Question for nurses who came into the career late...

[Cryssi]

I am not a nurse, but I want to become one. I am 35 and a SAHM of two, one will be 5 in a few weeks and the other will be 7 this summer. I would like to go back to college in the fall when my5 year old goes off to school, but it doesn't look possible. We live in a rural area and it would be a bit of a ride for me-which is definitely manageable, but we have terrible winters esp. in my neck of the woods where we don't have snow plows and salt trucks. My main concern is I wouldn't be able during times like that to get to my kids when I'm needed due to slower travel times, and that doesn't sit well with me, so until we move to the city, maybe in a couple or more years, I will have to put college on the back burner for now.

Now, (sorry for the babbling) what I want to know is, for those who came into the career at a later age-how old were you? The way it looks, I may be in my 40's before I even become a nurse. And how long did it take you to fulfill that goal? I want to be an lpn, and even though years ago I did take a lot of the pre-req's needed, I would have to take them again along with the necessary nursing courses, so it might be a while for me to finish. Thanks for your assistance.

Cryssi

[debRNo1]

GO FOR IT..............

Stay at home mom of 2, never had a "real" job, got divorced, went to school......

LPN at 30

RN at 40

Hopefully have my BSN sooner or later

good luck

deb

[yougohelen]

I say,GO FOR IT! I am starting nursing school at age 43! I went

to school for clinical medical assistant @ age 41. I was scared

but determined. The school I went to was hard on a lot of girls.

Most of the younger girls dropped out during anatomy

physiology. It was us "old Chicks" that hung in there.

I graduated and now work for four doctors and they have offered

to write me the letters of recommendation I need to get to go

to the nursing school I have chosen. I am going to be an RN. May

God be with you!

[jude11142]

I went back to school at the age of 40 to become an lpn and I am now 43(wow, going on 44, yikes)and back at school going for RN. You should follow your dream, time goes by so quickly and I know that sometimes the wait seems like forever but it really does go by fast.

My children were so proud of me when I decided to go back to school. I believe that it has taught them to never give up on your dreams and that anything you want to be can be obtained through determination and hard work.

You can do it!!! Good luck.

JUDE

[Dayannight]

Go for it Cryssi! I know you can do it! Count me as another of those who where older when they started their nursing career. I was a SAH mother of five for a number of years and started as a CNA in my mid-thirty's. LVN at age 42, and just now (age 47) starting to work toward the RN. I'll probably be 51 or 52 by the time I get there, but so what?

I'll be wishing you the best!

Dayann

[Fox]

Go for your dream don't give up. I am 37 and I just started taking some of my prereq Winter 2003. Keep Your HEAD.

GO GIRL!!!

gOOd LuCk!!!!!!!!

Michigan Weather

[Buddha]

I had a 62 year old in my LPN class. She passed and went on into a becoming a hospice nurse. You can do it it just takes a little planning!!

[TJjam]

It was so good to read all of your encouraging letters! I am another 'older' nursing student,just turned 41.I'm just starting my pre-reqs.This was always my dream!Keep looking ahead you can do it!!

If God brings you to it,He'll bring you through it!!

TJjam

[Sandbox Nurse]

I started a 3yr diploma course late in life with only one child and then put my husband through school while raising 2 more children. Those years are just a blur and we laugh about it now-it was a wild, crazy time. My husband was a medic and went to school full time and worked full time, I worked 12hr shifts on a medical floor. I can remember putting a 'Barney' tape in the VCR and the couch across the doorway blocking my kids in the family room and napping on the couch (when they tried to crawl across me to get out-I would wake up) just to get some rest. Was it worth it-you bet! My oldest is 17 and off to university in the fall-she says we are her inspiration as no one else in the family has a post secondary education-she's proud of us!

[Dublin37]

wow sandbox, you are encouraging! My kids are 8 and 11, and even though they are proud of me, they also want me "there" as they were so accustomed to previous. Anyhoo, will keep trudging! Heather

[FranEMTnurse, CNA, LPN, EMT-I]

I'm a second career LPN. I entered nursing school when I was 54. It was a very rewarding experience for me, and I hold the school record for witnessing the most births in one day.

6 births in all. 3 singles, and a set of triplets via c-section. I witnessed a total of 8 births, and assisted the physician with one. OB/GYN is definitely one of the areas I love. Especially when it comes to teaching parents how to bathe a newborn. I just love handling babies.

My second favorite is OR nursing, and the third favorite is ER nursing. I have an 18 year record of being an EMT, CPR instructor, Basic First Aid, and OSHA regulations. I graduated 4th in my class on a full scholarship. :)

In light of all of that, I definitely say, "Go for it!"

[Sammysue]

I am a little apprehensive about starting classes in the fall at the age of 29. I am glad to see I am not the only onw.

[Kayzee]

You are never too old to learn. I went back to school at age 40. Took some pre courses during summer. Took me 3 years and I am so glad I did it. Still paying off school loans but have so much more confidence in myself. Follow your heart. Good luck. I also feel that the older student is more willing to sacrifice and work hard to reach their goals.