Should have started sooner

1. Hello All Nurses! I am new to this site and thought I would start my first post. I am 27 and I have decided to go back to school after 6 years. I am excited to start my journey of becoming a nurse. I have been feeling like I am so old and having such regrets for taking so long to go back to school. My question is to all of you on the journey with me, Does the feeling of being too old, and regrets of not finishing sooner go away once I start college?
   
   
   Thanks for reading and I would love to hear some of your Pre-Nursing Stories
2. 

   About future_nurse215

   Joined: Feb '13; Posts: 13; Likes: 3

   16 Comments

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3. 
   Apr 19, '13

   Joined: Jul '09; Posts: 142; Likes: 62

   I also got a late start. I've wanted to be a nurse for a while, but there were obstacles in my path that kept me from accomplishing my goal sooner. I'm 32 and just graduated ADN. I regret that I am getting started so late, but putting it into perspective, I'm still young and still have many years ahead of me to gain experience and accomplish all I have set out to do. You can't change the past, so move forward and good luck!
4. 
   Apr 19, '13

   Occupation: Psychiatric Nurses Assistant Specialty: 2 year(s) of experience ; From: US ; Joined: Feb '09; Posts: 29; Likes: 7

   One of the nurses at my job is 50 and going for her BSN. Its never too late! I will be 35 when I graduate if all goes well. Good luck to you!
5. 
   Apr 19, '13

   Joined: Feb '13; Posts: 13; Likes: 3

   Thank you so much for the encouragement ! I am very determined to be a nurse. I wish you luck and nothing but the best
6. 
   Apr 19, '13

   Joined: Jan '13; Posts: 291; Likes: 56

   It seems that average age to begin nursing is older. I am beginning my prereqs at 36. I can't tell you how many times I have seen the post on Allnurses, asking "Am I too old?!"
7. 
   Apr 19, '13

   Joined: Apr '11; Posts: 3,475; Likes: 4,654

   Don't feel too bad. I'll be 40 when I'm done... Had I started this journey back when other members of my family were urging me to get into this field, I'd now have been working for nearly 12 years. I did have all my prerequisites done back then except for a couple... and I finally decided to get back into it, got my "stuff" updated where necessary, and started applying. It took me 4 years to get accepted.
   
   Personally, I figure that if you're younger than dead, you're young enough to pursue something challenging and fun!
8. 
   Apr 19, '13

   Joined: Mar '13; Posts: 7; Likes: 2

   Do not feel that you are to old. I was surprised how many older students were in my classes. I am 30 and will begin nursing school this fall. I do not regret a day going back to school.
9. 
   Apr 19, '13

   Joined: Feb '13; Posts: 13; Likes: 3

   Thank you guys so much for responding! I just can't wait to start and finally get to where I need to be. I'm just happy I'm not the only one who feels this way.
10. 
    Apr 19, '13

    Occupation: Admitting/Registration Clerk From: US ; Joined: Sep '12; Posts: 91; Likes: 24

    I got a late start also. I am 32 years old and decided about a year ago that I needed to go back and finish school. I have always wanted to be a nurse and have been in the medical field since I was 18. So I moved back home with my parents and they are helping me out with my 2 boys while I work and continue school. I was accepted in my community college Nursing Program for Fall of 2013 and I cant wait.
    
    Once, I saw there were a lot of people that went back after raising their family, I felt better. I thought I just wasted my years away but my boys came first. So I worked to take care of them. Luckily, I have always had a good paying job. I love the medical field and taking care of others. I wish I would have started sooner also, but I am also glad I waited and now I am more focused.
    
    I will be continuing on to become a CRNA (Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist)
    
    Good Luck and it is never to late to go back!!!

    Last edit by TNT365 on Apr 19, '13
11. 
    Apr 20, '13

    Occupation: Labor and Delivery Nurse From: US ; Joined: Apr '13; Posts: 606; Likes: 235

    It's never too late Some people don't know what they want until they are in their 50s. Don't think that way about I should have, you did what you wanted at the time. I graduated high school in 2004. I didn't start college until I was 21 in 2007. It took me 5 years to finish all my pre-reqs. I just got accepted at the age of 27 for the ADN program. Good luck and don't look at it like look how many classes I have to go. Look at it like one less class I have to do that is done.
12. 
    Apr 20, '13

    Joined: May '12; Posts: 17; Likes: 5

    I am 29 now, next semester will be my last semester of prereqs. I had so many issues going on graduating highschool, that i did that by the skin of my teeth. I know now, the things that were depressing me then wasn't really that much of an issue. Anyway, that is beside the point. If I would have have done this right after high school I probably would't have made it through. Of course I have regrets, every one does. Anyway good luck
13. 
    Apr 20, '13

    Occupation: Student From: US ; Joined: Dec '12; Posts: 193; Likes: 74

    I started redoing classes at 25 and I'll be starting a grad entry program a few months before turning 29. While this is on the younger side of the student spectrum, I feel that if I decided to go for my BSN in college I would have been unsuccessful. It took working a big girl job to really take pride in my work (of any kind) and I became a much better student because of not settling for average or just getting by. I used the pre-reqs as a way to hone my study skills and see what worked better for me as an 'adult learner'.
14. 
    Apr 20, '13

    Joined: Apr '13; Posts: 19; Likes: 7

    43 here and just finishing up my first semester of pre-reqs part time. Hoping to have them done by next summer and be able to apply to the A.S. R.N. program. And MommaTy is right... some of us don't figure out what we want or how to get it until later in life. Good luck to all of us!

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