41. I will be 42 when I graduate with my ADN, and I intend on continuing to MSN. You're never too old and I believe that you are exactly where God wants you to be, no matter what your age! Nursing is a calling, and age has nothing to do with it, life experience has lead me to where I am today. Kudos to you for your courage and good luck with your studies!

Tina:yeah:

Hi all older women! I'm 47 with two children, ages 4 & 6. Just finished Anatomy II. Thank god I have an Associates Degree, so I have all the prereq's out of the way. I want to apply to a nursing program, but I am worried about getting through it all. :uhoh3: It was hard enough studying for anatomy with the 2 kids, never mind actual nursing school!

AND with all the studying I did for anatomy, I ended up with a B, not even an A. Very frustrating! :mad: Anybody else feel this way?

Specializes in LPN/CNA.

:grad: I will soon be 54. At 53 after several years I received my LPN. I am still in school working towards my RN. If all goes as planned will continue on to get BS then MSN. I figure by the time I'm all done there will be no time for retirement just time for my fellow students to take care of me. We are never too old to learn, although the memorizing is killin' me! LOL. I love being around my younger classmates...they keep me young! Sad thing is..I can't find a LPN job. So, I work as a caregiver on the weekends for now. Oh yea....how old are you? You never did say. Blessings to all!

I am 47 years young! I am a paramedic on rescue continuing my career..I score better than the younger students.. age is a state of mind ladies!!!!!!!!!!!

The world is our oyster!!!! GodSpeedddd..I graduate in May 2010..:nurse:

Hi! I thought I'd top out as the oldest one to reply, but I'm a mere 54 and applying for programs in the fall....after 22 years of being a paramedic (I may be one of the oldest women paramedics....) Good luck to us all, of any age!! deb

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