Terrified about starting school late in life...

pnut8377 · Mar 19, 2012

Thanks to all of you super women!! You're all an inspiration. I'm so excited to start. I will not let other people's negativity undermine what I am doing to better myself and my family.

Boxer Mama · Mar 19, 2012

I will be 35 next month and have 2 classes left before I can apply to the nursing program. I am loving school and have a 4.0. I am actually doing better now than I would have when I was younger. I also have three children who keep me very busy! If this is something you want, then go for it! Do not let other people get you down. Good luck!!

On_the_on, BSN · Mar 19, 2012

I am right there with you! I am about to turn 32 and *hopefully* starting in fall. I wholeheartedly agree with absolutely everything rubato said!

Good luck to you! (and everyone else and me!)

ARickli · Mar 19, 2012

You are definitely NOT alone! I'm 32 and have 4 kids under 7. I started my pre-reqs when I was pregnant with my 4th child, and delivered him in the middle of the semester!

It can be daunting trying to balance the needs of your family with your schoolwork, but as everyone here has echoed, we are more mature and can prioritize MUCH better than we had when we were 20. When you truly understand and appreciate the value of the education that you are paying for, you attend to your classwork so much better.

Best of luck in all your future endeavors!

SopranoKris, MSN, RN, NP · Mar 19, 2012

I'm 42 and I'm going back to school after 18 years. You most definitely can do it!!! By the time I'm done with pre-reqs and nursing school, I'll be 45. It's never too late to pursue your dream!

So, go for it and don't let anything get in your way...you'll be fine :)

beischja · Mar 19, 2012

Oh, I wish I was 34 again with so many possibilities. I started school again at 55 years of age. I am 56 now and just began my first semester of nursing after 3 semesters of prereqs. It was terrifying walking into that college classroom after a 35 year break from school. It didn't take long to figure out my motivation and "maturity" gave me the edge over the 19 year-old's (who were also scared, but too cool to admit it). I love every day, have a supportive family and am gaining confidence in my new abilities. Yes, it is scary, yes, you will feel uncomfortable, but that means you are growing and learning something. Don't fear failure, learn from it! You already have the advantage of a health care background, this sounds like a very natural progression to your life. If you love what you do, you will never "work" a day in your life! Good luck to you!

VegNurse · Mar 19, 2012

Hang in there and go for your dream! After over 25 years in another profession, I started a nursing program at 49. It's unlike any other education I have ever had, but I am still hanging in there. Just last week a doctor came up to me and said that they love having more mature nursing students on the floor. He said we bring wisdom and experience to the profession and have enough humility to accept that we don't know everything already:) If you're interested, I can write down what I did during my pre-reqs and how I got into a highly competitive program after being out of school for many years. If I can do it, so can you! Good luck to you!

penaheather · Mar 19, 2012

I started at 36 years old. Im not going to lie. IT IS HARD but it can be done. If you really want it bad enough, you will do what it takes.

uarmashi · Mar 19, 2012

You can absolutely do it!! My undergrad GPA was at the lower end of 3. I did my nursing Pre-reqs last yr at the age of 33, straights As.Youth often comes with recklessness and a lack of direction. You're older and wiser and much more capable of juggling multiple responsibilities than the teeny-boppers

Tricia76 · Mar 19, 2012

I am 36 and I started my prerequisites at 35..and I'm still pluggin along..It can and will be done!

Maryea · Mar 19, 2012

If you are "starting off late in life"...I'm in huge trouble. I am 52 years old and still have 4 pre-reqs to go before I can apply for nursing. I have had nothing but encouragement from most, however there are those who tell me I should rethink it all because the work is "too hard". Or I even had one person tell me that I can't think as fast as a younger person. Everyone is different. I have never been a nurse, so not sure I know what to expect. Usually they (nurses) first metion being on their feet for several hours. Okay, I'm willing. Long hours. Okay, willing to do that too. People who do not appreciate what you are doing for them and punch, kick and spit at you...Okay. If I am willing to try. If I am not worried about my age. If I can run circles around most young people I know and still keep going when they poop out. Then I am going to try it.

For 52 years I have let other people tell me, "you could never be a nurse!" then give that little laugh like I am crazy. I believed them. I am not going to believe them for one more minute!! I will do this. My kdis are grown...so I don't have that issue to deal with. However, I have children with children and sometimes they need my help. I will when I can. But I also have elderly parents to deal with. My life is very full and it about to get fuller.

I will not get a masters...and a BSN is going to be pushing it. But I will be and RN if I have to apply at every school in the nation.

You are NOT too old!!!!

sophia9 · Mar 19, 2012

I am 34 years old and after having marriage and children first instead of school I am now finally going back to school. I have wanted to go back for nursing for almost 10 years, I worked for years in a home for the developmentally disabled doing CNA work and as a Med Tech but never went for the certification but always knew nursing was my calling. I have been told by many nurses and people I've worked with that I should be a nurse. Am in currently taking the CNA as it is the prerequisite to nursing where I live and I am so excited to start school (hoping to start in the fall) but I am also I am terrified!! I have been out of school for 17 years and am wondering if I can do it. I work with a young girl who is in the nursing program now right out of highschool who keeps telling me how hard it is and how she it having a hard time passing. Now I'm wondering, Can I do it? After 17 years can I handle nursing school? Did anyone who started this late in life have the same reservations and can you offer any advice???

Hi, I have you beat! I am 56 years old yesterday and a few days ago I was accepted into the nursing program at a SUNY school. I have previous college credits but no degree. I am a LMT and returned to school full time sept. 2011. I started in another major because I was not sure I had what it took to get into or get through the nursing program. I thought maybe I was too old. I soon realized the program I was enrolled in was not my calling and I belonged in nursing. A fellow mature but younger student than I who was entering nursing informed me that her Aunt had become an RN at the age of 65. She inspired me. I have 3 grown children and unfortunately a second marriage gone south and I do need to make a living but I realized no matter how old I am I have to do what inspires me or at least try to. I have to pursue my natural vocation. You are already doing that and it sounds like you have a full schedule with children and work. If you can manage 3 children and work or 3 children a household and no outside work, and this is what you are inspired to do then I believe you will find going to nursing school alot less difficult than you think. Ofcourse I'm not there until fall 2012 but I have a full load with sciences and math right now. A good program will also have resources to support you and encourage you throughout. So many mature adults return to school now to start careers or change careers so you are not alone and mature students have become a "normal" part of the mix in traditional college classrooms as well. You are young! As I said many programs have resources to ensure the success and transition for older students. So take advantage of those. If you are committed and willing to work hard then you should be as succesful as any one else no matter how old you are. I wish you much success!