Any Other Mid-Life Students?

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

Published

Hello all. I'm curious as to whether there are any new nursing students out there who are over 40.

I find myself, a retired police officer (who has also has worked on and off as a CNA since 1990) looking to go back to school. I am married to a wonderful man who works as a cattleman/cowboy. But due to that, we have no insurance, very little retirement and no guarantee how long his body will stay intact. Subsequently, I am seriously looking at going back to school. I currently work as a manager for a local restaurant. And although I do not base my personal worth on what I do for a living, I believe that I need to do something to help secure our future.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Blessings - Kerri

38 here, just retired from the Army and starting a second-degree BSN this May. I'll be 40 when I graduate. We can do this!

0 Votes
Specializes in PICU.

I am 35, I have a 15 year old, 3 year old and a 3 month old and I'm currently enrolled in chemistry as of today, praise God! I was on the waiting list and finally got in today :) after this class, i have 3 more classes, Anatomy, physiology and micro. I plan on applying to my adn program in September of this year. I should be done when I'm 38 :)

0 Votes
Specializes in Med-surg, home care.

32, married with 3 kids (ages 8, 3, and 2) and currently work f/t in another field. I want to enroll in nursing school by 2015 so I will be about 35 years old then and kids will all be school aged. I actually was a certified CNA back in HS but never used it but I wasn't ready for nursing then. Now I feel I am.

0 Votes

Count me in at 46! Trying to wrap up the remaining sciences for the nursing program... You are in good company! ;)

0 Votes
Specializes in Hospice, Palliative Care.

Good day, Kerri:

I'm going to be 50 this year; and just applied to nursing school after spending 17.5 years managing a small business (most of my knowledge is in business management and IT).

I was blessed this past week being able to talk to two other students who are in their 3rd semester at the school for which I applied; both of them were past 40 (one just turned 52 late last year).

Don't let age be a factor. You can do it.

Thank you.

0 Votes
Specializes in OMFS, Dentistry.

Good morning,

I am 35 years old and spent the last 17 years in dentistry. I will be finished with all non nursing classes in August and will begin to apply to programs. After long and careful thought between hygiene, imaging, or nursing..... my wonderful husband opened my eyes to nursing. (He is a paramedic)

Never let age get in the way, it is just a number!!!

Good luck and take care!:yes:

0 Votes

You are never to old to follow your dream! I started school at 36. Became an RN at 39. I thought I missed out on my chance to have another baby, but my son turns one next month (I'm 42). Go for it. There are many advantages to being an older student. Good luck!

0 Votes
Specializes in Hospitalist Medicine.

I'll be 43 on my next birthday. I graduated with my Associate in Science back in 1994, so it's been 18+ years since I've been to school. Just started going back in June 2012. You are NOT alone!!!! (As you can probably tell by the overwhelming responses you've received) :up:

I've just finished my pre-requisites and now I'm waiting to find out if I'll be accepted into nursing school (won't know until April). I'm doing my phlebotomy externship at the hospital and I tell you, it's so much easier to fit in when most of the staff is the same age. There are few young people in this department, so I feel like I've been working there for a lot longer than I have :) The patients also tend to think that you're more experienced, so they are more relaxed around you, which is a plus when you're trying to draw blood :D

While I've noticed some younger nurses working at the hospital, the majority seem to be around my age. I've also noticed at school, when I see the nursing students on break from class, many of them are older students. I think our maturity helps! :)

0 Votes

Hello, Kerri.

I am not over 40 yet but will be 40 in a few months. I will be starting my nursing program hopefully in April and I too have been out of school for 13 years. I a needless to say nervous. But you might be surprised how many of us are out there. I am a mother of 2. I have a 5 yr old and a 3 year old. When do you start your program?

Sandra

0 Votes

Add me to the boat, too! I will be 40 in August. I am the mother of 2 ages 9 and 11. I have worked in the same office for 16 years and decided it was time for something new. I desperately need a change of pace and change of scenery. I have gotten too comfortable in this job and I feel like my mind is just wasting away. I am studying to take the TEAS V exam in March with hopes of being accepted to an LPN program in Rochester, NY. I'm scared to death...not just about going back to school, but about figuring out how to do it while managing my home, my family, etc. But there's no time like the present. A previous poster said, the time is going to pass anyway. I could do nothing and be sitting at this same desk 5 years from now, or I can make a much-needed change and be a nurse 5 years from now...so, here i go!!

0 Votes

I have to say that I say the forum, and decided to stop by and read, and I can say that you guys are an inspiration. My dream is to become a nurse anesthetist or a midwife, and I am 22, about to turn 23 in april and waiting to see if I will be accepted for nursing this fall, and I have been feeling like I'm getting older and by the time I specialize it will be too late for me since by then I hope to have a bigger family and a home of my own and it will be almost impossible to go back to school and specialize during those times. But now I have to laugh at myself. I guess this whole waiting game of being accepted is making me panic waayyyy too much over nothing.

0 Votes

I am on my last semester of pre-reqs and start an accelerated BSN program in May. I am 39, turning 40 in a couple of months. I definately take school more seriously now that I know what I want to do and more importantly, I am paying for all of it! I am looking forward to getting to clinicals and experiencing that. If all goes well, I will be 42 when I graduate. I'll get to 42 anyway...may as well be learning and growing in life and career.

0 Votes
+ Add a Comment