To old for nursing school?

[wannabeny]

A bit of background..I was emancipated at 14 and dropped out of high school..due to stubborn parents refusing to help me, I didn't recieve my GED until I was 22. I started prerequisites for nursing for a BSN in 2012, but then couldn't afford the programs I was accepted to.

I took a year off to gather my life, and now at 27 (soon to be 28 in 3 days) I am applying to a CC nursing program.

I've had alot of negative responses from family and friends..."you'll never be a nurse", "2 years is too long", "you'll be too old or are too old to start a new career".

I had a career that I loved, but outgrew when I was 22/23. Nursing attracted me because of the ability to help others in gaining their health/quality of life back..something that I went through in taking care of two family members with cancer.

I just need some unbiased encouragement, starting to get frustrated with even sharing my progress with people. It's offputting as well to see younger individuals who just know what they want, and I'm feeling in limbo career wise.

[SWM2009]

27/28 is old?

[IM2bRN1]

I'm currently in nursing school. I just finished my first semester. The age of my classmates range from 21 to 54 with the average age of 36. Also I work at a hospital where a few of these nurses said they started school at 40. Too old?? Not hardly.

[Ladybug993]

I worked with a lady who was starting her life over and became a nurse in her 60's.. Remember this.. Your delayed is not your denial... It's dangerous to believe what others think of you...

[lovesbunnies]

I'm 27 and I just finished my first semester of nursing school. Many of my classmates are around my age, and several are in their 40s/50s. So, no, you're not "too old".

[Lemon Bars]

I find it incredible that your family and friends would tell you to give up on your (quite reasonable) career goal at age 28. Pardon me if this sounds blunt, but this is not the attitude that successful families take towards their kin, nor the attitude that good friends have towards their friends. Ignore them all, study hard, and build a successful life for yourself.

I finally finished my pre-requisites and I will start a BSN program next month. I'm 44 years old. I've had a number of setbacks in my life, but none of my friends or family members ever told me to give up. Best wishes to you!

[caliotter3]

You are young enough to do what you want to do careerwise, and to bounce back from any setbacks that you might encounter. It would be a different story if you were 58 or 59 with retirement around the corner. Good luck with your efforts and let us know how things are going from time to time.

[CNC_1989]

You're young! I'm 26 and just got accepted into a LPN program. I'm hoping to have my RN by 30. You've got plenty of years left.

[db2xs]

First of all, let me say that you are definitely not too old to be a nurse. That is hogwash. The oldest woman in my program was in her 50s. The average age in my program was 26.

I regret that you have family members who are so discouraging. It sounds like they might be projecting their own hang-ups onto you. Just know that you are perfect the way that you are and you are never too old to be a nurse!

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I find it incredible that your family and friends would tell you to give up on your (quite reasonable) career goal at age 28. Pardon me if this sounds blunt, but this is not the attitude that successful families take towards their kin, nor the attitude that good friends have towards their friends.

This outlook toward the one striving member of the family is called the crab mentality, a.k.a. the 'crabs in the barrel' mindset: "If I didn't succeed, neither should you."

When multiple live crabs are in a barrel together, there's no need to place a lid on the container because they'll all stay there and suffer their ultimate fate. The one crab that's adventurous enough or striving enough to escape will be pulled back to the bottom by the rest of the crabs.

The 'crab mentality' is a metaphor for human behavior: when one person strives toward self-improvement or attempts to change his/her current circumstances, the other people in his/her environment will say or do things to attempt to hold that person back in life. Usually it is the people closest to the person, such as certain family members and close friends, who adopt this mentality and act as saboteurs.

I should know: I had to deal with family members who were crabs in the barrel. I had to create some physical distance from them in order to escape from the barrel into educational attainment and a moderately successful career.

Good luck to the OP.

[Ladybug993]

This outlook toward the one striving member of the family is called the crab mentality, a.k.a. the 'crabs in the barrel' mindset: "If I didn't succeed, neither should you."

When multiple live crabs are in a barrel together, there's no need to place a lid on the container because they'll all stay there and suffer their ultimate fate. The one crab that's adventurous enough or striving enough to escape will be pulled back to the bottom by the rest of the crabs.

The 'crab mentality' is a metaphor for human behavior: when one person strives toward self-improvement or attempts to change his/her current circumstances, the other people in his/her environment will say or do things to attempt to hold that person back in life. Usually it is the people closest to the person, such as certain family members and close friends, who adopt this mentality and act as saboteurs.

I should know: I had to deal with family members who were crabs in the barrel. I had to create some physical distance from them in order to escape from the barrel into educational attainment and a moderately successful career.

Good luck to the OP.

That is so very true.. Distance don't mean you don't love them .. It's keeping you insane

[futurepsychrn, ADN]

I'm in my second year of nursing school and I'm 53. I will have just turned 54 when I graduate. If I'm not too old, you're definitely not too old. I say Go For It!! Good luck!!!

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

That is so very true.. Distance don't mean you don't love them .. It's keeping you insane

I think you intended to say that the distance is keeping me sane.