Am I too old?

Nursing Students SRNA

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Hi, I was wondering if anyone here could answer a question I have. I'm going back to school for my BSN, which I will graduate with in two years at the age of thirty. My eventual goal is to become a CRNA, but I know that I'd want to have at least two years of ICU experience before going to CRNA school. In that time frame, I'll be at least 34 by the time I graduate from school and start practicing as a CRNA. This is something I really want to do for my career as I have a MDA uncle and he really loves his job and I'm very facinated administering anesthesia as well.

However, I'll be in my mid thirties by the time I achive this goal, and I'm not sure how this is regarded for someone who would be just starting out.

What do you guys/gals think? Am I just being paranoid about the whole age thing or what? Any and all feedback would be appreciated... Thanks!

Specializes in critical care.

Why does it always have to be about getting through something. Who cares how old you'll be when you finish. Think about how awesome it will be to learn the science/art of anesthesia. Sometimes people (me included) get so focused on the endpoint they forget to enjoy the journey.

This may be a little off topic but I was just reading the posts and looking at everyones age and thought -Why is is that the 3 different people who was thinking about being to old (myself included) are 27-28 years old? Maybe it has something to do with this age group.

I am not real sure about our age group "27-28" years old but right now I feel like I should have done this a long time ago and let things slip by. I am married with one child ( I cannot have any more children) and now I feel like I have come to a stnd still and in order to get moving again its time to get back in school, get focused and concentrate on my needs as far as work and my future goals. I think its weird though b/c in any other sense I don't consider myself old in the least.

Specializes in Ante-Intra-Postpartum, Post Gyne.

I will be about 31 before I get my Masters degree in Nursing and become a midwife. My mother in law is in her mid forties and is just starting her pre-requs and starting college for the FIRST time ever...and she wants to become and FNP...your not too old at all!!!

Specializes in Med-Surg, LTC, Rehabiliation Nursing.

Too Old? Well, I just started my nursing career, I am 39, graduated in May, passed the boards in June, have 2 children, 5 & 8 and a husband, 2 dogs and a cat. Jeez, if youre too old, then I must be ancient.

Ancient and happy. Dont worry about it. :nono: You will be fine.:wink2:

Specializes in Geriatrics/Alzheimer's.

LOL!!! Why do people always ask if they are too old? Old is a state of mind. I believe you are never too old to start anything. I worked with a nurse who is 81. She could walk faster than I. If you are in good health anything is possible.

Go for it! You will do great!!! :)

Hey everyone! I suppose that is seems silly for me to thinking this way about age, but I think that a good point was brought up in that I like nursing, and feel so strongly aboth this as a career path that I wish I had gone and gotten my BSN right out of High School. If I'd had done that, then I'd already be at my goal of being an ICU nurse or a CRNA now. So in that regard, I feel like I searched a long time to find my calling and I wish I'd found it sooner.

I think it probably took a while for me to get over the whole "male nurse" thing, too. Some in my family reacted like: "But you're not gay, only gay men are allowed to be male nurses!" Ignorant junk like that kept from considering this as a possibility for a while... (sigh)

Are there any guys out there that have had this pop up in thier thought process about nursing?

Specializes in SRNA.

Not really. Who cares what other people think?

-S

Not really. Who cares what other people think?

-S

hmmm... When I was younger I cared a whole lot. Now... less so. :wink2:

Specializes in Paeds. PICU. Community, Midwife..

No you are not too old. When I was doing my under graduate degree I met a lady (85years) doing a Masters degree at the library. She was using a magnifying glass to see the fine print. I was 46 years old then. I am now doing my Masters in Adult education and nearly finished (I am now 55). Remember the notion of lifelong learning. We never stop learning. Keep going mate anyway you are only a spring chicken compared to me. I say forget that paradigm of age it is totally irrelevant. Look at the president of the world bank who mastered the cello only a few years ago and now gives concerts.There are so many role modules out there.

I read somewhere that the average CRNA student was 32...and married with children. I am 30 and starting BSN completion program while getting my critical care experience for CRNA school (I am a new grad in a critical care internship). I will be 34-35 when I become a CRNA. Look at ten years from now- it's not like you're going to retire soon. You will double your salary for at least 20 years, have a more satisfying job, etc. Find out what you want to do and go there! I am about to have my first child and we have to relocate for a CRNA program... but as long as I am settled down before my child starts kindergarten, I'm happy. What are your personal goals??? Is it that far away- look at six years ago from now- I bet its gone by fast!

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