TOO Old??? 41 1/2 years old

Nurses Career Support

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Hello everyone,

I am soon to be 42 years old, April 2007. I am interested in becoming a Registered Nurse...Should I forget about that dream because of my age?

chiari

Specializes in Corrections, neurology, dialysis.

I'm 45 and in my first year or nursing school. I'll be a few days shy of 47 when I graduate. I spent 4 years trying to get in - my school is very competitive. Lots of people told me I should just give up and try something else, but I didn't. I spent too much time working towards it to give up.

I remember when I took my first college course at the age of 24. I was so ignorant of how a person goes to college (never knew anyone who went) that I didn't know what to do. So this is what I did. I called up the college and asked "what do I have to do to go to college?"

This is what they said.

1. Get a copy of your high school transcript and GED.

2. Come in and fill out an application - though nowadays they'll probably ask you to apply online.

3. Come in and do some placement testing and we'll see where you are academically.

4. After you take the tests, meet with an academic advisor to help figure out what classes you should take.

I know it is intimidating but they get asked these questions a hundred times a day. It is their job to tell you what you need to know. I remember shaking like crazy when I went to the college because I'd never been to a college before. At the same time I was exhilirated and intrigued by the process.

After you do go through the steps above, find out how to get in contact with the nursing program. Call or stop by the office and ask them what classes you need to take before you can apply. It varies with each school but in general you will need to take math, english, psychology, sociology, anatomy and physiology and microbiology. You can take them one at a time, but understand that doing it that way will take much longer, or you can take a few classes at once.

Good luck!

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NO NO NO NO NO! If you want that RN, you go and get it! I am 42 yrs old (43 next month) and I just got my PN. I started the program when I was 40 yrs old. It was shorter then an RN program and there were about 8 of us (out of about 40) who were all over 40. I am going to continue on to get my RN but this was a great way to see how much I liked it. Which I do. And I have made many friendships thru the program that I know will last a long time.

And one of my dearest friends, a woman who is 52 yrs old, my friend from church, just entered an RN program because she wants to work with breast cancer patients. She was inspired to become an RN because she is a breast cancer survivor.

If you want to do it, just do it and don't worry about your age. You'll be great!

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Med-Surg..

I think that what the previous poster, Miss Ivy, said is the truth. Go for it, if you want to, want being the key factor. As you know, it is hard work and wanting is what will get you through and the more you get into it, the less your age will matter. I think there are advantages to being young and advantages to being over 30, 40, 50 whatever. JMO.

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Specializes in Hospice.
You've only just begun! go for it. I started nursing school when I was 50, just graduated in 6/06 and am now an RN and loving every minute of it (just turned 54!)

Best wishes.

Hey Suzy, I'm right there with ya. I am 51 and start nursing clinicals this fall. As long as you have all your marbles, I don't see an issue with age. My goal is to work in Hospice and help in any way that I can before I leave this rock.

Cheers

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Hi,

I am 47 ( will be 48 in June) and am seriously considering a career change from teaching to nursing. For me the question is not so much one of am I too old (mentally I don't feel much different than I did when I was in my 20's), but one of how my age will affect retirement savings. If I do go ahead with my decision to attend school, I am more concerned with the cost of the program and how a decrease in income for about two years (I am planning to work in some capacity while I attend school) will affect what my husband and I have set aside for retirement. If I were to retire at 65, that means I will only have about 15 years to work in the field and when you factor in the cost of a nursing education it's a tough decision to make. On the flip side, I also have a hard time seeing myself as a teacher for the next 15 yrs. - the amount of work and preparation necessary outside of school to do the job right is overwhelming.

I will be following the thread to see how you arrive at a decision - lets keep in touch.

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I like the quote you posted - "The truly educated never graduate". I am currently seriously thinking about becoming an RN. I graduated from college with a Chemical Engineering degree, then worked for two years before deciding to stay home and take care of my two daughters (which grew to four in a short period of time). When the girls were older, I went back to school to become a teacher (earned my Masters in 2005) and have been teaching for 7 yrs. Am feeling burnt out right now with all the time and preparation spent outside of class to do my job right ( plus parents who dont value education OR hold their children accountable) and am thinking about becoming a nurse. Point is, I love to learn new things and dont think that will ever change.

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I like the quote you posted - "The truly educated never graduate". I am currently seriously thinking about becoming an RN. I graduated from college with a Chemical Engineering degree, then worked for two years before deciding to stay home and take care of my two daughters (which grew to four in a short period of time). When the girls were older, I went back to school to become a teacher (earned my Masters in 2005) and have been teaching for 7 yrs. Am feeling burnt out right now with all the time and preparation spent outside of class to do my job right ( plus parents who dont value education OR hold their children accountable) and am thinking about becoming a nurse. Point is, I love to learn new things and dont think that will ever change.

Lifelong learning is the way to go. I will finish my accelerated program in Dec at 47. I plan to work as long as I am able. Nursing education needs professional teachers to increase the number of new grads. With a chemical engineering degree you won't have any trouble on the basic science side of nursing. Luck to you.

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