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
Specializes in Psychiatry, Community, Nurse Manager, hospice.
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
Yes, I decided to become a nurse at 37 also. I graduated at age 40, and I am now 41 and just started my first nursing job. My preceptor is 52 and she became a nurse at age 40. There are lots of us.
There are many benefits to doing this later in life. For me, my kids were older and moving toward independence. I don't have to worry about planning my family around starting a career, because that's already done. I was more focused on my studies than many younger students who were also trying to find mates. I was not so old that bathing and turning patients was hazardous for me, and my mind is even sharper than it was when I was in my 20s. For me, it was really the perfect time to go to nursing school and I was a better student than I was the first time I went to college in the 90s, when school was not truly my first priority, even if I thought it should be.
Also, I still have about 25 years to work. It's totally worth it to invest the $$ in school.
Nursing is very open to people like us, and there is a lot of flexibility to carve out your own way. You really can progress very quickly to where you want to go.
I had several friends in their 40's and a few in their 50's when they went to nursing school. 37 is definitely not too old for a career change. Do not for one second be embarrassed, just be proud that you know what you want and are going for it. I bet there will be several people older than you in your class.
Specializes in Hospice, corrections, psychiatry, rehab, LTC.
The median age in my class was 35, and I finished at age 40. Two of my classmates were in their mid 50s when they finished.My classmates were very focused, and they knew what they wanted.
You might be one of the eldest in the class. Teach them some life experience to help traditional students through clinicals.
Example:
When I did my psych rotation, it was the first clinical I ever had where all the other students were traditional students at the facility. We had to go in pairs. We had to utilize therapeutic communication with one client. We selected a young guy, and he was showing us card tricks. He asked us if we knew how to play Texas Hold Em, I said I do - he grabbed poker chips from the cabinet and my classmate had no clue what to do. I asked him, "Do you know how to play poker?" He said no.
The next week we went down to the activity room for clients to come down and mingle with us. There was a nice pool table in the rec room. I start buffing the cue sticks and asked my classmates if anyone knew how to shoot pool. DEAD SILENCE. When the clients came down, I was there shooting pool with them.
Traditional students today do not have these type of life experiences. Some might ask so what that these students didn't know how to do these things? Well, you have to learn to meet people where they are, engage in THEIR world, be a part of them. These little things really matter to patients. Now obviously on a hospital floor you do not have these things. But guess what? I was taking care of a person around your age once and before leaving I was asked if I could play a couple hands of poker while she was waiting. Patient also asked if I could pray with them - which I did, because I used to be a pastor as well.
You have a lot of life experiences to go by as you go forward, and you can be a mentor to traditional students. Especially with 3 kids - I cannot tell you how many female nurses talk to their patients about each other's kids! I cannot really do that because I have no kids, but I can listen to them. Sometimes they even ask me if I have any kids and I usually say, "If you want to count my two cats and my pomeranian"
So don't let age deter you. You can be a mentor to these younglings. :)
Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.
I was 36 when I started nursing school, and 38 when I graduated. At the time most nursing students were traditional (late teens-early 20s), so I really was a lot older than most of my classmates. But we had a couple who were in their late 40s, as well as one who was 50. I remember looking at her and thinking she had the wisdom of the ages. But I'm sure she was as nervous as the rest of us!
Now that I'm well past 50 myself, I realize how much I have left to learn, even as a retired RN. That's the good thing about having life experience before becoming a nurse...at least you know what you don't know.
There was a woman in her 60s in my graduating class! You are never too old. I was 30 myself when I finished nursing school, and many of my classmates were older than me. It's more common than you realize.
I'm 46 and will be starting my program in August. I'm excited and glad that I am finally pursuing my dream. You will be surprised to see how many are in your age group or older! Good luck, you will do great!
FolksBtrippin, BSN, RN
2,322 Posts
Yes, I decided to become a nurse at 37 also. I graduated at age 40, and I am now 41 and just started my first nursing job. My preceptor is 52 and she became a nurse at age 40. There are lots of us.
There are many benefits to doing this later in life. For me, my kids were older and moving toward independence. I don't have to worry about planning my family around starting a career, because that's already done. I was more focused on my studies than many younger students who were also trying to find mates. I was not so old that bathing and turning patients was hazardous for me, and my mind is even sharper than it was when I was in my 20s. For me, it was really the perfect time to go to nursing school and I was a better student than I was the first time I went to college in the 90s, when school was not truly my first priority, even if I thought it should be.
Also, I still have about 25 years to work. It's totally worth it to invest the $$ in school.
Nursing is very open to people like us, and there is a lot of flexibility to carve out your own way. You really can progress very quickly to where you want to go.
You will probably thrive as I am thriving.