Hi! I'm really trying to locate a school to get started. Everything I have found requires RN already. I have been online and still it seems I can find no starting place. I really do not want to go to a trade school. I am in my 40's and this will be a second career for me. Any ideas on how to getr started. I have a two year window to make this a reality.

In Sacramento County, California - there are more interested students than there are nursing programs available. It sounds like you were looking at accelerated nursing programs since the RN is needed first in the school. If you are going for your Associates in nursing, visit a Community College and meet with a counselor. Also try to attend a nursing informational program there. My local community college offered it so I went. I was advised that prerequisite classes must be completed with satisfactory grades before one can apply for a nursing program. I planned out my prerequisite classes and will be done by Aug 2009. If I wasn't working FT, I definitely would plan on finishing earlier by taking a fuller load of classes each semester. The nursing program at my CC is 16 weeks long.

So far, I am finding out that it is a challenge to be accepted into a Community College nursing program due to the overwhelming number of interested candidates each enrollment period. Nursing programs seem to be scarce in numbers. Be persistent and you'll find something. It is never too late to become a nurse. My co-worker is in her early 50s and is attending prerequisite classes to become an LPN (licensed practical nurse). Good luck to you.