i'm new this site as i am trying to garner information on either becoming a cna first to see if i really would be suitable material for nursing school (possibly an lpn or rn) at this late point in my life.
i'm 44yrs old, live in nj, i work f/t at an ivy league university and have a son who will be 19 in 3 weeks! i've always thought about nursing, but never did it. i make a 'good' wage as an office administrator , but i do enjoy helping people. when my mil died 5yrs ago, i helped the hospice nurse clean and take care of her. it didn't bother me in the least.
the other motivator is that i need to make some extra income , as i will be paying for a loan i took out for my child's college. i can't make overtime at my f/t job as i have a low-level management position.
my question is:
1) should i at least try a cna program and get certified to see if it is for me and to help make extra money part-time? (and help others, of course!)
2) if i do indeed enjoy it, should i go to school for nursing at this late stage?? i'm 44....is it just a stupid idea to try and earn a degree now (i don't have one..i never finished college) (i should have stayed in college when i had the chance, but oh well...)
3) should i not do a cna program and just jump to an lpn program??? but perhaps being a cna will help me decide if its for me??
4) is it possible to work f/t (37hrs a week), go to cna training (or rn school) and work p/t?? i know some people have done it.. i'm just wondering if i'm just too old to do all of this.
4) is it more advantageous to do an lpn training or just shoot for rn (after cna training) if i indeed do the cna training and like it??
any and all help/suggestions would be great. i really need to do something -- and i figure if i want to help people, i should learn a new trade and be able to work p/t in that trade, instead of me working at target (not that there is anything wrong with that!! :)
thank you!! sorry for all of the questions, i am in real need of input. i look forward to hearing your responses.
Specializes in LTC, Hospice, home health, ms, resp....
you are not to old. I am 41 and in my junior year at a four year college. I have been a cna for ... to long to tell. If you want to be a cna to see if you like it fine. But to go into a nursing program no experience is needed. The grades and the classes are what counts. In my nursing program their are students in their late twentys and in their mid 50's. Bottom line: answer your calling, follow your dreams you only live once. In my opinion go for the top the rn, bsn. you can most likely take all of your pre requisites where you work for free. Go for the gold.
Specializes in LTC, Rehab, CCU, Alzheimers, Med-Surg.
I don't want to tell you what to do, but it sounds like you need to have your son pay for, or at least help out with that loan. That is a lot of money, he should be responsible for helping out with it.
1) should i at least try a cna program and get certified to see if it is for me and to help make extra money part-time? (and help others, of course!)
that is up to you. i think being a cna first is a great idea for any nurse; however, there is a big difference between being a nurse and being a cna. you may love being a cna and hate being a nurse, or you may hate being a cna and love being a nurse. just keep in mind that as a cna you may get burned out and tired of listening to nurses complain about their job. this could lead you to believe that nursing is not for you. when in fact, those nurses maybe just like people from every profession that complain about their job. just a thought!!
2) if i do indeed enjoy it, should i go to school for nursing at this late stage?? i'm 44....is it just a stupid idea to try and earn a degree now (i don't have one..i never finished college) (i should have stayed in college when i had the chance, but oh well...)
44 is not late by nursing standards. you will find many nursing students in their 30s & 40s even some 50s. i do not believe that you will ever regret it.
3) should i not do a cna program and just jump to an lpn program??? but perhaps being a cna will help me decide if its for me??
i think it is best to go for the rn straight out the door (imho). if you must, then yes go for the lpn first.
4) is it possible to work f/t (37hrs a week), go to cna training (or rn school) and work p/t?? i know some people have done it.. i'm just wondering if i'm just too old to do all of this.
yes, depending on the person. you are not too old!!! i find the maturity allows for one to handle the responsibility better!!
any and all help/suggestions would be great. i really need to do something -- and i figure if i want to help people, i should learn a new trade and be able to work p/t in that trade, instead of me working at target (not that there is anything wrong with that!! :)
thank you!! sorry for all of the questions, i am in real need of input. i look forward to hearing your responses.
nursing is a great profession filled with wonderful people. nursing is rewarding and secure. it has ups and downs, like all professions, but it is what you make it!!!
i went threw a cna class and got certified at a nurseing home and, they hired me for the noc shift i"m 43 yrs old and, i was a stay at home mom for 17yrs. it was hard at first but, i love takeing care of the resident's. i think you should get you'r cna first to see if this is what you want to do, it's hard work but, if you are a careing person it will be rewarding at the end.
i'm new this site as i am trying to garner information on either becoming a cna first to see if i really would be suitable material for nursing school (possibly an lpn or rn) at this late point in my life.
i'm 44yrs old, live in nj, i work f/t at an ivy league university and have a son who will be 19 in 3 weeks! i've always thought about nursing, but never did it. i make a 'good' wage as an office administrator , but i do enjoy helping people. when my mil died 5yrs ago, i helped the hospice nurse clean and take care of her. it didn't bother me in the least.
the other motivator is that i need to make some extra income , as i will be paying for a loan i took out for my child's college. i can't make overtime at my f/t job as i have a low-level management position.
my question is:
1) should i at least try a cna program and get certified to see if it is for me and to help make extra money part-time? (and help others, of course!)
2) if i do indeed enjoy it, should i go to school for nursing at this late stage?? i'm 44....is it just a stupid idea to try and earn a degree now (i don't have one..i never finished college) (i should have stayed in college when i had the chance, but oh well...)
3) should i not do a cna program and just jump to an lpn program??? but perhaps being a cna will help me decide if its for me??
4) is it possible to work f/t (37hrs a week), go to cna training (or rn school) and work p/t?? i know some people have done it.. i'm just wondering if i'm just too old to do all of this.
4) is it more advantageous to do an lpn training or just shoot for rn (after cna training) if i indeed do the cna training and like it??
any and all help/suggestions would be great. i really need to do something -- and i figure if i want to help people, i should learn a new trade and be able to work p/t in that trade, instead of me working at target (not that there is anything wrong with that!! :)
thank you!! sorry for all of the questions, i am in real need of input. i look forward to hearing your responses.
Hey I'm Fran. I'm 40 and I am in CNA school right now. 3 years ago I decided I wanted to be a nurse. Even though I hadn't been to school in 19 years I went and enrolled in my local community college.You should have seen me registration day! I had to take Pepto and Benadryl just to get through it. I did all of my prereqs while going through a divorce. I was accepted to RN school but then I got cold feet. I had 40 credits and a 3.8 GPA but I didn't feel smart enough.
So...I decided to start at the bottom and work my way up. I finish CNA school next week. Older students work harder, have more values, and make better grades. Its not too late to start, and if you are like me you will not feel fulfilled until you reach your goal. Don't live a hollow life.....go for it!
i just want to let you know that my graduating class had an excellent student and future nurse who was in her 70's, and this was her first degree. i do highly recommend working as a cna if your want to get the feel for nursing. i worked part time as a cna through nursing school, and it gave me a good foundation. in maryland there are programs to earn your cna certification in a few weeks, but i do not know the costs. i suggest contacting the red cross for information about their programs. it is never too late to follow your dreams. many rn programs have pathways in which you can test for your lpn before the end of the rn program, so you can stop at rn or continue to lpn. my school did not have that option though. some hospitals will allow you to do a shadow day, where you can follow a nurse to get a feel for the profession. good luck to you
i wanted to be a nurse ever since i could remember, but could never afford to "not work" to go to school. now, at 46, i'm following my dream - thanks to my son. a couple of years ago, when he was 5 or 6, he had to do the usual "what i want to be when i grow up" paper. of course, he asked me what i wanted to be when "i grew up." i told him i always wanted to be a nurse. so, this sweet little boy looks at me and says, "so why don't you become a nurse mommy?" i realized he was right. so, i decided to pursue it. after being turned down for rn school because i did not have a high enough gpa, even tho mine is a 3.6 ..... i decided to pursue my lpn first and then do the bridge program to rn.
i just rec'd my phone call today .... and not only was i accepted for lpn school, i was also hired by a local hospital who will be paying my tuition .... i'm so excited! and now i can set a good example to my son to follow your dreams ... no matter what age you are :clpty:
i just want to let you know that my graduating class had an excellent student and future nurse who was in her 70's, and this was her first degree. i do highly recommend working as a cna if your want to get the feel for nursing. i worked part time as a cna through nursing school, and it gave me a good foundation. in maryland there are programs to earn your cna certification in a few weeks, but i do not know the costs. i suggest contacting the red cross for information about their programs. it is never too late to follow your dreams. many rn programs have pathways in which you can test for your lpn before the end of the rn program, so you can stop at rn or continue to lpn. my school did not have that option though. some hospitals will allow you to do a shadow day, where you can follow a nurse to get a feel for the profession. good luck to you
miss britany, are you a 20 year old rn? did you graduate high school early and got your rn degree straight afterwards? i'm curious because if you're not a rn, then you can't have that by your name. i remember when i first started posting here my handler was something regarding nurse, but i never implied i was a nurse, but was politely asked by the administrator to change my handler which i did. if you are a rn, kudos to you and how did you do it so quickly at such a young age?
I was a patient in the hospital last year, and the care I received from the RN's and CNA was exceptional, I decided then that was what I wanted to do. I am all registerd and will be starting my CNA classes in November and I will be 51 years old when I start my classes..... so of course I don't think it's too late for you. :)
FRANHARMON: YOU SHOULD BE VERY PROUD OF YOURSELF! WHEN I TOOK THE CNA CLASS IT WAS LIKE HIGH SCHOOL ALL OVER AGAIN LOL. BUT, WITH ALOT OF HARD WORK I GOT THREW CLASS AND I'M A CNA NOW!!SO, CONGRAT'S AGAIN:coollook::cheers:
Yes ma'am I am an RN. I did not graduate early, but started my prenursing courses in high school, was fortunate to be accepted into my community college nursing program at my first attempt, and I have a late birthday, so I will be 21 this year. and thanks for the kudos lol :-)
(i should have stayed in college when i had the chance, but oh well...) 
catz123
41 Posts
you are not to old. I am 41 and in my junior year at a four year college. I have been a cna for ... to long to tell. If you want to be a cna to see if you like it fine. But to go into a nursing program no experience is needed. The grades and the classes are what counts. In my nursing program their are students in their late twentys and in their mid 50's. Bottom line: answer your calling, follow your dreams you only live once. In my opinion go for the top the rn, bsn. you can most likely take all of your pre requisites where you work for free. Go for the gold.