50 years old or 20 years old, either way it is a hard thing to go to nursing school. Your determination and positive attitude will have more to do whether it is worth it, than your age.

Best friend is 51 and she completed LPN school with me Dec 07 and we are both enrolled at local college going after our RN, ASN.

NO NO NO....I'm a firm believer if you want something bad enough you will at least attempt it. I started my pre-req courses part time at age 42. I was in an abusive relationship where the man did everything possible to start a fight the night before a big test. Once I got thru most of my pre-req courses I was accepted into an Assoc. RN program at 44. There too I was close to failing out each semester. If anything could go wrong it did...from losing my father, to my mother being hit by a vehicle, her having an MI, taking care of my son who is disabled, my daughter had seizures, my daughters father was....well putting it blunly screwing around whom I kicked out and I was then only working about 8-16 hrs a week as a nurse aide to pay my bills, a house I owned. I lost two very good friends during nursing school and because of my sons illness I was living in a city where I knew no one and had no friends because of the abusive relationship and taking care of a disabled child and my family lived four hrs away . I didn't fail any courses, I passed nursing but then I had a difficult time passing my boards. Eventually I did, at the age of 51 I have been an Emergency Room nurse for the past three yrs. Not only did I want it for myself but I knew I was my childrens only positive role model. If this is something you truly want...do it. If you don't commit to it, you wont get thru it. I saw people fail out of nursing school every semester. It was one of the hardest things I ever did in my life, but it was not only needed for financial reasons, it was needed for my self esteem. For the first time in my life not only did I realize I did not need a man to take care of me, but I realized how much I did not deserve to be in an abusive relationship. I met knew friends, travel etc. My life has been much better at 50 then 30's and 40's. So.....the answer to your question is, NOOOOO, Do NOT have more then two study partners during nursing school, commit yourself, have lots of patience, have faith in yourself that you will make it to the end, study harder then I did, Let us know what you decided!!!

I am 50 and going strong. It is never too late to become anything that your put your mind to becoming. At 50 you will enter with a sense of maturity unlike many in thier 20's who are still struggling to find themselves. In Nursing, you have so many areas to choose to work in. You must deceide which is the best area for you. Once doing so, if you find you don't like it, you go to a different area. If this is your passion and this is your dream... don't make me break out into song... (oh no, here it comes:) Climb Every Mountain, Ford Every Stream, Follow every Rainbow Till You Find Your Dream. (Gd, you've heard of the singing nun, they call me the singing Nurse) Now if this is your dream, don't write about it, get on the stick and get yourself into a good BSN program.

go for it!

I am 40 and starting nursing school....

Back when I was and LVN in LVN school we had a lady who was 62, and she did great.  She be sure your ready to sacrifice your personal and family life to varying extremes, much more demanding than typical college.

care-plan-911.com">http://www.nursing-care-plan-91.com 

About 25% of my nursing fundamentals class is over 45 (I don't ask exactly how old they are, that's rude)! I am the second youngest at 22, and I would say the average age is 33.

Agreed

kjbuesching I think you are terrific

  Well, sadly, I have come to the decision of not starting my dream at 51 of becoming a RN.    

With reality hitting me in the face of the hours of studing, husband not supporting it, kids not really supporting it, not the greatest memory, $$ ect... 

  I have looked at this site for a while and read all the posts, and I don't have the exact numbers, but what I have read here, there aren't many truly going into nursing at 51.   People could tell me to go for it, but the reality is, there isn't a whole lot of people actually taking this on from what I have read?    If there were more people taking this on at 51, I might try it.   

  I thought this through and don't think I would have the energy to put the hours into studing like crazy , as when I had a younger, sharper mind?    By the time I'm out of school leaves me with not a whole lot of years left to do nursing?  If I saw here there were more actually going into it at 51, then I would know it could be done.   I don't know if It's because I'm living on an Island, and bummed out, but I feel these are the facts for me.   So with that said, it's over for me when it comes to being a RN at 51.   

9 out of guessing 1680  isn't a lot of people??   So, sadly I will grieve it and move on.       Thank you to all for your uplifting POSITIVE COMMENTS!!     GOD BLESS......  Sorry for the negative post~ 

I am very sad. I am 50 just got my LPN and am starting my RN soon. I've heard things like "Oh, you're an LPN"  in a demeaning tone and "Really? You consider an LPN a nurse? You're just a glorified CNA.", and the ever popular "Aren't you a little old to try to get your RN?" I waited until my children were grown too. I have to say it was not an easy decision to make either. I had been out of school for so long, worked in retail and even did a stint in a factory. I was absolutely sure that I would just barely make it if I did. It became a personal challenge to do the best I could no matter what. Out of 16 students I was the second oldest, and the oldest (54) left (not because of academics) leaving me to be the oldest in class. Most of the students were in their early 20's making me feel even older. I graduated top of my class. It was difficult at first until I got a routine and figured out what worked for me as far as studying and time management went. Like what was said in one of the earlier posts, life lessons bring things from the older nurse to their patients that the younger nurses can't. We have learned that people matter. It isn't just your duties as in paperwork, passing meds etc. that matter. Not to make anyone mad but the younger nurses just don't seem to get this. As far as the $$ go tuition is due by semester giving you time to come up with the money. There are grants, public and private out there that you can apply for. If you work in healthcare some places offer tuition assistance or reimbursement too. Please, if this is something that you love, re-evaluate the situation.  Besides, we could do an online study partner thing!!! That would be so much fun!!!

THE NURSING PROFESSION NEEDS US OLDER NURSES!!!

2barrenboy, no matter what your decision is....just make the one that is right for you. It will take strength no matter what decision you make, strength you never thought you had before. Make the decision of moving forward into nursing or not with no regrets. Its the regrets that over powers us at times. Your decision to enter nursing may have been in your thoughts for many years but to enter at this time takes alot of strength and will in which you can do. I hate to see anyone make the same mistakes I have, waiting and waiting until I realized it wasnt coming to me. I had to work for it, and it was one of the scariest and hardest things I ever did in my life. If its truly what you want to do, then do it. Its a career that not everyone is cut out to do but its a career with many opportunies as Im sure you already know. It can be a very giving and self satisfying career, even at the end of an exhausting frustrating day.

Have you thought about working as a nurse aide or a hospital clerk first, to see if this is something you want to do. I would love to talk to you face to face as I believe the computer can give you false impressions but if their is anything any of us can do to help you through this, I at least am here as I bet many are. I came across harsh in my last posting as I do apologize however, the toughest ones on me are the ones that gave me the strength to do what was needed for me. For that I didnt find myself weak any longer, I just found myself becoming stronger  and achieving what was right for me. Good luck and let us know your final decision. Feel free to contact me at anytime if you just need to vent.

Pam