Is 37 to old to work on a nursing degree

[OldSquidNewNurse]

I hope not. I'm 37.

[Tingbudong]

LOL great post... Its the very question I was here to ask.. in fact yesterday was my 37th B-day and tomorrow Im seeing a shortsale specialist to get out from under my house then Im moving home (...hangs head in shame) to live in Mom n Dad's basement while I go back to school to ?(hopefully) become a nurse...

I have a BS in industrial design, have spent 9 years as a footwear designer, been to China 35+ some odd times and speak mandarin Chinese (self taught for work).. Im a great designer, but this economy is just a train wreck and Ive have 2 companies get consolidated or lay me off now in 5 years and each time my life has gone to crap. This time I ended up divorced too. I just need something secure where I know Ill have a job tomorrow and where at the end of the day I can be confident that my sweat and hard work actually made the world better in some way for somebody...

I just wanted to say thnx for all the positive replies you all made to this post, that wasnt mine but Im willing to steal a share in.. I'm feeling better already about my decision from reading it all and glad I stumbled in and joined this forum..

Thinking Ill be on here a lot...

Tyler

[txrnstudent]

I don't think so LOL, I'm 43 and in my third semester of the ADN program. Our class is about 1/3 male and I am not nearly the oldest male student. I have wanted to be a nurse for years but life's timing was not in sync with being able to go back to school.

[Ricu]

Originally Posted by Tingbudong

LOL great post... Its the very question I was here to ask.. in fact yesterday was my 37th B-day and tomorrow Im seeing a shortsale specialist to get out from under my house then Im moving home (...hangs head in shame) to live in Mom n Dad's basement while I go back to school to ?(hopefully) become a nurse...

I have a BS in industrial design, have spent 9 years as a footwear designer, been to China 35+ some odd times and speak mandarin Chinese (self taught for work).. Im a great designer, but this economy is just a train wreck and Ive have 2 companies get consolidated or lay me off now in 5 years and each time my life has gone to crap. This time I ended up divorced too. I just need something secure where I know Ill have a job tomorrow and where at the end of the day I can be confident that my sweat and hard work actually made the world better in some way for somebody...

I just wanted to say thnx for all the positive replies you all made to this post, that wasnt mine but Im willing to steal a share in.. I'm feeling better already about my decision from reading it all and glad I stumbled in and joined this forum..

Thinking Ill be on here a lot...

Tyler

Hey Tyler,

Happy belated birthday! I'm sorry to read about all of the crap that you've endured but it sounds like you're very resiliant and resourceful- great qualities to have. Everything you have said about nursing is true and it sounds like you will be an asset to the profession. As you have already read here, you're in very good company as far as age and career history. I am in nursing as a not second but third career. I was thirty at the time, so you got me by seven years, ol' duffer...

Please let me say that while you've (done a very smart thing, BTW) essentially liquidated everything and plan to live with your parents while completing your nursing education, you have no reason to feel shame. You were working hard and successfully when the career market drastically changed and left you out not once, but twice.

I have an idea of what you may be feeling and PAIN more than shame fit the description for me. I was once a "dislocated worker." My job ended due to a RIF and like you, I had specific training that wasn't marketable at the time, hence the term dislocated. How appropriate. I was fortunate that I didn't lose my house and even more fortunate that my marriage survived and kids stayed safe.

I suppose it's a normal and let me say probably male, thing to feel but know this: You have not failed because you keep working. Failure happens when a person gives up. You will get through this, start again, and be stronger than ever.

The best of luck to you and please, keep us posted.

R

[hppygr8ful]

I went to nursing school and got married and had a baby after my 37th birtday. Had a lot of different jobs previous to that since becoming a nurse I've never been unemployed since. More importantly I love what I do and I know that every day I make a difference in someone's life.

Peace and Namaste

Hppy

[Dave 48103]

I hope 37 isn't too old to go into nursing, because I am just starting the path and I'm 45. After 20 years as an architect, I have decided (I think) to take a career turn and go into nursing. My interest in nursing has been peaking over the past few years, and the latest economic downturn gave me a reason to really do something about it. I just found this forum, what a great resource. I am looking into the University of Michigan's Second Degree program. I did my B of S & Masters at the U, and I live in Ann Arbor, so it would be my first choice. I just signed up at the local community college to take Chem and Bio. Hopefully my classroom brain still works after all these years, although with all the distractions of being a teenager in college years ago (you know what I mean), I'm amazed it worked at all back then LOL.

Anyways, just wanted to say "hi" to you all, and thanks in advance for all the great advice

Dave

[Ricu]

Originally Posted by Dave 48103

I hope 37 isn't too old to go into nursing, because I am just starting the path and I'm 45. After 20 years as an architect, I have decided (I think) to take a career turn and go into nursing. My interest in nursing has been peaking over the past few years, and the latest economic downturn gave me a reason to really do something about it. I just found this forum, what a great resource. I am looking into the University of Michigan's Second Degree program. I did my B of S & Masters at the U, and I live in Ann Arbor, so it would be my first choice. I just signed up at the local community college to take Chem and Bio. Hopefully my classroom brain still works after all these years, although with all the distractions of being a teenager in college years ago (you know what I mean), I'm amazed it worked at all back then LOL.

Anyways, just wanted to say "hi" to you all, and thanks in advance for all the great advice

Dave

Welcome aboard, Dave. I'm sure you will do very well. After you are in nursing for awhile, maybe your years in architecture will lead you to help redesign our many very poorly designed patient care areas. We need a lot of help in this area.

Good luck,

R

[Dave 48103]

Originally Posted by Ricu

Welcome aboard, Dave. I'm sure you will do very well. After you are in nursing for awhile, maybe your years in architecture will lead you to help redesign our many very poorly designed patient care areas. We need a lot of help in this area.

Good luck,

R

Well, if nothing else, I could certainly renovate the nursing staff areas!

[Ricu]

Originally Posted by Dave 48103

Well, if nothing else, I could certainly renovate the nursing staff areas!

That's an excellent place to start.

Thanks in advance.

Take care,

R

[ShawnRN]

Originally Posted by Jeff H

Hello,

I am 37 and looking to become an RN as a career change.
Should I start as a CNA or LPN first?
What are your thoughts on my age?
I currently work in the manufacturing sector as a tool designer. I am concerned with the outlook of my job along with the health issues. I spend 90% of my day sitting in front of a computer.
Your thoughts and suggestions would be of great help!
Thanks!!

Hey Hon, let me tell you, I have been an RN for 2 years now and I am 50 for God's sake, ha! I graduated at 48 with a bunch of 20 year olds, but we had a ball and all of my friends and myself managed to pass the NCLEX. I recommend that you go for the RN right off the bat - I did and so can you. Luckily for me, I didn't realize at the time just how important that decision was for me...turned out when my husband came back from Iraq he had/has PTSD and a girlfriend, so now I've been divorced for almost 2 years after being with my ex my entire life (35 years of it!!) You never know why God is calling you to do something, but it works out if you listen...I started nursing school with the attitude of just wanting to help others, and now I am a travel nurse - still a new nurse of course (all the nurses I work with who are my age have been nurses for 20+ years and here I am at 50 still new)...anyway I highly recommend that you follow your heart, but you are still a "young whippersnapper" so GO FOR IT!!!