Starting nursing school at 37...

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Hi everyone. My name is Lindsay. I am 37 years old and I am married with 3 kids, boy/girl/boy ages 4, 10, 14.

3 years ago I decided I wanted to be a nurse. I began upgrading at my local college and took the required Math, Chemistry, English, Biology courses. It was a lot of work! Anyway, I got an offer a few months ago at a great college and am so excited! I accepted the offer and will be starting school in September.

The thing is, I wish I would have done this right out of high school while I was young. But back then, I wasn't serious about a career. I just wanted to get married and have kids. It wasn't until 3 years ago that I began desiring to go back to school and have my own career. It's just that I'm feeling kind of embarrassed to start at age 37...anyone else start nursing school in their 30's-40's? #justwondering

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Specializes in Clinical Research, Outpt Women's Health.

Perfect age to start. Maturity and energy is a great mix.

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

I graduated from nursing school for the first time at age 20. The second time, I was age 45 when I graduated. And the most recent graduating age was just 2 months shy of my 50th birthday. Your age, 37? Piece-a-cake! Good luck!

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Many nurses are on their second career. You'll find yourself in good company.

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Don't give it a second thought. I'm mid-40s and just heading back to school. You said it yourself - you didn't have the desire or drive to be a nurse when you were younger (same for me), so what kind of nurse do you think you would have made back then?

Your age brings a bountiful of benefits: maturity being the biggest.

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I'll be 34 when I graduate in December and I'm not even close to being the oldest in my class.

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Thank you! :)

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Awww...thanks! And congrats! :D

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Specializes in Home Care Mgmt, Med-Surg.

I graduated at 35, BSN will be 40 or 41. My mother graduated at 63. Both of us second careers. You are not too old to do anything.

Some days I wish I'd started sooner, but I was not mature enough in my 20's! Life experience is very beneficial in your practice as well. That said, there are some extraordinary 20-something nurses, I envy their "togetherness". I was a mess in my 20's!

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Specializes in psych.

I agree that you are never too old to go back to school! I went back to school when I was 35. I'm also a second career person. I honestly don't think if I had done this right out of high school I would have made it. I needed to grow and learn how to be a professional before I jumped into nursing. I wasn't ready to handle this back in my 20's. I couldn't be happier that I went back when I did. Good luck with school!

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Specializes in Oncology.

I graduated in April and will start my first job as a RN in about a month. I turn 40 in January.

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I was 25 when I started my bridge program pre-reqs but also had 3 kids. I'm glad I waited till I was a bit older to do my RN, I was prepared to work hard and determined, something I wasn't straight out of HS. I just graduated last month and started my RN job last week, its definitely worth it!! I'm almost 30 now but most of the students in my program were late 20's to early 40's. You won't be alone!

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