I am 32 (well 33 in Feb 09) and I am starting school Jan 12th. I have some pre-req courses to take before I can enter the Nursing program in the fall.
Can I tell you how scary the COMPASS Algebra looks after not being in school for 15 years. YIKES! At any rate, I am extremely excited about getting started with my pre-reqs in Jan and look forward to being an RN. I have three younger sisters that are all nurses. MSN, BSN and ADN. ADN is working on her BSN. So here I go tagging along. Aren't older sisters supposed to lead.
I am planning to keep working for the first two semesters. I am an area manager for Coca Cola. I am hoping to complete my MATH 110, PSY 201 and ENG 101 online and just have my BIO 110 to take at the school.
Does anyone out there have any advice? Specifically anyone with a situation similar to mine... 33 leaving a corporate management career to go into nursing.
ANY and ALL advice welcome. BE honest, but positive - ya know it's scary enough already!
PS- I'm in Florence, SC. Please let me know if you are from the same area. I am going to be going to FDTC.
Hey Donn - Good Luck! I'm 48 and found that after 10 years of self-employment from home (to raise the kidlets as a single mom), I am now basically unemployable. Either I'm over- or underqualified for anything, my BA is more than 15 years old, my paramedic school and years as a 'medic are too old to count for squat. Because I have to keep working while going to school, I'm going to go the LPN to RN route....and pray that I can keep enough $$$ coming in while I'm fast-tracking the LPN in the next year...and then pray that LPNs are NOT extinct because of the economy next year. Then, my plan is to work LPN for a year to get the final stuff for RN school. I'm hoping to fast track that also, but I will have to see financially where I am at that point. Thanks so much for your post. I'm hoping I have the same physical response of being energized that you have had.
I'm 33 and have 2 pre-reqs left. (both A&Ps) I must say that I have really enjoyed the classes I have been in. I am on the older end of most classes, but I don't really stand out that way. About half of the other students are parents like me. I think my age has given me the edge of experience to understand the content AND take the classes seriously. Have fun meeting new people and I think you will realize that they really aren't that different than you: Everybody there is trying to improve themselves or their situation. The ones who don't tend to drop in the first week or two.
Oh, and I've taken Math 122, Chem 130, WRT 101, and BIO 156 and achieved excellent grades.
I just joined the forums, and have been reading through a lot of posts, and am heartened by all the other people who are starting or starting over later in life.
I'm 39 and kept saying I just didn't know what I wanted to be when I grew up. I actually have a pretty lucrative job in IT (data warehousing) but it's sucking away my soul. I was a paramedic when I was in my early 20s and LOVED IT but after a knee injury I got into the corporate world and could never take the pay cut to go back to EMS. I told people if I had my life to do over again I'd have become a doctor (then they usually tell me I have time to go to med school... but I like sleep and don't want to be paying off student loans until I'm 60, yanno?)
I got in a long conversation with my hubby last week and realized that what I really want to do is work in health care again. I'd love to do emergency department or critical care nursing, and eventually become a Nurse Practitioner. (We have plans to "retire" to a rural area in 10-15 years.) So I've spent the weekend digging out old transcripts and researching programs in my area (Arlington, TX) and have decided I'm going to try to do the AS program at Tarrant County College, then the RN-to-BSN program at UTA and later go for my masters and become an RP. Lots of school ahead of me. I have to re-take 3 sciences (AP I&II, Micro) and have 3 general courses to take as well before I apply to the nursing program, and only am worried now about getting in after hearing all about how competitive it is. But I'll just do my best and see where it leads.
So thanks to everyone here who's posting about being 'not-19' and going back to school. It gives me hope I really can do it.
I'm 31, will be 32 when I start NS. My youngest brother and I hope to go through NS together--it's going to be a neat chance to bond (we're 9 years apart in age) and it will be soooo nice to have a friend already.
I had to take the COMPASS exam also--I was so stressed about the algebra portion; I last had an algebra class my junior year of high school, which was 14 years ago. I got an algebra review book from the library and borrowed my Dad's old college algebra book. Between the two I spent several evenings going through problems and reviewing. I ended up doing well enough on the test that it recommended I start at pre-calc.
I've taken one class this semester--Chem 101. I take A&P next semester. My biggest challenge has been re-learning how to study. As odd as it sounds, I've found it's something that takes practice, just like anything. I just didn't realize that while I was in school the first time. I would recommend not taking too many classes your first semester, especially if you plan on working, like I am.
I also would recommend taking on campus courses for your first semester. My chem class is a hybrid, we met on campus for labs, and did all course work online; I think it's been more challenging for me because I wasn't attending lectures. I'm certain my grade has suffered some because of that.
I am 34 years old, and in June I left my job as a Legal Secretary (of over ten years) to go back to school for nursing. I will be finished with my pre-requisites after next semester and will be applying for the actual nursing program for Fall 2009. I'm very excited, and have been extremely dedicated to my studies. I know this is what I really want to do, and I hope that I will get accepted into the program so that I can do it.
Just wanted to say hi. I am in Richardson, 32 and also starting over. I am currently going to Richland to take my pre-reqs and then hope to transfer to Brookhaven. Good luck to you!
Also just wanted to say hi. I guess I'm "only 26," but I understand where you all are coming from. Sometimes I feel a little judged about making this career shift. I also occasionally get freaked that maybe I won't like nursing as much as I think I will, or that I don't really have what it takes to make it in this field. It also doesn't help when people in my class that are 21 say things like, "oh, I'm so young compared to you," or being witness to a friend of mine that is 2 years younger than me that is already a nurse manager on her floor. I definitely wish I had "figured it all out" years ago, but maybe that just wasn't the path that was intended for me. I regularly have to remind myself that my professional life, up until now, wasn't a "mistake" but simply a different path than others took. I read something recently that really stuck with me, and hopefully it will help you all too: "Life is not about the destination. It is about the journey." Good luck to all of you on this journey.
Two years ago when I started hammering out my pre-reqs I was hauling stuff as a merchandiser for Coca-Cola Enterprises. I'm not working for them anymore and my courses are nearly done and am about to dive into the NS pool sometime around Fall 09. I turn 30 next month, and like so many others have already said, this is a full-on career change. Although it sometimes scares me about how it took me so long to figure out what I want to do and how I"m shifting gears in the middle of life, I"m motivated in that this is the right thing to do. Besides, caring for patients sure beats the hell out of lifting coke crates all day!
I am 40 and i havent been in school for a long time. I've taken a few classes about 4 yrs ago. I've taken the PSB test once and I didnt pass. I did horrible on the verbal and the science. Can anyone give me any suggestions on what to study and how to pass this test? Picking out the antonym was really horrible! Help.....PLEASE!
I am 33 years old too. Do not worry about your age. Since everyone in your class aims the same goal. In short, you are all on the same boat. I have PhD degree in Arts. So, it doesn't matter when do you decide to get your second education. Within 1.5 semesters, I have done all my pre-reqs, and intending to take all co-reqs in Spring 2009.
It gives me hope I really can do it.
MissVicki
4 Posts
Hey Donn - Good Luck! I'm 48 and found that after 10 years of self-employment from home (to raise the kidlets as a single mom), I am now basically unemployable. Either I'm over- or underqualified for anything, my BA is more than 15 years old, my paramedic school and years as a 'medic are too old to count for squat. Because I have to keep working while going to school, I'm going to go the LPN to RN route....and pray that I can keep enough $$$ coming in while I'm fast-tracking the LPN in the next year...and then pray that LPNs are NOT extinct because of the economy next year. Then, my plan is to work LPN for a year to get the final stuff for RN school. I'm hoping to fast track that also, but I will have to see financially where I am at that point. Thanks so much for your post. I'm hoping I have the same physical response of being energized that you have had.
Vicki