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.

Specializes in Peds, psych.

Not much different here.

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!!!

I agree with this. FIRST lay out what prereqs you need and knock those off first. That will be a good way to sharpen your study skills. If you find the nursing part too difficult, there are standalone programs at community colleges that spread the LPN-RN classes over 5,7, and 9 semesters (usually Summers count as a semester). Others pack it into 4. It's the pace that makes it difficult, it's not terribly difficult content. I know people who started in their 50's. I would not be concerned about age. Are you working while doing this, is it full-time, and do you have a good support system? The work in nursing classes is much more busy and fast than many college classes. I don't agree that it's a good way to teach but most of them do it that way. Also I wouldn't focus so much on NCLEX pass rates. A lot of schools with the best pass rates just filter out those who can't teach themselves. About 25 percent of those signing up end up passing the program and making it to the NCLEX. That's nothing for those schools to be proud of. A real accomplishment would be getting all or most of those students all the way to the NCLEX. Not a fraction of them.

Programs vary....we did cath, injections, wound care, tube feed, and med admin in semester one also. Always with the clinical,instructor present. Plus a lot of CNA stuff. Semester 2 we did trach care, NG line placement and removal, IV -all but the line placement.

Specializes in ER.

Stop listening to those people telling you that you can't. Start at number 1. Study and take the SAT. Apply to a undergrad pre-nursing program LPN, ASN, or BSN program. You can always bridge the LPN or ASN to a BSN. A lot of programs want you to get the CNA certification before you apply also. You could get that now with just your GED.

Since you are my age at 40, I understand that being in school can cut your income considerably. You will at least get the Pell Grant. You have to weigh the pros/cons of all of your options. Write down all of your steps and timeline to get the degrees, and just check them off as you go. The longer you are not in school, the older you will get and still not be a nurse!!! Decide today and Just do it.

When will you be taking your SAT?

Specializes in Geriatrics.

I was 29 when I obtained my LPN, 38 when I obtained my RN, and I am working on researching and applying for RN-BSN, with an MSN (NP) as my end goal. You can do it. Age is just a number and I find that I actually have done better in my classes in my 30s than I did in my 20s. I also work with a nurse who obtained her RN at age 53. Best of luck to you.

I haven't read any of the comments, just your OP. In my cohort there was a man that was 51. The oldest one of our group, but did that man do work! I don't know whether he had his GED or a diploma from HS but it didn't matter, he put in the time, studies his butt off and was one of the best lab/assignment/essay partner's I had in my life! Age isn't a boundary to what you want to do. If you really really really awnt to put up with people and learn some amazing stuff then do it.

Specializes in Acute Rehab & Med/Surg.

I think your goals are great, but any time anyone switches to a different field there will be naysayers. But I think you also need to show initiative on this new path. Like some stated of taking a couple of classes or becoming a cna.

I hope this motivates you. I will be 40 in July. I was just figuring this up today, so here it goes. The average age of retirement is 67 if you are in good, physical condition. That is 27 years from now for us. To put that in perspective, 27 years ago, you and I would have been about to turn 13 years old. You definitely have time. Do not let anything stop you. I am beginning an RN program this August. There were quite a bit of personal situations that put me behind, but I know exactly what I want. If you want it bad enough, work on it one step at a time. Don't get exhausted by looking too far ahead; just complete each task one at a time, and don't look back.

Go for it! I'm 55 years old and finishing my MSN in Nursing Education. I started nursing school at 41. I started my basic courses to get my feet wet and took a 2 year break between each graduation from my RN and BSN.

Best of luck. You can do whatever you set your mind to. Don't ever let anyone tell you that you can't.

I am in my mid 50's, enrolled in one of the top nursing schools in the country, working on my BSN, and I never graduated from high school. I moved to a strange city to attend this school, have been stressed out, wanted to quit, cried a few times, and I would not trade this experience for anything in the world. I have one more year in a 3 year program, and it took me 3 years to do my prereqs while working full time. I feel strong, ready to conquer the world, and I cannot wait to be a nurse. If you want something in life badly enough, then you should do it. Period.

By the way, I have many nursing school friends who are in their 30's and 40's and another woman in her 50's. As a matter of fact, there are less 20-somethings than 30-somethings in my class. Age does not stop acceptance or attendance here. There is no limit to what you can do with your life, as long as you are healthy and have the desire.

Go for it. If you really want this, if you're a hard working and great student, if you're tough enough to go through some difficult times and become stronger, and if you won't give up, you'll become a terrific nurse. This is what nursing requires. You've already begun the process. ps I became an RN at 61. Go for it!

I say go for it! I am 51 and will be entering my 3rd semester of an ADN program in the fall. I have a finance degree but that did not require any science, so I pretty much started over taking pre-requisites. I am enjoying nursing school and it is very hard, but rewarding. I just took a job as a PCT at the hospital I am hoping to work at as an RN next year. Good Luck!!

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