40 yr old with GED. Is a MSN even possible?

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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I'll try to make it short. I'll be 40 this December. I got my GED when I was 18 and I've been a hairstylist/salon owner since I was 20. Looking for a career change and nursing has always been the field I wanted to pursue.

But boy to I have some Debbie downers around. From family to even my perspective counselor. Family days I'm too old and the counselor said basically that because of the time frame since I got my GED until now that it would be extremely hard & time consuming for me. She wasn't the nicest person while communicating this to me as well. I left out in tears.

So I was hoping there were some nurses/students here with similar situations like mine that can motivate me and hopefully can share any advice. I appreciate you guys.

Hello for everyone!

I have to tell you many things about to study when you are 40 years old. you can do whatever you want and whenever you want, prepare well, go to college and continues, who said it was easy?I am 47 years, I'm European and I live here for three years, I am a psychologist, but when I arrived here, i started to study again .I got my GED, I went to college and I made the prerequisites,i got a 3.85 GPA and pass the HESI. Now I only need the acceptance for the program adn nurse.Do not listen to fools, continuous forming you, study and good luck !!!!!

MAria

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I'm 43 and I just graduated with my BSN in nursing. I got my GED in 2011 and got accepted into a entry level BSN program in 2014 after doing all my prerequisites at the nearby community college. I just graduated in May, all I can say is that nursing school is very hard, and takes a lot of time from your family. This was one of the most challenging times of my life, and I would do it all over again. I plan on going and getting my masters in January. Nursing school is not for the faint of heart. But if it's something you want, do it..

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You have between 25 and 35 years left of your working life. Almost as long as you've been alive. You have an already established career that you can either both fall back on or utilise to work around study so that you can pay the bills.

I couldn't think of a better time for you to do this.

YOU GOT THIS!

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Nursing is one of the best professions to be in with great job security and job outlook so you know you have a goal worth pursuing. I will be 40 years old June 21 and I am getting my prerequisites finished for an accelerated BSN program that I can complete in 12 months. If and when I complete this program, I will apply to a nurse practitioner program. So I have high goals as well. I presently work as a CNA at a nursing home. It is hard work but the schedule is flexible allowing me to work full time and take 2 classes a semester at the local community college. This way I can have health insurance and some spending money. I am taking out federal student loans to pay for college, but the nursing home I work for reimburses me $2,000/year in education assistance. You getting a MSN starting at 40 is obtainable. Have courage, be practical, look at all your options, surround yourself with positive people, and most importantly pray the Rosary every day! Good luck!

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Just so you know, CNAs are not the only ones who change diapers. I have a BSN and sometimes I feel that all I do is clean up patients, etc.

Me too, and vomit, blood, snot....and so on. And I have a BSN and currently a FNP student.

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Specializes in BSN, RN-BC, NREMT, EMT-P, TCRN.

"It's never too late to be what you might have been" George Eliot

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Grakiasaurus my name is Mary Lattie, formerly Mary Santulli, formerly Shawn Cunningham. I wanted to contact you and saw that you are active on this site. If you would like to respond you can add me on Facebook or text me at 816-908-2365. I hope to hear from you.

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Specializes in Intensive Care.
With a GED you can go to a community college for ADN then bridge to a BSN then online MSN!!! The BSN and MSN can all be done online!!!

If this is what you want, check your area and see if the CC offer ADN. If they do, start working on it!!!

This is the BEST response I have seen so far!!! I love that you made sure to let Shamis know that NOTHING is impossible as long as the drive is there. Go for it Shamis!!!

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It's never too late to start 'helping' people. You could still be a better nurse than someone who has been a nurse for 30 years.

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You can get your MSN even if you have your GED. You will have to get your BSN which now is a lot easier to do; in fact you can even get some of it online. Then, you can get your MSN probably some or mostly online and then go to some classes in person. You might have to do research on what you want to do in nursing or your masters in nursing. You can do this. The goal is to work hard and achieve your goals which you are doing right now by going back to school and wanting to do something that is meaningful and great. I wish you the best and please let us know how you are doing.

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Specializes in Prior military RN/current ICU RN..

Focus on BSN for now. More important than "all nurses" is contacting schools about getting into programs. Have you completed pre reqs? Have you applied? It IS hard and it is time consuming. Sounds like solid advice from your counselor. If hard and time consuming are not for you then skip nursing school. I have a been a nurse 15 years.

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Specializes in Intensive Care.

If getting a MSN degree is your end goal, it's possible. Start with researching colleges that will accept your GED. Once accepted, apply for the AA degree program of your choice, making sure you take the pre-requiste courses you need for a ADN (or ASN) program. Request the information you need for the ADN program BEFORE you in register, that way you won't waste time taking courses you don't need. Keep in mind that a lot of ADN programs are becoming bridge programs (RN to BSN) so make sure you keep your GPA "competive" (3.5 or better). Otherwise you will be on the wait list longer than you want. The RN to BSN bridge programs are also usually very fast-paced. I THINK you will have about a two month window after finishing the RN component to pass the RN-NCLEX, so that you can move on complete the BSN component, which I believe is just two more semesters. So, after somewhere around four long years, it's just two more years to your MSN degree!!!

I know, sounds easier to say then to do. But after reading so many "even through all of these obstacles...I'm proud to say I've earned..." articles, I know you can go from "40 years old with a GED" to MSN! Never sell yourself short. Reach for the MSN even if all you can grab is the RN.

Please correct me if I'm wrong. The "information" I've posted about the RN to BSN bridge program is based off old information I recieved when I attended a nursing information session for a RN to BSN bridge program YEARS AGO.

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