Advice PLEASE - Considering Nursing @ 39

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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:idea: Looking for advise...

Thanks for reading!

Have you considered applying at Phoenix community college? The program is still 2 years (or 16 months if you get on the accelerated track). The total cost is around $6,000.

As for your age, not an issue! I am 45 and starting nursing school. I figure I have 20+ years to work after I graduate. I too left a good paying (but icky) job to enter nursing.

Best of luck

I don't have a degree or any prereqs (to speak of) completed. Is it possible that Phoenix College could still be an option? Including the 2-year option? The reason that I'm trying to take "the fastest route" (without having prereqs/associates degree) is that I am used to making a good salary already (and have a mortgage to match) and I don't want to worry about trying to make that mortgage (making lesser pay) for a longer period than I have to. But, I so appreciate the information that everyone has given me. At 39, if I get a degree - I will be the first person in my family to have one (even an associates). So, I don't know much about where to go/what to ask, etc. I'm very smart (and modest - believe it or not :wink2: ) - but, college just wasn't on the radar in my world.

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I actually graduated when I was 37. I was pregnant with my second son when I was in my anatomy and physiology class. I think age is not a factor. The most important is you have to ask yourself, can you stand working in the hospital envirnoment? There are a lot of cons working in this field. If I have a second chance I would study radiology or sonography instead of nursing. Nursing is a hard job because you have to listen to the patients as well as the doctors. You have to have thick skin to deal with a lot of nasty mean docs. You have to tolerate long working hours and go without taking a break sometimes.

I am in nursing for about 1 year and I am already sick of it.

I am not making 65,000 yet but my friend who has been a nurse for 5 years, she is going to get a home health job that promised her 65,000/yr. (but who knows how many days in a week she has to work?)

I hate to be negative but you might want to volunteer in a hospital for a few days and see how nurses work. It is not a easy job that's all I want to tell you. Sorry, that I am not helping much.

Thank you for your comment.

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I'm 60 and starting in the fall of 2007. Can't wait! I think it is in each of us to be what we have always wanted to be. Some folks think about it and wish and some begin.

"If it is to be, its up to me"

Good luck with your decision.

Susan

Congratulations and Thank you Susan!

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wow thats a lot of money for school, are you choosing that because you can get in right away?

I am 38 still have 3 more years to go if everything goes according to my "plan" lol.

good luck to you!

ps I go to a community college where I pay $20./ credit hour, however if I found a school near me that would take me without all these hoops and high grades and waiting I would probably consider paying more too.

I can get right in. No waiting lists like many schools here. The tuition includes everything: books, scrubs, fees, etc. But, the more I think about it - the more the money sounds a bit out of line. Ugh! Decisions - Decisions! :) Thanks for replying!

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I am 38, just finished my LPN, planning on going back for my RN, by my count I will be 40 by the time that is finished.

I left a 50,000/yr customer service job to do this and never regretted it. The year out of work has been a struggle, but it all came out great in the end.

Best of luck to you...you can do it!

Lori -

Thank you so much for your response. Everything everyone is sharing is so helpful. It's a big step -

A question for you - Why did you choose to become a premium member of allnurses.com? I'm definitely considering it - What a fabulous site this is! And, I'm impressed with the caliber of individuals who I've communicated with.

Thanks Again!

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I am 34 and starting ASN program in January. I finally learned what I wanted to be when I grow up!

It's never too late to pursue what you are passionate about. I say go for it! The education will pay itself back with the first year of work, plus you will be working in a field you love for the rest of your life.

Mixy - A motivator, you are! Thanks for response!!

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Specializes in ER/Trauma.
Lori -

Thank you so much for your response. Everything everyone is sharing is so helpful. It's a big step - having chosen to leave a job with an excellent salary and 16 years seniority (but, the environment has been toxic, at best, for over 3 years now). And, being single with a mortgage makes the pressure of "getting things in order" a bit challenging.

A question for you - Why did you choose to become a premium member of allnurses.com? I'm definitely considering it - What a fabulous site this is! And, I'm impressed with the caliber of individuals who I've communicated with.

Thanks Again!

Hey, no problem, glad to be of help. And I thought since I had been in a similar situation, I could shed some light on the subject. I was in telcom for years, the constant pressure to make sales, threats of layoffs was getting too much to bear. I understand putting things in order, we prepared financially for a long time, but in the end, the pressure of that nice $$ coming in was difficult. I took a part time job at 10.00/hr just for a bit of extra coming in. Also, I decided I could do an LPN program for a year rather than 2 years in an RN program easier. This way, I could get back to work in a year making good money instead of waiting 2. Should be easier to transisiton for me to RN as well.

As for the premium membership...well I have been around here for a couple of years. I like the breakroom topics and the premium forums. Plus I thought since I get so much from this site, buying the premium membership is my way of supporting the site back. Brian is awesome and running this site for us is a great thing. I wanted to be a part of helping him provide this for us.

Good luck and PM me anytime. I have SO been where you are!

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Accelerated programs are tough enough without working on top of it. I don't think what you're proposing can be done, quite honestly. Mind if I chart an alternate plan for you?

Get your CNA like you have planned. While doing that, take the prereqs for Gateway's FastTrack LPN program: Certificate : Practical Nurse Fast Track : Nursing : GateWay Community College. It's only two courses -- a three credit and a one credit. I believe they both can be taken online through Rio Maricopa Community College, Maricopa County Community College, Rio Salado College for Distance Learning Online Education, Rio Salado Community College (who offers course start dates every two to four weeks for most courses).

Apply to Gateway's FastTrack LPN program. If there's a wait to get in, start knocking out your prereqs for the RN program: http://nursing.gatewaycc.edu/NR/rdonlyres/42849C85-302D-47C6-86A5-E4B9AF5494E1/0/MCCDNPGenericInfoApp2007rev51006.pdf (see page 7).

Once you've got your LPN courses completed, you could go take the licensing exam, after which you could work as an LPN while you finished up your RN. Also once you've got your LPN courses completed, apply for Advanced Placement into the RN program (no wait as far as I know).

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Accelerated programs are tough enough without working on top of it. I don't think what you're proposing can be done, quite honestly. Mind if I chart an alternate plan for you?

Get your CNA like you have planned. While doing that, take the prereqs for Gateway's FastTrack LPN program: Certificate : Practical Nurse Fast Track : Nursing : GateWay Community College. It's only two courses -- a three credit and a one credit. I believe they both can be taken online through Rio Maricopa Community College, Maricopa County Community College, Rio Salado College for Distance Learning Online Education, Rio Salado Community College (who offers course start dates every two to four weeks for most courses).

Apply to Gateway's FastTrack LPN program. If there's a wait to get in, start knocking out your prereqs for the RN program: http://nursing.gatewaycc.edu/NR/rdonlyres/42849C85-302D-47C6-86A5-E4B9AF5494E1/0/MCCDNPGenericInfoApp2007rev51006.pdf (see page 7).

Once you've got your LPN courses completed, you could go take the licensing exam, after which you could work as an LPN while you finished up your RN. Also once you've got your LPN courses completed, apply for Advanced Placement into the RN program (no wait as far as I know).

Wow! Thank you for your opinion, honesty and detailed "course" of action. VERY helpful! I'm so excited. I can't wait to get to work* tomorrow and start making calls, etc. (*short-timers disease - trying to get back some of the unpaid O/T hours I worked over the last 16 years! - Just Kidding...Kind of! :lol2:).

RMBnAZ

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I say go for it. I graduated today, at age 39. :) I didn't work until this last summer, and then did so as a CNA full-time over the summer and then part time this Fall during my final semester. You can do it.

I understand about the waiting. It took long enough with the pre-req's!

One thing to keep in mind. 3 years will pass regardless of whether or not you decide to pursue this dream. Why not go ahead and do it? Just think, in 3 years, you will have RN attached to your name, and you will still be 42!

I went the CC route, and have about 8,000 to pay back. I can tell you that is not near as bitter a pill to swallow as 40K would be, but if I had had to do it, I would have done what you are doing.

Good luck! :)

Congrats on fininishing that is so awesome!!!

I am 38 and hope to finish by the time I am 41 so yes I agree with you, I will be 41 with or without my Rn degree its what keeps me going. I say going to school is my therapy, most of my family has cracked at 40 I am taking precautions LOL.

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I have taken all of my pre-reqs for the RN program online. I lprefer not to sit in class and have someone repeat what I have already read. I know that one of the pre-reqs for the LPN program used to be HCC130, basically legal and ethical issues in healthcare. It is designed to make you think about the variables you face as a healthcare professional. You would have no problem doing that online (if it is still a requirement).

One word of caution, if you take pre-reqs online and work, do not overload on your first semester. Some instructors expect a lot of work for low credit classes.

Blessed Be

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Cardiac.

I'm in a similar situation to you except I'm doing it 15 years later.

I got laid off from an $80,000/yr job at the age of 54. I must say that although I usually didn't hate the job and often enjoyed it, I didn't feel a passion for it. To satisfy my lifelong interest in taking care of sick people I've been volunteering at a local EMS 12-25 hrs/week for the last 25+years.

When I got laid off I decided to finally go for the RN. As you may imagine I felt the same sense of urgency to get going and get finished, only with 15 years more urgency.

I got accepted immediately into a well respected 22 month hospital diploma program in our city. The tuition for that program is only about $15000 and they have a tuition forgiveness package if I work for 2 years in their system (the largest system in the area). I figure that I can get the RN and start working and then finish the BSN with my employer paying for it. Because I have a BS and MS in a science I've been led to believe I can finish the BSN fairly quickly. I've only finished one term and as far as I know none of us old folks (there are a bunch of 40 and 50 somethings) had any trouble, though it is a lot of work.

So, depending on circumstances in your locale, I'd at least look into the hospital programs, if you have any, as a cost effective way to get to the same goal.

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