Older students biased against younger students?

NurseLoveJoy88, ASN, RN · Apr 2, 2009

I don't think older adults are jealous of younger students. I don't know what nursing school you attend, but at my cc we are all a big huge happy family.... Age , race, and etc is not even a factor. Each and every person in nursing school has his and her own story, struggles, and circumstances... not matter at which age. I once also had a man in my class that was in his mid 50's pursuing nursing. I loved him. I have so a high respect for older adults in general, especially when taking up nursing as a second career after earning other degrees.

BabyLady, BSN, RN · Apr 2, 2009

I don't think age should be a factor in who gets a seat either, however, there are pros and cons to both older and younger students.

In my program (and I can only speak for my own), the younger students that have flunked out didn't fail because they were not capable of passing...they just flat out didn't make the nursing courses their top priority. They were doing things like taking trips the weekend before a major exam, spending most of their time with a boyfriend/girlfriend and just didn't put enough hours in to pass.

Our first year, was not that hard.

The older students that haven't made it, have failed for different reasons. We have had a couple of students who are single parents who's children have had major illnesses that required extensive hospitalizations...it's hard to be in class when you have to be at the hospital to make decisions for your children.

We have some students who are responsible for taking care of aged parents, some with tons of children or have husbands that are not supportive and really won't give them a break in order to study.

Others can't quit their full-time job or even go down to part-time because of financial constraints with children.

ErinJane · Apr 2, 2009

I think there is alot of bias language and juvenile behavior on both sides, which has been illustrated nicely by this conversation.

It's across the board. People love to nitpick especially when they feel like they are losing ground or they are insecure and if you are in nursing school you probably arent a stranger to either of those emotions.

Anywho, yeah...it's about the person, not the age :).

lovehospital · Apr 2, 2009

Are you KIDDING me???

I'm 26 and I'm not jealous.

sproeber89 · Apr 2, 2009

I agree with you a lot, but in my classes its only certain people. One instance was a woman was talking about her kids and I made a joke about how I would just make her be my subject for the assessment. The girl was 13, the least she could do is help her mom out. She then snapped back with a "Well you have just sooooo many kids don't you". At times I feel out of place because in the full-time program we only have three of us who are in our early 20's, I'm just 19 and the youngest in the entire program at the moment. I feel it is unfair for them to discriminate against me simply because I really buckled down in high school and got things done. I shouldn't feel like less of a person because I don't have kids or a husband. That's how they make me feel a lot.

lillytiffany · Apr 2, 2009

I'm 22, and I'm not immature, I take my studies very seriously, and i make good grades. Most of the older student in my class are very helpful, wise, and have knowledge that I wish I had, and some are obnoxious think-they-know-it-all, argue with the professors about test questions and assignments, and talk during lectures. But I know some younger students that do the same thing. Bottom line: Personality, not age, make someone successful in nursing school, and i think it's ridiculous to look at it any other way. Yes, the women are entitled to their opininons, but that discriminating and disrespectful, and I know if it was the reciprocal, they would have been just as mad as you are.

tfleuter, BSN, RN · Apr 3, 2009

I feel like I'm a "tweener" with this whole age discussion. If all goes well, the school I will be attending tends to have a wide range in ages and I will fall into the younger category, though definately not the youngest at 26. But I also "feel" like an older student b/c I'm married and have 2 children. So while I have buddied up with other nursing hopefuls who are only a couple years younger than me, we obviously have very different things going on in our lives that make us approach school differently. 2 of my friends are not getting quite the grades I am getting (and possibly not competitive enough for the program) but they are looking into other schools further away, out of state b/c they can easily relocate. Relocation is pretty much not an option for me, and the other universities in my area are just as competitive, so I feel more pressure to get the high grades. As a result, I probably spend more time studying than my "younger" friends, even though I have less free time, b/c I have fewer options.

sharpeimom · Apr 3, 2009

I feel like I'm a "tweener" with this whole age discussion. If all goes well, the school I will be attending tends to have a wide range in ages and I will fall into the younger category, though definately not the youngest at 26. But I also "feel" like an older student b/c I'm married and have 2 children. So while I have buddied up with other nursing hopefuls who are only a couple years younger than me, we obviously have very different things going on in our lives that make us approach school differently. 2 of my friends are not getting quite the grades I am getting (and possibly not competitive enough for the program) but they are looking into other schools further away, out of state b/c they can easily relocate. Relocation is pretty much not an option for me, and the other universities in my area are just as competitive, so I feel more pressure to get the high grades. As a result, I probably spend more time studying than my "younger" friends, even though I have less free time, b/c I have fewer options.

You'll be just fine. I went to college for my first degree during the Viet Nam war and there were a lot of veterans in my classes and, while it was a different type of line drawn between us, the line was there nonetheless. I was 17 and unmarried and uninvolved and very much still my parents' daughter, in classes with married women of varying ages, some with kids and some without, jaded men with varying levels of

cynicism but almost all glad to be home, and some trads about my age and yet, somehow, it all worked. I went to a huge major research university and made friends with people of many ages and cultures. You will succeed too. You'll make friends who are like you and others who are very different. There will always be some lazy, uninterested students and you don't let them bug you because you get to go home at night to a loving family and close out what has been bad.

sharpeimom:paw::paw:

dalgal, ASN, RN · Apr 3, 2009

Im 18 and hear that stuff alll the time. Dont worry about it dear theyre just jealous that we found out what we wanted to do early in life. Good luck with everything :]

Just an aside...not everyone that starts nursing later in life regrets his/her first career. For me, I wouldn't trade my first career experiences for anything in the world...it was just time for a change. These two women may have been just commenting on their personal opinions of younger students and unfortunately not everyone is tactful about not saying hurtful things around others. Like most of the other posters, we all have opinions of others based on our personal experiences-- the trick is to not lump everyone together based on just age (or gender/race/religion/etc...) but I for one hope to be working with young and old when I finally get graduate!!

TLR46 · Apr 3, 2009

I started not to respond to this, but felt the burning desire to do so. I am wondering if this is a "Bash the non-traditional student agenda?" First of all, not all non-traditional students think they know it all, there are a lot of us that are willing to accept failure and challenge and exceed just like the younger students. I am disappointed in the fact that all people are stereotyped into one category. I have been trying for the past 2 years to get into an RN program and just this year was accepted. I look forward to the intense study and heartache just like everyone else. I recently graduated LPN school at age 46 and will be entering RN division at age of 48. I plan on finishing and working, and NO! I do not plan on dieing anytime soon--LOL! I feel it is important to follow your dreams and goals and never let anyone or anything stand in your way of doing so. I wish you much success in your nursing journey and ironically maybe working beside you one day--Who knows? What would you do then?

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · Apr 3, 2009

Uggh, thats the reason I hate non-trads right there. They think they are entitled to more because they are "old wiser blah blah". I find that the non trads are the ones that are having more diffiuclt in the skills area and the theory area because, well at least ours, think they know eveything already. Oh well. Brush it off and get myself through.

Seriously, you HATE non traditional students??? Why do you hate me?? You don't even know me. Going off your post right here, you do have a lot to learn, and I don't think it has to do with your age. You are acting no better then the people you are complaining about, funny that!

This sounds like a statement made by two women standing in line. They are two individuals with their own opinions. By the way, 31 isn't actually very old by my standards. 31 is actually still fairly young.

I never thought it was old until now LOL, I am practically a dinosaur I guess at 29/ 30 this year. LOL Well I do think I found my first gray

i came across something similar as well. I'm 22 years old, and the classmate i was talking to is 62 years old. While we were talking about Nursing school and trying to get into a program, he told me that he would probably just wait to be admitted through waitlist. He then proceeded to tell me that by the time that he would be enrolled in Nursing school, graduate and finally start working, he said he would have about a year to two years left to work as an RN and then retire! he was serious too.
I don't know for some reason i felt upset, I'm not the type to tell a person to not follow their dreams and all, but I just think since he's much older and only plans to work as an RN for 2 years, that his spot should be given to someone else planning to really work long in the field.

Do you realize how many people go into nursing to change their minds after, work for a year and decide it's not for them?? It's a huge accomplishment for a man that age to motivate himself to go back to a college where majority of the people will be much younger then him, but he pushed himself anyway and got in there. BRAVO TO HIM!!! I have mad respect for the much older students. It's not an easy thing to get back into the hustle and bustle of college life and have to be surrounded by people so much younger. You can learn a lot from a man his age. If he gets his place in the RN program, he deserves it just as much as anyone else. If he decides to retire after a few years so be it, he has earned it. It's a fact that older people live much better quality lives when they are active and out there so again, bravo to him, I wish he was in my class so I could chat with him.

Thank you for your opinions. I just want to clarify that I used the term "older" simply because they are significantly older than I am. I have been in classes with fellow 20 year olds as well as 60 year olds and I really do feel like it's all about the individual, not the age. This is why it just erked me with what these women were saying, and for some of you posters... this wasn't a thread for you guys to vent about the younger people in your programs, you cannot group people together because of age because clearly not every traditional student is like that, the same way I am saying that not every non trad has the viewpoints shown on this thread.

Speaking of biased, I find it funny you chose to only scold the "older" posters for talking about the younger posters, but didn't say anything about the comments being made to rag on the older students by the younger ones :rolleyes:

Anyway, I often feel out of place in my class, it seems the students are either much younger then me or much older then me. I do also notice some generalizations in the generations. Not in all of them but I for sure notice a pattern in both the older and younger.

I do not have another degree, I am non traditional, it wasn't that I didn't know what I wanted to do with my life, I knew what I wanted to do, I wanted to be a mom and have kids and get married. I did things backwards and I don't have any regrets, in fact I figured I wouldn't even go to college and just be a SAHM but as my kids got older I wanted to do more with my life. I was a teen mom (16 to be exact) I left the father when I was pregnant and moved to another state, went to HS and graduated and got with my now husband. He proposed and I got pregnant and we waited to marry until after I had the baby. A few years ago I thought long and hard about what I wanted to do and decided on nursing. So jealous??? Nope, not one bit. I wouldn't change any of the choices I have made. I can go to college and not have to work and be able to pay for it and be able to put most all my focus into school all while my boys are cheering me on.

We are all individuals and all have a "story" and should be treated as such. It's ignorant to judge an entire age group on select people. :twocents:

tothepointeLVN, LVN · Apr 3, 2009

Ddi anyone at any point stop to think that maybe these ladies were voicing wishful thinking thoughts. I often make statement I don't always truely believe would ever happen. Like how we should get issued littmans and free healthy lunches and lattes

Wouldn't it be nice if you were an older student to skip the line because you were older? Seems unfair to the young and it IS but what you need to understand is the older you get and when you feel like you have achieved anything YET there's a sort of low level panic that goes on.