Starting from scratch @ 45

Hi All,

After 18+ yrs. of caring for my multi-handicapped son & my husband (Cirrhosis, hemorrhagic strokes, RA, OSA), I finally decided to try nursing school. I just applied to college for financial aid, but haven't had the interview w/the nursing program for application yet..hopefully will do next week.

I'm in western Arkansas, and thought there was a shortage of nurses so I wouldn't have a hard time finding a job after graduation..now, after reading some of the posts here, I'm not so sure. Esp. w/the recession as it is. I have tons of questions that I'm hoping some of the more learned folks here can answer for me, but for now I'll start w/just a couple. (Please bear w/me in my ignorance.)

1. Starting from scratch, and going to school full-time, how many years does it take to become a RN?

2. Has anyone had problems finding a nursing job in Arkansas?

Thanks! I need all the advice I can get!

Scrappymom :icon_roll

First, congratulations on taking the next step, the best thing you can do is to contact your local college you plan on attending and speaking to a nursing adviser as far as how that college works. Most colleges require pre reqs and these can take 1-2 years depending on what kind of class load you take on. It's common for most schools that once you finish certain pre reqs you can then apply for Nursing school. You have to find out if your college has a wait list or if it is competitive. If it is competetive your GPA is going to be very important. Is you go for an associates degree it will be a 2 year program. You can later oncer you are working, go through the RN-BSN program to get your next degree.

Lets say everything runs smoothly and you get accepted right after your pre reqs and you get your pre rews done in 1 year, you would be looking at graduating in 3 years from now. 4 years is probably more realistic though, the economy is not going to be the same then, their is really no telling what the economy will be like than.

My best advice would be to go to your college website and search Nursing in the search feature ON the website, their should be all kinds of information there and contacts, email the nursing admissions lady or adviser and set up a meeting with them and they can give you the best plan of action.

Good luck in everything :)

Hi scrappymom! I'm 46, finishing up A&P 2, have to pass the dreaded Microbiology this summer, and have been told I have a good place in line to enter the Nursing Program this Fall. I have some of the same concerns you do, regarding the recession and shortage/not shortage of nurses.

I've been told that since our Comm. College here graduates 80-100 nurses every year in a city of about 40,000, there may not be a shortage of nurses here but if you go out 50 miles in any direction, there is a shortage of nurses. Is there a similiar situation in your area? Would you be able to commute or relocate after graduation?

Personally, I think there's no such thing as wasted education. I spent the last 10 years taking basics in night school as I could afford to, hoping that someday I would be able to go full time. I was downsized last year from a job I'd loved and held for almost 20 years, and now I'm broke but happy.

Sounds like you have plenty of unpaid nursing experience, enough to know if nursing is a good fit for you. Is there some other field you're considering that would get you in and out of school faster? Just off the top of my head, I can't think of another field that offers the opportunities that nursing offers that would get you out of school in less than 4 years.

I've heard of a good number of people who entered nursing at an age older than we are, so try not to let that bother you too much. Go for it! I'd love to hear how things go with you.

I have just started doing my pre-reqs and I anticipate it will take anywhere from 1-3 more years until I can apply. I am only able to take one class at a time. There are different requirements depending on whether you pursue a degree from a community college or a traditional program. Do you have an undergraduate degree? If so, that will help. I am taking classes for the first time in 20 years. It's different (better!) the second time around. You can do it!

Congrats and go for it. I'm 46 and starting from scratch myself. I'm going the LPN route, however, I think I did not pass the entrance exam. Took business courses in HS all those years ago and had no answers for the science section.

Go for it and I hope you do well!!! Education at any age is a wonderful thing - too bad some of us don't realize that when we are young :-)

I am 46 and in year 2 of taking my prerequisites. I plan to apply for the fall 2010 program at my school.

I've just scanned through the responses so forgive me if I'm repeating something already said. There are several different routes to RN: diploma, associate degree (ASN), or bachelor degree (BSN). The diploma route is going away but if you are starting from scratch it seems to be the quickest way to go, usually 2 years. Of course I am assuming that you even have access to a diploma school - here in Louisiana we only have one left in the entire state. The downside to getting the diploma is that more and more places are placing an emphasis on having a degree. The upside is that many colleges are implementing RN -> BSN programs to continue your education and get you a degree and lots of employers have educational assistance benefits. The ASN route is usually about 2 years PLUS however long to get the necessary pre-requisite courses for admittance, so you are usually looking at 3 years total for a full-time student. BSN is generally a 4 year program. All three routes prepare you to take the NCLEX exam which gives you the actual license. All of these time frames are subject to your own personal situation so they may be longer or shorter; they are just what I found from my research as I "started from scratch @ 48".

A great big THANKS to everyone who responded to my questions! I was really getting down about this, wondering if I'd gotten my hopes up for nothing..You all make good points, and certain ones hit home with me:

'All of these time frames are subject to your own personal situation so they may be longer or shorter; they are just what I found from my research as I "started from scratch @ 48".'

"Education at any age is a wonderful thing - too bad some of us don't realize that when we are young :-) "

"There are different requirements depending on whether you pursue a degree from a community college or a traditional program."

"Personally, I think there's no such thing as wasted education."

"the best thing you can do is to contact your local college you plan on attending and speaking to a nursing adviser.."

I had actually gotten to the point that I was AFRAID to see the nursing adviser @ school; that she would laugh me right out of her office. Is it hard to get financial aid for nursing school? I've done my FAFSA online, and more info was requested by the school, so I haven't given up on that quite yet..

I know I should explore avenues other than nursing, just to have a back-up in case I can't hack it or something...but nothing else sounds as good to me. What do you guys 'minor' in? If you have time, that is? (Do people our age who return to school even have a minor? LOL)

Again, thanks for your kind advice, and I'll keep you posted if you'll do the same for me...it's nice to know I'm not the only "old lady" swingin' in the wind!

:bowingpur

As far as I know, most nursing candidates don't minor in anything....too much effort. For me, I had a Bachelors in Engineering in 1984. That saved me Chemistry, math, electives, but nothing else. I CLEP'd english the first time, so they recommended I retake it.

It took me a year to do the pre-reqs @ 2/semester. I took Speech and Statistics while in my 'waiting semester'. I start NS May 4th! :yeah:

You will never get there if you don't start, and the time will pass faster than you think!!!! I am currently 47, mom of 5, stepmom to 4 more!

You can do this! I say go for it and always remember....there are NO stupid questions!

I'm 48 and I'll be starting at UAMS (in Little Rock) this May. I'll be getting a BSN. I've heard that the job market around Little Rock has slowed down but people are still getting jobs it just seems to be taking longer. I see you are in Western AR so I'm not sure what schools you are looking at. I have looked into mainly the ones in the Little Rock area (I'm in Cabot) but feel free to ask any questions if I can help.

Good luck to you.

Well, I had a couple of bumps in the road, but almost there. The 2009-2010 year will be my fourth year in school. I had to retake a couple of classes, but as of this year I will be done and ready to apply.

Yes, I am insane enough to obtain a minor. Because of the state of Nevada budget cuts, the fall semester is the last time they are offering it. I will be minoring in Health Care Ethics. The cool thing is that I will be able to knock out a couple of degree requirements with this minor.

Don't give up. My first year of school was all remedial courses in math and English.

Oh, I will be 43 in June and my nursing advisor told me that she had a 66 yr old graduate with a BSN.

Good luck!