26, starting from the bottom, do I really stand a chance???

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Hi,

Im a 26 (soon to be 27) COLLEGE FRESHMAN and I am feeling defeated before Ive even started. Im just feeling as if im going to be an old woman when I finally start my career. I first started my college career at 19, but I goofed around ALOT , never took it seriously and have been in school off and on since then. In addition to that I have a four year old daughter. So now in Sept, I have to take the pre req, which will prob take two semesters to complete then an additional year for the nursinG classes (going for my ADN) . My ultimate goal is to become a CRNA, which means I will be about 107 when I finally finish, lol. Is anyone else going through this? I know nursing school is NO joke, im starting to question can I really do it. Motherhood. work, school (all full time) UGH! Be coming a nurse is my passion, my heart skips a beat evry time I see a hospital, but its starting to seem impossible :-/

Specializes in Aesthetics, Med/Surg, Outpatient.

I do understand hot you feel though lol... I just started my BSN last semester and have an Associates in Liberal Arts but I'm 25 and its been 9 years since I left high school (wow thats crazy. so we are still REALLY REALLY young. You are doing the right thing in thinking this through and preparing to take this important step in your life.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

In 4 years, you can either be a 4 year older NURSE or just 4 years older wishing you had started 'back then'. You won't be eligible for Social Security until you are 69 or 70... so what better way to spend the next 40+ years???

Just focus on one goal at a time & you'll get there. Seems like everyone and their great uncle Ned wants to be a CRNA these days ... very few actually make it. Keep in mind that it's not possible to work while in a CRNA program, so you may also want to work on your system to win PowerBall while you're plugging along in nursing school - LOL!

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Specializes in Med/Surg, LTACH, LTC, Home Health.

Here we go again! Is this the same poster from a couple of weeks ago who was 25? Did I miss your birthday? Happy belated!:singing:

I'm pushing myself to complete this BSN degree before the BIG 5-0 and these babies are trying to still the spotlight. Back off!:madface:

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Specializes in Critical Care.

You are still young and have close to 40 years left before official retirement 67-68 so certainly you still have time. Many older nurses many single mothers have put themselves thru school while working and taking care of the kids. You can do it if you put your mind to it and take the classes seriously. Keep your student loans low as they must be paid off even if it takes you till retirement and there is a lot of school to be a CRNA if that is what you decide in the end. You will need your BSN and then a masters. I would start with getting the RN, getting a job and then getting your BSN. Just don't overdo the student loans and stick to govt loans not private!

Learn all you can about personal finance, credit scores, budgeting so you don't end up with bad credit and debt overload. This is a key step that many people, especially single mothers overlook and then are bogged down by bad credit scores and can't afford a house or car and pay much more for everything because they have poor credit. Learn about student loans, they must be paid off, if you stay with govt loans you can now do the income based repayment option, but there is no bankruptcy for student loans and many people out there have gone into default allowing the loans to be double and triple the original amount and now have their taxes garnished and will have their social security garnished as well if not paid off.

Once you are in too deep with student loans there is no way out! So make it a priority to keep your finances in order and student loans as low as possible. Avoid for profit colleges that advertise on the TV they are known to hook you up with private loans from Sallie Mae, one of the worst, instead of govt loans. I wouldn't go to a private college unless they were giving a full scholarship, it is just too expensive and RN pay is the same regardless of where you went to school and even in most places regardless of ADN or BSN. But many hospitals now prefer BSN due to magnet status.

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Look at this way, your my age, by the time we will be able to retire we will be like 80 with the way things are going. My plan is to take a LTC job around the age of 70 so when I start to fade they can just move me from working to resident lol. So realistically if you finish at 30 if you have a good 40 years to put into your nursing career.

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Hi I just turned 27 and am starting my per Reqs at UTA for the nursing program. I also did do some college when I was 18 but I didn't take it seriously and stopped going. Over the years I have tried to go back here and there but just was not able to commit with things I had going on in my life. I now have matured I believe since those times :) now with 2 children 5 and 6 and a husband. :) I was a little scared to start as I felt it was too late, but what the heck so what! :) I'm even trying to convince my mom to go to school she's 49. I am very excited and wish everyone the best.

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Thanx for the heads up! =)

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Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
But many hospitals now prefer BSN due to magnet status.

*** Wow, that myth just refuses to die!

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I started nursing school. Full time. Bsn. When I was 26. Single mom of a 6 year old. Half way through school got pregnant again and had another baby. Now single mom of two. Only took off one semester due to having the baby. I graduated when I was 30 and have been a nurse for 2 years. It's a lot of hard work. A lot of sleepless nights but you will get it done and it will all be well worth it. Good luck.

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Specializes in LTC, Rural, OB.

The majority of my class is at least over 25, with maybe a third in their 30s. I myself will graduate right before I turn 30 and eventually want to become a nurse midwife but probably won't do that well into my 40s. You're never too young to start especially at your age. My mom went back to school after getting divorced and having 3 kids and she's been a nurse for almost 20 years.

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Girl, I am 32 soon to be 33 and I start this Fall for my ADN!!! I have two boys and I work full-time. I always wanted to be a nurse. But I decided to raise my boys first, then finish school. So happy I did because now I am more focused. Before, I use to let anything get in my way.

You can do it!!! Just stay focus. I am on that same path to become a CRNA or CRNFA. Either one will be fine with me.

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Specializes in ccu.

You can do it!

I started my pre-req's for nursing when I was 28. I went back to school with a 3 year old, a 2 year old and a 4 month old. It was tough, and I just went part-time until I started nursing classes.

I graduated at 31, and have been a nurse for 2 years now.

You CAN do this! Good luck!

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