Nursing school at 38?

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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I have been a stay at home mom for 15 years. I'm almost 38 years old. I haven't been to college. I've just been raising my kids because while they've been young, I've felt that was my duty. Now, I'm having the urge to put me first. But is it too late?

I'd have to take all of the pre-requisites. I don't even know the process of applying for school. I have always wanted to be a nurse...but raising my kids came first.

Is it too late for me? Would I even be considered for a job? I'm an ultra marathon runner, I have always taken good care of myself, so I hope I don't look like a hag or anything. I take nutrition and fitness seriously and I think it shows in my appearance.

I feel almost like this is my moment to try for this but I can't get the negativity put of my head saying that 37 is too old to start.

Any advice? Give it to me straight and I really appreciate your comments.

I have been a stay at home mom for 15 years. I'm almost 38 years old. I haven't been to college. I've just been raising my kids because while they've been young, I've felt that was my duty. Now, I'm having the urge to put me first. But is it too late?

I'd have to take all of the pre-requisites. I don't even know the process of applying for school. I have always wanted to be a nurse...but raising my kids came first.

Is it too late for me? Would I even be considered for a job? I'm an ultra marathon runner, I have always taken good care of myself, so I hope I don't look like a hag or anything. I take nutrition and fitness seriously and I think it shows in my appearance.

I feel almost like this is my moment to try for this but I can't get the negativity put of my head saying that 37 is too old to start.

Any advice? Give it to me straight and I really appreciate your comments.

38 is fine! I'm 30 and just now going for it. I was going to wait until I'm 40. Life is short. Being a nurse only takes 1-4 years depending on if you wanna do LPN, RN, or get your BSN. You are worried about your looks. I mean NO offense to anyone but some of the nurses I have seen kind of do look like hags. Even if you did but are able to handle the physical demands of the job you should be fine. (I mean I am no better then them or anyone. I'm just keeping it real for informational purposes. LOL) I MEAN I even seen my far share of overweight nurses (I'm a bit on the heavy side myself). So yeah you should be fine. Don't worry go for it!

Edit: Btw I really don't like using that word hag. I just used it because the OP did. I feel bad saying that. Let's just say they lacked what society deems beautiful, but they were amazing people. You don't really notice things like that (at least I don't) when I was working as a CNA or a patient in the hospital.

You could start with an associates degree in nursing. The school I will (hopefully) be attending requires: Anatomy and Physiology 1 and 2 and Microbiology. There is also a gen ed test to take and pass to make sure you are academically ready for a career in healthcare.

You will definitely need to brush up on math and science though as these skills are a *must* for nursing.

I'm trying to gather as much information as possible right now! The thought of having to learn sciences and math is terrifying but I can't stop thinking "What if I actually did it though?"

It would take me a long time to even get through the pre-requisites. I did find a list of pre-requisites for my local community college. I'd need to finish those and then I could enter nursing school. So, let's say you get all of your pre-requisites, then you enter a 2 year program for nursing. What do those first classes look like? Is it more advanced Chem, Bio, math? Or is it more hands on at that point?

I truly appreciate everyone's answers! This is a whole new world for me. I appreciate the encouragement! Thanks for the good "shake." =)

My advice. Go for a CNA first. Inexpensive 6 week program. Do the job a few months. If you hate it, move on. If you love it, go for your Associates. Better to not invest too much time and money into something you may not like.

They say two-year program but that's just the nursing courses. There is no way to take those with prerequisites. You usually have to apply the the professional phase of the program and there is a lot of competition. I had a previous degree in another discipline and taking just the sciences and nursing courses took three years. My class ranged in age from straight out of high school to mid 50s. 38 is young.

Best of luck to you.

Specializes in MICU.

I'm 33, married and had kids young and never went to college either. I've been working through my prerequisites for two years (slowly, cause young kids). I also was terrified at math and science, I wasn't a super student in high school and terrible in those fields. But maturity and determination are very valuable and as an "older" student I was so afraid I entered this as an underdog but that really has not been the case. Because I had no recent (or firm) grasp on anything stem, I started slow and took a few more classes than I needed to to build a good foundation. A decision I do not regret one bit.

So as someone starting from scratch after 10+ years as a stay at home parent, these are the classes I've taken and in this order: (* indicate actual prereq vs. optional)

semester 1:

Beginning algebra (math A)

Intro. To composition* (eng 1A)

Summer: psychology*

Semester 2:

Intermediate algebra*

Foundations of chemistry

Semester 3:

Statistics*

Chemistry 2A*

Human development*

Summer:

English 1B*

Nutrition*

Semester 4: (this is my current class)

Anatomy*

Future Semester 5:

physiology*

Summer:

Sociology*

Future Semester 6:

Microbiology*

Semester 7:

Apply to the program and those first classes in the actual program are hands on, in a hospital setting within 3 weeks of the start date.

Also, I'm only older than maybe 3/4 of the students in any of these classes I've taken. There are people of all ages. I purposely went at a slow pace because I didn't want to apply to the program until my youngest was in school. Your school's prerequisites might vary a little, but basically these classes seem to be the general classes everywhere. Talk to a guidance counselor! It's definitely not too late. Maybe you'll need to take a few refreshers before you really get into it, but if there is a will, there is a way!

Don't pass it up if you have always wanted to be a nurse pursue it...time will pass either way might as well use it to become a nurse!

Don't pass it up if you have always wanted to be a nurse pursue it...time will pass either way might as well use it to become a nurse!

I keep thinking that. I'm going to be in my 40s either way. I'd rather be a nurse than working at Walmart or in some customer service job. I crave things that are meaningful. Thanks for the encouragement!

I am 43 and just finishing prerequisites so that I can begin my nursing courses next May. I have an 18 yr old daughter who just started college as well!

I have been a stay at home mom for 15 years. I'm almost 38 years old. I haven't been to college. I've just been raising my kids because while they've been young, I've felt that was my duty. Now, I'm having the urge to put me first. But is it too late?

I'd have to take all of the pre-requisites. I don't even know the process of applying for school. I have always wanted to be a nurse...but raising my kids came first.

Is it too late for me? Would I even be considered for a job? I'm an ultra marathon runner, I have always taken good care of myself, so I hope I don't look like a hag or anything. I take nutrition and fitness seriously and I think it shows in my appearance.

I feel almost like this is my moment to try for this but I can't get the negativity put of my head saying that 37 is too old to start.

Any advice? Give it to me straight and I really appreciate your comments.

Of course it's not too late. But it's a long road. I would try for an associate's RN program. It will take you a year or two to get through pre-reqs and then two years of school after that. And it's stupid hard to get into RN school these days, so you want to make sure your gpa on your pre-reqs is at least a 3.5.

Heck yeah! I'm 38 this year and just graduated with my BSN...my dad is 55 and just graduated this year as well with his ADN. Almost never too late!

Heck yeah! I'm 38 this year and just graduated with my BSN...my dad is 55 and just graduated this year as well with his ADN. Almost never too late!

Inspirational! I'm loving all of these encouraging stories! Great job to all of you!

Congratulations and good vibes to you for wanting to even start this rewarding journey. I apologize for the lengthy post, however when I saw your questions, it inspired me to respond, as I too felt like I was in the same boat as you when I first started.

I am currently 37 years old, just graduated with my ASN in August 2018, JUST passed my NCLEX 2 weeks ago, and JUST landed my first job in a residency w/ the ICU department, which I start in 2 weeks. I started this entire journey at 35 as a single mom, newly laid off from a dream job in the plastic surgery industry, just moved out of my boyfriends home (serious bf but not married, felt like a divorce lol,) practically broke (I had to actually move back home). If I could do it, I know you could too!!! :)

I enrolled in an accelerated program, which allowed me to complete the nursing program in 14 months. I did have to take pre-requisites, however, I was able to find an ACCREDITED private college, that had pre-requisite classes that were only 1 month long for each class. (anatomy, algebra, micro-biology, etc). I had a few college courses under my belt from when I was younger, that I was able to transfer over, so my pre-req's took me 6 months, which I completed online while working. The KEY IS TO FIND A SCHOOL THAT IS ACCREDITED (if you are not attending a state college). I say this, bc some of the Universities that offer the accelerated programs are NOT ACCREDITED by the state, meaning that your credits will not transfer to other colleges should you decide to further your education, and it is almost impossible to find a job in a hospital, as they require you to have graduated from an ACCREDITED university.

Next, yes, you will meet with an admissions counselor who will advise you on what most people have stated on your comments. You will need to take an entrance exam, that you can most certainly study for.

Nursing school, was one of the most challenging things I have ever done in my life, but it has also been the MOST rewarding. I feel that now that we are a little "seasoned" we appreciate life's gifts more than we would have when we were younger, so if you are making this decision now, you are more than likely going to be very passionate about it, and committed. (not to say others at different ages are not, but, our choices now tend to be more thought out as we have life experience under our belts). In my cohort, I was not the youngest and I was not the oldest. I believe there were 3-4 others who were in their 40's and this was their second and even third career move. I also worked in the hospital as a patient care tech, while in school and met several other nurses who were in their 40's, and made this their second career. (both men and women).

The classes in RN school are hard to explain. You will learn the Fundamentals (hands on) - actually first semester, and then move on to disease processes and specialties such as maternity, pediatrics and advanced adult health. The material is challenging, but if you put your mind to it, which you stated you are an ultra marathon runner, then I'm sure you can easily attain it. Also, in school you are honing in on your critical thinking skills and perfecting them. What I mean by this, is that not only are you learning content and material, but you are learning how to CRITICALLY THINK in emergency situations and clinical settings. School will completely change the way you intake information, process ALL OF THE facts and how you initially ACT upon situations. THAT is nursing school. You will learn priority and delegation in ALL situations pertaining to the medical field. So erase the technicalities from your mind, yes you will learn nursing procedures, however you will learn WHAT/HOW to think in situations more. It is very hard to explain, but I feel like that is the best way to sum it up. You will learn a lot about yourself during the process but from the sounds of it, you seem very focused, driven and inquisitive. (All signs of a good nurse... nurses ASK QUESTIONS and want to know the ENTIRE story before making the best clinical judgement. It's all part of assessing, which is exactly what you are doing now.)

Make the first step and get your foot on the campus and meet with an advisor. If you can find a program that is ACCELERATED and ACCREDITED, then go for it. You will be done a heck of a lot faster. Just bear in mind that these programs are private, and can be WAY more expensive and I definitely used student loans to the max. Also, working during school (specifically during the core program) is incredibly discouraged. You stated you were a stay at home mom, so I'm guessing you had a good support system which will allow you to be work free. I only worked part time and for 2 semesters. I immediately had to stop b/c for me, it was challenging. My classes were 2-3 days a week, with 1 or 2 days (depending on the semester) of clinical rotations in the hospital. (each week), So basically, you are full time with 4-5 days a week set aside for RN-ing. Not to mention, exams every week, hours upon hours of studying. I commend those who actually worked full time during school. Plus you also have 2 children that you are raising, so you will want to also set aside time for personal life and family.

In closing, NO, it is NOT TO LATE. Graduating and landing my first job as an ICU RN is something that I NEVER EVER thought I could have done. The emotions behind it, only drive you to move further and further along. You can also experience this, but first you just have to dive in. I admit that when I first started out, I may not have had a full idea of what I as getting into. I just started by doing my pre-reqs, getting into the program and then suddenly I realized this is exactly where I needed to be. You may not have all the answers, or have it planned out to the tee, but take the first step. This will propel you into a journey that will benefit you, and your family, for the rest of your lives.

Best of luck to you!!

Congratulations and good vibes to you for wanting to even start this rewarding journey. I apologize for the lengthy post, however when I saw your questions, it inspired me to respond, as I too felt like I was in the same boat as you when I first started.

I am currently 37 years old, just graduated with my ASN in August 2018, JUST passed my NCLEX 2 weeks ago, and JUST landed my first job in a residency w/ the ICU department, which I start in 2 weeks. I started this entire journey at 35 as a single mom, newly laid off from a dream job in the plastic surgery industry, just moved out of my boyfriends home (serious bf but not married, felt like a divorce lol,) practically broke (I had to actually move back home). If I could do it, I know you could too!!! :)

I enrolled in an accelerated program, which allowed me to complete the nursing program in 14 months. I did have to take pre-requisites, however, I was able to find an ACCREDITED private college, that had pre-requisite classes that were only 1 month long for each class. (anatomy, algebra, micro-biology, etc). I had a few college courses under my belt from when I was younger, that I was able to transfer over, so my pre-req's took me 6 months, which I completed online while working. The KEY IS TO FIND A SCHOOL THAT IS ACCREDITED (if you are not attending a state college). I say this, bc some of the Universities that offer the accelerated programs are NOT ACCREDITED by the state, meaning that your credits will not transfer to other colleges should you decide to further your education, and it is almost impossible to find a job in a hospital, as they require you to have graduated from an ACCREDITED university.

Next, yes, you will meet with an admissions counselor who will advise you on what most people have stated on your comments. You will need to take an entrance exam, that you can most certainly study for.

Nursing school, was one of the most challenging things I have ever done in my life, but it has also been the MOST rewarding. I feel that now that we are a little "seasoned" we appreciate life's gifts more than we would have when we were younger, so if you are making this decision now, you are more than likely going to be very passionate about it, and committed. (not to say others at different ages are not, but, our choices now tend to be more thought out as we have life experience under our belts). In my cohort, I was not the youngest and I was not the oldest. I believe there were 3-4 others who were in their 40's and this was their second and even third career move. I also worked in the hospital as a patient care tech, while in school and met several other nurses who were in their 40's, and made this their second career. (both men and women).

The classes in RN school are hard to explain. You will learn the Fundamentals (hands on) - actually first semester, and then move on to disease processes and specialties such as maternity, pediatrics and advanced adult health. The material is challenging, but if you put your mind to it, which you stated you are an ultra marathon runner, then I'm sure you can easily attain it. Also, in school you are honing in on your critical thinking skills and perfecting them. What I mean by this, is that not only are you learning content and material, but you are learning how to CRITICALLY THINK in emergency situations and clinical settings. School will completely change the way you intake information, process ALL OF THE facts and how you initially ACT upon situations. THAT is nursing school. You will learn priority and delegation in ALL situations pertaining to the medical field. So erase the technicalities from your mind, yes you will learn nursing procedures, however you will learn WHAT/HOW to think in situations more. It is very hard to explain, but I feel like that is the best way to sum it up. You will learn a lot about yourself during the process but from the sounds of it, you seem very focused, driven and inquisitive. (All signs of a good nurse... nurses ASK QUESTIONS and want to know the ENTIRE story before making the best clinical judgement. It's all part of assessing, which is exactly what you are doing now.)

Make the first step and get your foot on the campus and meet with an advisor. If you can find a program that is ACCELERATED and ACCREDITED, then go for it. You will be done a heck of a lot faster. Just bear in mind that these programs are private, and can be WAY more expensive and I definitely used student loans to the max. Also, working during school (specifically during the core program) is incredibly discouraged. You stated you were a stay at home mom, so I'm guessing you had a good support system which will allow you to be work free. I only worked part time and for 2 semesters. I immediately had to stop b/c for me, it was challenging. My classes were 2-3 days a week, with 1 or 2 days (depending on the semester) of clinical rotations in the hospital. (each week), So basically, you are full time with 4-5 days a week set aside for RN-ing. Not to mention, exams every week, hours upon hours of studying. I commend those who actually worked full time during school. Plus you also have 2 children that you are raising, so you will want to also set aside time for personal life and family.

In closing, NO, it is NOT TO LATE. Graduating and landing my first job as an ICU RN is something that I NEVER EVER thought I could have done. The emotions behind it, only drive you to move further and further along. You can also experience this, but first you just have to dive in. I admit that when I first started out, I may not have had a full idea of what I as getting into. I just started by doing my pre-reqs, getting into the program and then suddenly I realized this is exactly where I needed to be. You may not have all the answers, or have it planned out to the tee, but take the first step. This will propel you into a journey that will benefit you, and your family, for the rest of your lives.

Best of luck to you!!

I commend you on starting your journey as a single mom, fresh out of a relationship. That's incredibly hard to jump into something such as this while probably being in a weakened mental state! Aside from all of the legit wonderful reasons why nursing would be an amazing career, your story reminded me of another one. What it would be like to not NEED a man to support me. I was previously married 10 years ago had a son, got divorced soon after (his choice). I remarried a wonderful man and we've been together 9 years and have a 6 year old daughter together. While there is no intention of not staying in this relationship, it is something that has always bothered me. I'd need a man to survive. To be able to successfully and easily support myself and my kids ALL BY MYSELF if need be, and not even have to flinch is something I never thought would be possible for me. That would be a cherry on top of everything else, and beside the point really, but definitely an extra bonus.

I decided to get a ged book and study it, just to brush up on everything. My brain feels like mush from being a stay at home mom forever! I'm a constantly busy mom but learning in this way is something that I'm not used to. Even my 7th grader's math homework has me Googling stuff. Haha. Just studying this silly ged book puts me in a great mood and I am already feeling accomplished and so inspired to learn more and more.

I plan on going to a counselor soon to discuss a path that will work for me. Like I said, science and math terrifies me and the negative side of me keeps saying I won't be able to do it. I don't think 20 year old me could have done it, but 38 year old me might...just because I have so much more determination and life wisdom now. Life has dealt me much harder blows than math and science and surely I'll be able to apply that tenacity to those subjects.

I just want to say that I'm so proud of you for all of your accomplishments! I wish you the best of luck on your new job. I hope you feel endless confidence and peace in your new position! I know that I'd be nervous as heck even with a degree under my belt, but I suppose everyone may feel like that just a little!

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