PreNursing at 30+

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  1. What's Your Situation?

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      Just starting-married and working.
    • 11
      Going strong-married and working.
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      Just starting- single and working.
    • 13
      Going strong-single and working.
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      Other

51 members have participated

Hello fellow PreNurses! I am 30 years old and attending college for the first time. I've just completed my first class on the path to becoming a nurse. I have a full time job, a family and mortgage. I would love to hear from someone else in the 30+ age range. I've got friends who've gone down this path before but they've all either not worked or worked part time. Is anyone else in the same boat? I'd love to hear about it. How are you managing? Do you have any tips or tricks? How do YOU balance starting over mid-life with your current career and personal life?

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

My advice? Be prepared to cut back on your obligations in order to devote more time to your education as time goes on and the going gets tougher. If you can't cut back on work hours, then you'll need to cut back on family obligations. Is your spouse ready and willing to take up the slack when this happens? You need to be prepared because just passing is not good enough... you will have to maintain a higher GPA just to be 'average' in nursing.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Oncology.

As someone who is unmarried, has no kids, and is only working part-time during school, I'm no expert. I will say that it will probably be impossible for you to maintain the current lifestyle you're living now and you'll probably have to quit your job or move to part-time hours. I hope your spouse is also prepared to take on more responsibility with your kids/home. It's definitely not impossible, but it'll take some teamwork. If at all possible, I would recommend finding a healthcare-related job as well while you're in school.

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Thanks for being the first two commenters! I've worked a full time job for the last twelve years and for almost half of those worked a second part time job as well. A heavy workload I can definitely handle. I found a school that offers a night nursing program so it will fit around my work schedule. Unfortunately, quitting or going part time are not an option that I have at this point. Also, I'm in a mid level management position in a union so an entry level medical position with no experience will not pay the bills. Basically, 'cutting back' on my responsibilities or obligations is not an option. Which is why I'm eager to hear from other people who have been in a similar siuation. I know I can't be the only one who has ever done this.

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I'm married with two kids and work full time while going to school part time. I was about that age when I went back to school and started on my prerequisites, my youngest was starting kindergarten. I would look at which program you want to attend and then second choice bc everyone prerequisites requirements are different. I took online classes at local community college and did night classes, if you can take at least 2 to 3 classes each semester will help. I'm 36 and finally got accepted into nursing program and will start in August. My youngest is going to 5th while oldest starting high school. It can be done. My best advice is don't give up even thou you will want to but keep striving and you will reach your goal. Good luck and I wish you the best!!

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I'm just finishing up my first prerequisite next week. I'm 38 and going back to school for a second bachelor's in nursing, or fingers crossed, a master's :). I'm intensely busy with my kids, hubby's business, etc. It can be done, you just won't have much of a social life lol.

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Specializes in Hospice, Palliative Care.

Good day:

I started working on my prerequisites at age 50; I finished my first semester of RN school at age 51. I'm married, and while I didn't work during the 1st semester, this summer I picked up a part time job as a personal care assistant and a medication technician.

In terms of tips, the largest involves the discipline to be organized, and stay focused. You will have a lot on your plate, and if you fall behind in readings, practicing skills, etc. it can be difficult to catch up. For staying on top of things, I use Google calendar (love/hate relationship as I love the cloud, but hate when it decides to delete events on its own) and Evernote (mostly a love relationship with Evernote).

Thank you.

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I went back to school at 29 (currently in my early 30's, starting at Sac State SON in the Fall), although I worked part time, and have no children, so I'm no expert either. That said, although I've seen others in similar circumstances succeed, they're the exception, not the rule (then again, aren't all students who are admitted to nursing programs?). As others have said above, you'll absolutely need to find ways to cut back on some aspects of your life. For example, if you cannot afford to cut back on work, you may need to go to school part time (make sure your longer tenure as [i assume] a community college student doesn't effect you, most schools only accept prereqs taken w/in a certain timeframe [i.e. previous 5 years].). One terrific Mom I had a class with last semester is married with three children and has a mortgage. She takes six to ten semester units at a time, and maintains a 4.0 GPA. If she scores well on the TEAS test, she'll be a shoo-in for a CSU nursing program. Again, she cut back on the number of units she took, and I know her husband supports her a ton. You'll have to do the same somewhere.

Although you may not want to do it, if you're serious, you should consider taking out loans. They'll help to ease the burden on paying the bills and help you to focus more on school. :twocents:

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Thanks for being the first two commenters! I've worked a full time job for the last twelve years and for almost half of those worked a second part time job as well. A heavy workload I can definitely handle. I found a school that offers a night nursing program so it will fit around my work schedule. Unfortunately, quitting or going part time are not an option that I have at this point. Also, I'm in a mid level management position in a union so an entry level medical position with no experience will not pay the bills. Basically, 'cutting back' on my responsibilities or obligations is not an option. Which is why I'm eager to hear from other people who have been in a similar siuation. I know I can't be the only one who has ever done this.

Does this nursing program offer night time clinicals? If not, how are you going to manage that?

What kind of nursing program are you hoping to end up in after pre-reqs? LPN? ADN? BSN?

I worked part time while mothering two very young children and going for a BSN. It was very very difficult, and I had a really good support system in place.

You can do almost anything you set your mind to, but on the other hand, there are only so many hours in a day. Nursing school will get harder and harder, and the time requirements don't change for people who happen to be very busy with other things.

Good luck. I went back to school when I was 30. So it's doable.

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Specializes in Cardiac.

Hey there! I'm 36 yo with 3 children, 9, 6, and 18 months (still breastfeeding) a husband, mortgage, and car payment. I will be starting my 1st semester of nursing school this Fall. One thing that helped to buy me some time before I stopped working was taking as many pre-reqs as possible online. English, Physch 1 & 2. When I got to the tougher stuff (A&P) I went part-time for work and used student loans to supplement. This may not be the best financial decision for you and trust me I wasn't thrilled about it since I prefer to be as debt free as possible! But in the end I'd say it was worth it. Having a good GPA and really learning and retaining the material is critical every step of the way. Also with that GPA you can get scholarships.

--SOCIAL LIFE: I let all of my friends & family know what I had ahead of me and that I would be absent from pretty much everything. EVERYONE was so supportive!

The one thing that I overlooked and had to readjust for was my obligation to my kids schooling. I planned for helping with HW but other things...PTA, fieldtrips, special projects. Every ounce of time matters! I think you just have to decide how bad you want this and if you do how well you want to do it. Ultimately sacrifices will have to be made somewhere. Hope this helped a little. Good luck...it can be done!!! :yes:

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I'm 32 and I am finishing my last prerequisite this fall, and I will be applying to an evening RN program that starts in Fall 2016, so I will be 33 when I start nursing school (if I get in :nailbiting: ). I do not have children, but I do have a husband and a full time day job in a hospital laboratory. I will say this, nursing programs offer much more flexibility at a community college. I'm planning to get an Associate's degree through an evening or online & evening hybrid program to earn an RN without missing the mortgage. Then, when I get a job, I'll go for some place that offers tuition reimbursement (most big hospitals), so the job can pay for an online RN to BSN program.

I wanted to go directly to a four year school, but I have yet to find a four year program in the Maryland area with an evening option!

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I am 30 with a husband and a 2 year old. I have a degree and am seeking a career change. I will continue to work full-time while going through the program as well. So far, it's just been about time management. I haven't slept a whole lot and I really take advantage of any help I can get from relatives when they volunteer. It's hard but will be worth it in the end. Hang in there everyone!

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