Hi everyone, new to the site! I love it! I did most of my research on the internet and found that this site was very informational and gave alot of life experience that I needed to help make this bold decision!
Okay, I'm 37 2 kids (age 2 and 13) and a devoted husband. I have worked for a very popular technology company for 14yrs! I've been a customer service supervisor, Buyer and now i'm a Accountant. Needless to say-I HATE IT.
With the economy the way it is, I thank God that I have a good job now but I don't want to mis this opportunity... I love encouraging and working with others, i'm very compassionate with it comes to people and making them better. I have no experience in the Health Care field and i'm very anxious about starting school. My plan: CNA night classes to began in fall 2009. Summer 09 I will take my math, biology, chem (during the evenign) classes for the Nursing pre-req. Spring 10 apply for the LPN program at community college then go into the LPN to RN bridge. I know I will have to eventaully quick my very well paying job at some point (probably when I'm accepted into the Nursing program) and that will be very challenging I expect. But that is why I want to get my CNA so at least I will have some kind of income coming in (75% less income than what i have now).
Is it realistic to believe that with my skilss that I may be able to work 2 jobs to regain my current income?
I currently also work from home 3 days a week, so studying won't be a probably.
Is there any of you that have similuar situations? I would love your feedback! Thank you all !!!!
Yep! I am 36, soon to be 37, and though I don't have kids and am divorced, I am just starting to get my life back in order and figuring out "what I want to be when I grow up". lol But thank goodness for that.
I have previously mostly done program management and computer geek stuff. And I only got 2 years of college done, all those years ago. And now here I am, finally contemplating a career as an RN and the degree to get it.
And the first step to that career is, for me, CNA/PCA school. Hoping to get into either the summer or fall classes this year and get to work not long after, and very carefully start knocking out my gen ed pre-reqs for the RN degree. If I had to look ahead, I'd say I'd be done with my pre-reqs in about a year and a half to two years. It's a long time, but I'd rather go slowly and get the great grades by going just one course at a time. Besides... been a while since I've been to school, I'll be a little rusty on the note taking and such.
Anyway... glad to see that there are more in this boat with me! I was thinking a while back that I was starting to get too old to go back to school or re-start careers, but you know what? I think I was wrong. :)
Yes! I'm in the same boat. I'm 35 with two children under 3 years old. I spent 10 years in Non-profit development, as a director for a large regional non-profit. I made a poor career move that looked great on paper, to a national organization, and was miserable. I decided to go back to my first calling, the medical field.
I just finished my cna certification, and hope to work as a cna in a hospital while going to nursing school. I have applied for fall clinicals!
I also have a super duper supportive husband, and it's going to be tough, but worth it!
OMG, I cannot thank you all enough for this thread! I'm 36 have been a stay at home mom for the last 3 years. I have a degree in business and worked in Medical Administration for 10 years but DO NOT want to go back to that.
Since nursing school waiting list here is UNREAL, I thought CNA will at least get me going...but I'm running into more negative attitudes than positive. Thank you for the GREAT responses, it's so nice to be on the back end of 30...and not feel so alone!
I'm back in school for nursing at 42, doing a CNA/PCA program at the same time next quarter just to get some experience "in the field" to pick up added info and a little bit of $ to live on until I get my BSN...it's never too late.
People of both genders opting to change live paths and study nursing or becoming CNA's after 35 is not unusual at all. I would be willing to bet this is the most popular field for people in this age group who go back to school. I remember when I was in my 20's I heard Dr Laura advise a 36-year-old year woman not to study nursing because at her age she would be unable to handle the physical aspects of it. Well, I'm 37 years old now and in no way too decrepit to handle the duties of the job. And I have met or heard off dozens of people older than I who are succesfully pursuing new careers in nursing. You have decades of working life left so why not go after something you feel you might love?
Hi! I am new to the site, I saw this post and loved it! I am 36 and have worked in accounting for about 14 years. I always wanted to be a nuse, but got married, had kids and was never able to go back to school. For the most part due to the fact that I was married to an unsupportive husband. I divorced him and am now married to the most wonderful and supportive man! I made the decision to go back to school in January, planned on working while doing that, but was laid off at the end of January. So, we decided that if I was going to go back and do this, I would not get another job. I applied to school and just got the call on Friday that I was accepted! I start on April 6! I can't wait and I still can't believe that I am actually getting the chance to follow my dream! Good luck to you!
I know I have thank you all already but I keep coming back to re-read all of the wonderful posts. I'm my own worse enemy in trying to talk myself out of going forward because well, my mind keeps saying, you're too old, not smart enough..etc etc. BUT, I see that is wrong. If you all can do it, so can I. It may take a long time and we may suffer a bit longer since I'm going to just be going to school full time but I know in my heart it is my calling and it's what I am meant to do.
I just got word though, that our RN program is now a 4 year waiting list due to so many people applying and coming back to school. I guess I'll just have to keep taking classes here and there and keeping moving forward, I'm not getting any younger and the more I put if off the worse it will be.
I became a CNA in June of 2008 after many years in banking. I passed the NLN PN a week ago and will be chewing my nails for the next 30 days. I hope to go to school 2 evenings and 1 day of clinicals. In May I will be 62 :smiletea2: keep reading this site it has been a terrific source of inspiration for me.
I can definitely relate to your story. I was a Network Engr/IT Business Consultant. Only, I was miserable the whole time. I loved the money, but the field was not my passion. I am now working as a CNA and starting LPN school on May 4th. I am happy and excited about my new journey, but living off of 15% of my previous income depresses when it comes time to take care of my daughter. Fortunately, met really supportive CNAs on my job who took me under their wing and showed me how they were living. I will forever be grateful to them. I keep my spirits lifted by keeping my eye on the prize -- a rewarding career in the medical field.
Thanks to you and everyone else who shared your stories. I now don't feel so alone in this situation.
Girl Scout
165 Posts
Yep! I am 36, soon to be 37, and though I don't have kids and am divorced, I am just starting to get my life back in order and figuring out "what I want to be when I grow up". lol But thank goodness for that.
I have previously mostly done program management and computer geek stuff. And I only got 2 years of college done, all those years ago. And now here I am, finally contemplating a career as an RN and the degree to get it.
And the first step to that career is, for me, CNA/PCA school. Hoping to get into either the summer or fall classes this year and get to work not long after, and very carefully start knocking out my gen ed pre-reqs for the RN degree. If I had to look ahead, I'd say I'd be done with my pre-reqs in about a year and a half to two years. It's a long time, but I'd rather go slowly and get the great grades by going just one course at a time. Besides... been a while since I've been to school, I'll be a little rusty on the note taking and such.
Anyway... glad to see that there are more in this boat with me! I was thinking a while back that I was starting to get too old to go back to school or re-start careers, but you know what? I think I was wrong. :)