Older Student Getting Frustrated

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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Hello, I'm an older student, 36. I currently have a bachelors degree in a field going no where. I have been wanting to be a nurse since I was 29 and started taking pre-reqs then. Since then, life happened and kept me from pursuing nursing. I now have a 12 month old, husband and dog.

Right now I make pretty decent money, but we still live paycheck to paycheck. Things in the house are breaking, cars are breaking and baby is growing.

To go back to school, I will cut our income by 60%. Hopefully I can get into the 15 month fast track program.

I'm questioning my doing this because I feel like I'm asking my family to go into some serious debt for me and when I get out, I will be making less than I do now. About $20,000 less. BUT, by the time I'm 40 in this business, I will probably be weened out by younger people. Not to mentioned that I don't enjoy this line of work anymore.

We need a bigger house, currently its 1100sf. I'm sooooo frustrated because I'm causing my family to digress financially. I honestly feel that if I follow through with the BSN and then a masters in nursing that I will be able to put us in a better place in the long run. Or am I completely misguided by this?

Any input, Signed-SAD and CONFUSED

BTW, I was talking about study habits in my class the other day and mentioned that now before a test I get a really good nights sleep or I can't focus as well as I used to. She, 20 something, responded with "Well, you know after 35, your brain just doesn't work as well. At least I have a few good years left."

I wanted to CRY!

Specializes in Psychiatric.

Just keep moving toward your dream. Don't stop. I'm 51 now and will graduate this spring. Its been hard, especially financially, but it is so worth it. You are setting a good example for your children to follow their dreams and you will be in a position to help them! Life is too short to stay in those dead end jobs.

Carla, your mom can't tell you now, and I am sorry for your loss, but you have her words to live by. I will say that if you've come this far, you can do it. Think how proud she would be...

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Why is it that there are 20-somethings out there that are really mature and then there are 20-somethings out there like her, giving the rest of them a bad name :angryfire. I seriously hope she is not a nursing student as a comment like that is only a sign that she is not mature enough to be a nurse. Of course that is my opinion.

As far as your concern goes, I'm 37 and am hoping to quit working next summer but I may have to wait another year. I have 2 kids, hubby and dog and the grown up bills just like yourself. But remember, your child is still very little so he/she will play with whatever toy you give them and wear what ever you put on. So he/she will not be missing anything by your income dropping so dramatically. I would be happy to tell you how I am hoping to pay for NS.

My plan right now is to save any extra money that I can. If daycare is closed on a day that my kids attend, I put that money into a seperate savings account that I opened, once I start NS I will need that money to help pay the daycare bill for my little guy, the older one will be in school full-time in September.

My last pay raise has gone right into the bank and I don't even miss it. Every 2 wks when I get paid, I write the check for the difference between before my raise and after my raise and mail off to a savings account that I opened to pay for school expenses. It isn't much but it adds up.

I have also begun selling extra stuff around the house on ebay. When something sells REGARDLESS of how much it sold for, 25% of the money goes toward paying for school, 50% towards paying down debt, and the rest I leave to pay for the listing fees and pay for the occassional thing that I may want to purchase. Then every so often I divide the money that is saved for listing fees the same way. I am diligent with this since I would really like to try and pay down as much debt as possible since I know I will have to create more debt with student loans. But the difference will be that the interest rates on student loans are always much nicer than the credit cards.

I am also preparing to have a garage sale next summer, I have lots of baby stuff that I won't be using but I'm sure there is someone around that could really use it. Slowly I have started boxing things up, then I mark the box "garage sale", "ebay", or I just toss it out. We have tons of stuff in the attic and it is a very slow process but I also work full-time so I do it as I can.

I have also called the NS that I want to attend and got their most current figures for the cost of the ADN program so I know how much to plan on spending. Although l assume your income is too high right now for financial aid (the questionnaire said we did not qualify either), I will still apply for it once I am ready to go full-time as well as apply for scholarships, grants, and of course I will have to take out student loans to help us out financially as well. I would prefer not to work while attending NS but if I must, my school recommends working no more than 20 hrs a week so I have also been looking for part-time jobs at my current workplace (they are few and far between but they are available here). Hopefully I can get something part-time here and my employer will allow me to keep our health insurance at no extra cost.

I started all of this by really sitting down and writing the actual numbers down. DH and I are paid opposite weeks of each other so I know who's check is paying for what bills and his check is covering basically all of our living expenses. We too live paycheck to paycheck but take if from me, if you get that drive to do it, you will find a way. I will not save nearly enough to attend school this fall w/o loans to help us but if I wait another year, it will make a difference.

I have noticed a huge difference in myself alone since making the effort to save for school. I don't spend as much, have actually started shopping smarter to save even more and have noticed that in general I'm not "broke" 2 days after payday anymore. Find what works for you and just do it. But believe me, start small so you only have to make one small change in the beginning as it will take getting used to. For me once I started with just saving my raise money, it snowballed to "hey I don't need this and I could get better money if I sell it on ebay then in a garage sale" to "I don't have to pay daycare 1 day next week so I'll stash that money since by the time I will need it, it will almost cover 2 days of daycare for 1 kid instead of 1 day for 2 kids now".

Send me a message and I will answer any questions you have. I do lots of funky little things that are beginning to pay off after seeming like they were just robbing Peter to pay Paul.

Thank you for your input. I have all of the high ticket items from recently having a baby. Stroller, car seat, swing, all of that stuff. I"m going to put it on ebay and save that money. During holiday break, that would be a perfect time. Thanks so much for your input.

Regarding the girl that commented on my age, I have aced my first two tests and only missed one on my lab practical. My brain is working pretty well. I have a great husband and little boy that fill my heart. I have a lot that she does not have and now I just feel sorry for her because I don't think she will be very empathetic in her line of work. ;)

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You are awesome for accomplishing what you have done. Thank you for sharing. Great motivation.

alliestar

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BTW, I was talking about study habits in my class the other day and mentioned that now before a test I get a really good nights sleep or I can't focus as well as I used to. She, 20 something, responded with "Well, you know after 35, your brain just doesn't work as well. At least I have a few good years left."

I wanted to CRY!

Here's what you could have said: "Oh, not at all! That's just more years of making new neuronal connections!"

All kidding aside, sometimes when I'm studying all this science, I could swear I feel my brain growing and making those connections!!

Don't have the guilties about finances. I'm 49. I keep reminding myself that this is a short-term financial sacrifice for a long-term financial gain. If you can find some way to make it happen financially, go for it! If you really want to be a nurse, don't let those worries get in the way. How will you feel if you wake up in 20 or 30 years and say, "I should have gone to nursing school, but I didn't?".

Best of luck to you!

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One other thing: I have a friend who was little (like 5 years old) when her Mom when to nursing school at age 40. When she talks about those days, this friend (a) laughs about how poor they were (and yes, she also had a Dad in the family); and (b) ALWAYS, always says how much she ADMIRES her Mom for what she did. So there! You can be an inspiration to your kids!

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Specializes in NICU PEDS.

I agree. Don't give up on your dream. It may be hard, but will be worth it in the end.

I am an older student as well. I am 38 with 5 kids plus a great husband and have a Bachelors in Healthcare Mgmt. Decided I wanted to be a Pediatric/ Neonatal Nurse Practitioner. I start my science classes in Jan at the local community college and then will apply for a Masters NP program.

I have found older students are more dedicated because we really want to get better grades for ourselves especially if we are paying for our education.;)

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older? I don't feel real old i'm 37.and I wish I would of went to nursing school right out of high school #1 regret cause back then my brain wasyounger and more quick.Took the NET test last month at Concorde but failed the math part by 10 points or something.I don't remember that stuff especially if I have'nt used fractions and stuff in like 20 years.damn I was p- off so I guess I will take Medical Assistant instead I don't know.

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Carveronica -You are so strong. I can only imagine the hills you are climbing. You have the right attitude and YOU WILL MAKE IT!! No doubt! I wish you and your family the very best! Don't let anyone give you grief about your decision to pursue nursing. I get that alot too from others that don't really know me. I just shrug it off and keep on truckin'! Good luck to you!

-Avery ;)

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I am an even older student, 44. I too have been in school many years but for a different reason. I have obtained an accounting and psychology degree but something deep down inside keeps pulling me toward nursing. The thing that jumps out at me in reading your post is that you point out how stressful your life is right now. My question is why would you add to this level of stress by quitting your current job adding to financial stress and entering nursing school adding the stress of studies, test, clinical schedules, no time for family, etc...As I said, I am an older student. I have one daughter in college and one son in high school. Kids need your time, not a bigger house, nicer clothes, or newer car. These are all things that you can acquire later in life. Live life as simply as you can now and enjoy your time with your family. You can go back to school when your kids are older and YES, your brain will still cooperate. I have a 4.0 to prove it.

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Specializes in ER.

hey, come on, 36 isnt exactly a dinosaur! im 33 and i am so proud of all i have accomplished, little by little. yes, it took me 5 years to get my degree and prereq's BUT i was also raising 3 kids AND working AND being a wife. at least we have a pretty darn good excuse! but its so worth it because i appreciate all my progress so much more! and so should you! do you think if you had it easy as in being 19 living at home with mommy and daddy, not worrying about money, sick kids and daycare or struggling with grades on no sleep, do you think you would appreciate your license vs someone that struggled and really earned it? think how much stronger of a nurse you will be! newsflash: there are 2 gals in my nursing class that are 52 and 63 yet their attitudes dont give their age away

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Hi, I live in Delta,Ohio, and am currently unemployed. I have been interested in Nursing for some time now. I have alot of healthcare support experience.The problem is that I worked for a few of the hospitals around here, and quit, since then I cannot get re-hired by any of them. Back then I didn't know what I wanted to do with my life, now I'm paying the price for quttin' all those jobs. I want to get into Nursing, but don't really know where to start.I need a job NOW, since I have a family to support, I can't afford to take time to go through unpaid training. I know some places offer on-the-job training, but I want as much info. as I can get before I get into anything. ANY help would be great.:uhoh3:

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I'm 37, married with a child. I feel your pain. We are in a similar boat as well. So far I've been able to chip away at my pre reqs in night school and still work. As I'm taking all of my sciences which are all pre reqs for each other and can only be taken one at a time, we're making it now, but I am nervous for when I will eventually have to quit and go to school full time.

My husband is very supportive and has said that we'll do whatever we have to to make it work, but I still worry because we have a mortgage, a car payment (for his car) and assorted other bills, it will be tight tight tight.

You know what you want, so go for it, it may be really tough in the short run, but the payoff in the long run is totally worth it!

As to the age thing, don't let it get you down. That was incredibly insensitive of that girl to make a comment like that. Don't let it get to you, just keep your eyes on the prize girl! :)

Best of luck to you and to all of us who are making this journey together!;)

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