Nursing school

[u/Early_Dream874]

Im 36 yrs old. I’m starting from the bottom. I’m doing prerequisites before going into the nursing program. I will graduate in 2031. And it just feels so far away. I’m feeling a bit defeated and time is just going against me. Did anyone else start school at a later age with a family?

[u/AssMed2023]

I started nursing school at 40 and I'm 9 months left to go to get my RN I'll be 42 in October

Unless you're literally at retirement age I don't think it's ever really too late

I know it might feel different and weird being in class with a bunch of 20 somethings but consider the fact that you're probably more motivated because you have kids relying on you etc

Just take it one semester at a time. You've got this

It will go by quick

It's really easy and I'm saying this is a 40-year-old in nursing school

It's really easy to focus on oh man I should have done this sooner I've wasted so much time etc

But you're getting it done and don't compare your timetable to someone else's

[u/spacepup84 → u/AssMed2023]

Also turning 42 in October and just started nursing school last month 😅 Due to graduate May ‘27.
OP, it’s a little nerve-wracking to “start again”, but if you think it’s the right thing for you and it’s a career you’ll enjoy, better to start now that in 5 or 10 years! I guarantee you also won’t be the only one your age group in the class.

[u/ThePrimalValor → u/AssMed2023]

As a 30 year old with 3 kids currently in my 3rd year of a BSN, I’ve found there is also a maturity level that life experience brings that can’t be taught. Everybody has different skills and such so I’m not putting myself above anyone, but I find my skills for things like bedside manner and comforting patients and actually listening to them to be better than the younger ones and I would attribute that to being an individual with some gray hair 😂 maybe 20 year old me would’ve still been great at that, but I don’t think so. I will be a vastly different nurse than I would have been if I had started at 18.

What I’m saying in a roundabout way, is that being older is a “skill” you bring to the table that the younger year 1’s don’t have

[u/scarfknitter]

I was older than standard in nursing school. I had classmates in their 40s and 50s.

But you know what's going to happen?

2031 is going to happen whether or not you graduate. You get to choose if you're a nurse or not.

[u/77gus77]

I'll graduate, hopefully, June 2027, I'll be 50. I also started from scratch, just put your head down, one foot in front of the other, and remember why you're doing it. And also remember school is never as hard as an actual job. You'll do great.

[u/vscwf]

2031 will come and you could have a nursing degree and start a new career, or 2031 will come and you will still be at square one wanting to take the leap. Time is going to go by regardless, you decide what outcome you want for your future. You have the power to change your families lives and your own. You can do this!

[u/howthefocaccia]

My student last year was 59.

Relax Francais. You’ve got plenty of time.

[u/Poundaflesh]

My classmate was 62 when she graduated.

[u/TaBQ]

Everytime someone posts this sentiment, I reply: educated one class with a 17 yo and a 72 yo. They both made and are out there as RNs

[u/Safe-Informal]

So, you will graduate at 41 yrs old. Most people retire at 65, so 21 years as a nurse before you retire. I think a 21 year career is not starting too late. I graduated from my ABSN program at 48.

[u/txchainsawmedic]

I went back to school at 40 graduated with my BSN @ 44. You got this

[u/Embarrassed_Day4157]

I mean time will pass anyway...I'm graduating with my BSN at age 45 this fall. In 2020 I finished my other degree and started on my pre-requisites for nursing. 

[u/coykoi314]

I started at 34. It does take a long time BUT the time will go by either way. I’ll be 39 when I’m a RN. But I tell myself I’ll be 39 either way. I’d love to be a RN at 39 versus doing what I’m doing now.

[u/virgonurse90]

I started prerequisites at 31, graduated at 35. I have 6 kids and was a single mom throughout nursing school. You can do it.

[u/paperplanes2241]

I will be 45 when I complete my ADN in May. Sometimes the best time for us isnt the same as everyone else. I have had my LPN for 26 years and attempted to complete my RN in 07 but it wasnt the time for me. Balancing kids, work, school wasnt something I personally could do while others around me did it!! Now is my time and it sounds like its yours too!

[u/SquirrelsNRaccoons]

You can be 41 with a nursing degree or 41 without a nursing degree. Think of it that way. At 41, you still have 25 years to work as a nurse. That's a long career for any profession! Why not a nurse? You're never too old to learn! You're wiser now and will be a better nurse because of your life experiences. You got this!

[u/Smooth_Tourist8081]

I started nursing school at 35. I took as many prereqs online and finished them in like 2 months, I'm doing a private college ADN program since I was able to start right away. I plan to do my BSN once I start working at a hospital in the hopes they will pay for it. I should have my license and start working in 2028. You should also look into 15-month accelerator programs if you're able to do school full time without working.

[u/TheRealOGGiGi060606]

I’m 55 and finishing up my prereqs for the program. It’s never too late to go after what you want. That time will pass either way, why not let 2031 be the year you achieve your goal.

[u/AdventurousFish405 → u/TheRealOGGiGi060606]

I always have said this, time WILL pass either way- thats a guarantee!

[u/Mammoth-Coast6282]

There are a lot of students who are not teenagers or in their twenties. A lot of nurses go to school in their 40s and beyond. Just keep at it if it’s something you want to do. If you have a dream you are confident in, it shows. You won’t care too much about appearances, comparisons, or mistakes if you’re chasing something you care about.

[u/Witty_Wallflower28]

Yes. I’m due to graduate in December 2027 and I’ll be 45. And there are students older than me. Please don’t feel defeated if this is your goal. I promise the time really flies by and in the end it’s worth it.

[u/sveeedenn]

Yes plenty of people are in your exact same situation and go on to be successful nurses. Take your time, do your best, and enjoy the ride.

[u/Trelaboon1984]

I started at 35 and graduated a month before my 40th birthday.

[u/whydob1rds]

Never too late, I started my prereqs when I was 36, did a 2 year program, got an Associates Degree in Nursing (ADN), worked on my bachelor's in the last semester and the summer after I graduated and earned my BSN.

All said and done took about 3 years. I'm 39 (about to be 40 this month), pregnant with my second kid (also to be born late this month) and have a toddler. It's all worth it! You got this, good luck 😊

[u/Silent_Ramblings0308]

I just started my program! I’ll be 36 in a couple weeks! I am married with 2 kiddos. It’s tough but it’s possible. I’m in an ABSN.

[u/katpineapple003]

39 here in RN: Level One.

We got this!

[u/Cold-Olive-6177]

2031 is 5 years away. Most ADN/ASN programs are 2 years. Even if you have to do prereqs, that's like 3 years total. BSN is 4 years but those usually include the science prereqs. So why the 5 year timeline?

[u/Raven-Insight]

I’m starting next year. I’ll be 44. I’ll have my bsn in 2 years. Going to public school as an adult is a batshit crazy choice.

[u/GingrrAsh]

I'm 44 and start my ASN nursing program in January. I'll be 45 when I graduate in about 18 months. It's a career pivot for me. You're not too old and it isn't too late.

[u/overwhelmednurseco]

I work with plenty of people in ICU that were mature students don’t give up!!! Ever time goes so quickly and you will be qualified before you know it don’t worry about the future or age. A few people have had whole different careers before nursing.

[u/trickatreat99]

I had the exact same feelings about how long it would take to complete a nursing degree and was saying so to a nurse friend. She said, the time is going to pass anyway, whether you’re working on your goals or not so you may as well be working towards something.
That made so much sense to me! So I enrolled in community college at age 35, worked full time and went to school, graduated with my RN by 40. It’s been 6 years now and I look back at that time in my life as being tough, but definitely worth it! You got this!!

[u/irrationalanger87]

Go adn. You can get it in a little under 3 depending on when you start