38 too old for school?

viena · May 24, 2006

Hi all! I am 38, married, two (2) children, ages 15 and soon to be 13 (boys). I have my AAS Degree. I am currently a Corporate Paralegal. I just started doing CRNA's employment agreements three (3) years ago. Three (3) years ago I want to started nursing school and too be honest I was scared of "starting over". Now I am ready. I have a lot of prereqs., but I a fine with that. I start in Feb. My husband who is also my BEST FRIEND is extremely supportive and our children are amazing and supportive. I haven't mentioned it to one (1) person at work. When I am doing an employment agreement for one of the groups we represent I work directly with the Chief and President of Anesthesiology for surgical corp. He is affliated with major hospitals in my area. I know that he would be happy to know that he played a major role in regard to me wanting to become a CRNA. I haven't told him because he is one of my boss' clients. I was think about getting a job in a hospital, so that I could work until 3 or 4 the latest. Right now I have to work until 5:00pm and I cannot change my schedule not even for school. Back to my question. One (1) of my friends that I told said, that I was too old to begin and by the time I graduate with my RN degree I will be 41 at least. That is true I most likely will be 41 because I am going part-time. What do you think? I have prayed on it. God bless.

Believe it or not I am 56 years old graduating this year (BSN). This is my 3rd course I have worked for 15 years in the HR field at management level I am based in CA but due to increase demand of nurses and eco. downturn of hi tech companies I went home to the Phil and took nursing. You are much much younger than I do I am at self actualization stage already remember Maslow hierachy of man's need. YOu should be okay and what amazed me is at my age my grades are high I study hard thou and focus focus...

Tranman · May 24, 2006

Believe it or not I am 56 years old graduating this year (BSN). You are much much younger than I do I am at self actualization stage already remember Maslow hierachy of man's need. YOu should be okay and what amazed me is at my age my grades are high I study hard thou and focus focus...

You are AWESOME. You're never to old for anything. As long as your alive, do what makes you happy. A CRNA friend of mine, went to CRNA school at 48 after 20 yrs in the OR. She was top of our class!

Sheri257 · May 25, 2006

It is true that you're never too old to do anything. BUT, since I am in my '40s, I decided not to try to become a CRNA for financial reasons. The reason is: I could lose at least $125K in salary and retirement benefits trying to become a CRNA which, at my age, I felt wasn't worth it.

To become a CRNA you have to work ICU or other critical care jobs which, doesn't pay that well ... $55K to start in my area with, typically, no pension benefits. There are other better paying jobs I could take at $80K a year to start with full pension benefits. The other factor I had to consider is that CRNA school acceptance rates are only 15 percent.

So ... I could spend the next five years trying to get into CRNA school with a slim chance of getting in, or I could work better paying jobs off the ICU-CRNA track and bank an extra 125K without losing five years of pension benefits.

On top of that the $80K job pays for most of the costs of becoming a nurse practitioner (which means no debt), and a lot of my school time can be credited as work time so I wouldn't have to take an income hit while I'm in school. So, in five years I could become a nurse practitioner making $110K a year while still banking the $80K a year.

When you contrast that with the $100K -$150K you'd have to borrow even if you are accepted into CRNA school, plus interest, plus the lost income (not to mention lost pension benefits) ... I figured it would take me at least 17 years to come out ahead, even when you take into consideration the higher CRNA income you earn in later years. By then, I'd rather retire if I want to, which is what the other career path provides with a lot more certainty.

All I'm saying is that even if you are accepted into CRNA school despite the slim chances, it takes a very long time to recoup the costs of a CRNA education versus what you could lose by not taking other job opportunities elsewhere. If I was 20 years younger then, yeah, it would probably be worth taking the chance. But, at my age, it isn't.

:typing

Nurse GOODNIGHT · May 25, 2006

Not in my opinion. But I think a more important question is (& I know your kids are supportive) is that they only have 5 more years until they are out to college. That is such a short time and the memories are precious. I would wait 5 yrs. FWIW IMHO. I had a 4.0 and, even at 38, financially and with the time commitments involved CRNA is just too much. Quality of life I think is important. A lot of people see the money and while I don't think it's wrong, I just think the money is not the most important alongside quality of life, job satisfaction, etc.

Tranman · May 27, 2006

It is true that you're never too old to do anything. BUT, since I am in my '40s, I decided not to try to become a CRNA for financial reasons. The reason is: I could lose at least $125K in salary and retirement benefits trying to become a CRNA which, at my age, I felt wasn't worth it.
To become a CRNA you have to work ICU or other critical care jobs which, doesn't pay that well ... $55K to start in my area with, typically, no pension benefits. There are other better paying jobs I could take at $80K a year to start with full pension benefits. The other factor I had to consider is that CRNA school acceptance rates are only 15 percent.
So ... I could spend the next five years trying to get into CRNA school with a slim chance of getting in, or I could work better paying jobs off the ICU-CRNA track and bank an extra 125K without losing five years of pension benefits.
On top of that the $80K job pays for most of the costs of becoming a nurse practitioner (which means no debt), and a lot of my school time can be credited as work time so I wouldn't have to take an income hit while I'm in school. So, in five years I could become a nurse practitioner making $110K a year while still banking the $80K a year.
When you contrast that with the $100K -$150K you'd have to borrow even if you are accepted into CRNA school, plus interest, plus the lost income (not to mention lost pension benefits) ... I figured it would take me at least 17 years to come out ahead, even when you take into consideration the higher CRNA income you earn in later years. By then, I'd rather retire if I want to, which is what the other career path provides with a lot more certainty.
All I'm saying is that even if you are accepted into CRNA school despite the slim chances, it takes a very long time to recoup the costs of a CRNA education versus what you could lose by not taking other job opportunities elsewhere. If I was 20 years younger then, yeah, it would probably be worth taking the chance. But, at my age, it isn't.
:typing

Lizz, it aches my heart to see this post. I really believe that your math and thinking are skewed....the wrong way. It seems like you've given this a lot of thought and you know your situation better than anyone else, so only you can decide. If you really want to be a CRNA, then there's always a better solution, just have to find out how.

Remember my friend was 48 or so and she went to school. She's glad she did!

R U early 40's or late 40's? You only need 6months - 1yr of ICU. who cares if you only make 55K. As a new grad CRNA i made 200K. I can show you how. now don't everyone PM me asking how either.

-CRNA school only accepts 15%. Baloney!!! depends on the school.

If a school interviews 20 students for 8 positions. YOu're chances are much higher! Close to 50%. I called almost 40 schools before narrowing down the few I wanted to interview at.

-100-150K borrowed to go to CRNA school? Malarky!! Tuition can be had for free up to 40K. Yeah that's right , I said FREE!. You gotta look around! My tuition was 12K 1st year, 2nd yr they gave me 6k in stipend $. my tuition = $6k roughly. Not counting living expenses, books, etc.

You can also save up some $ prior to entering a CRNA program. My wife worked FT making $12/hr while I was in school. We lived in a 600 sq apartment for 3 yrs. drove beaters for carz. I borrowed $20K while in school. I still haven't paid my loans, not cuz I can't ,but I don't want to, they are the lowest interest loans i have. haha.

-17 years to come out ahead? i doubt that!! it took me 6 months to come out ahead. I was making $30K w/ benefits in 2000 as a PICU nurse. 1st yr CRNA salary $200K +. look around!!! I'll make 300 next year in california which is like 250 elsewhere.

-Your choice, your life. Only become a CRNA if you want to do anesthesia. NOt for the $, otherwise you'll be unhappy. Many CRNAs work well into retirement b/c they love the work. They can work part-time and still make good money.

The mentality you have is what keeps people out of anesthesia. missinformation and misconceptions. Not flaming you, just saying. Most people will let you think what ever you want and not persuade you otherwise. NOt me. I'll be a real friend and tell you the truth!! Keep in mind that the info posted here is not typical. Typically CRNAs make $120K plus 4 wks vacation, and benefits and OT. = $160-$180K. I don't know if these great salaries will last forever so get yer a$$ in school! :thankya:

DonnielleRN2B · May 27, 2006

Not at all I'm 32 and i was a few of the younger ones at my school.

Good luck

MmacFN · May 27, 2006

im just trying to figure out where NPs are making 110K. I havent met one working full time hours making more than 80K except psych NPs. In fact, the 5 i know all make less than 90K while working 50+ hour weeks and taking call.

Tranman · May 27, 2006

I'm not suprise to hear that. Also heard that many work in rural areas. So during your time off (if you have any). No malls, fancy restaurants, no "culture" around. Complete opposite for CRNAs. But hey, we need NPs as much as CRNAs. Everyones meant to do different things, I guess.

Sheri257 · May 27, 2006

CRNA school only accepts 15%. Baloney!!! depends on the school. If a school interviews 20 students for 8 positions. YOu're chances are much higher! Close to 50%. I called almost 40 schools before narrowing down the few I wanted to interview at.

The 15 percent acceptance rates come directly from the two schools I would apply to. I'm not in a position where I can move around the country and go to any school that takes me. Besides, similar rates have been posted on this board.

100-150K borrowed to go to CRNA school? Malarky!! Tuition can be had for free up to 40K. Yeah that's right , I said FREE!. You gotta look around! My tuition was 12K 1st year, 2nd yr they gave me 6k in stipend $. my tuition = $6k roughly. Not counting living expenses, books, etc.

Well ... that's the rub. Living expenses. I have a house and a mortgage. Just for living expenses alone I'd have to borrow $100K for two years without any income not including include tuition, books, gas, etc. Again, similar loan amounts (and a lot higher) have been posted on this board.

https://allnurses.com/forums/f227/anyone-take-out-50-000-per-year-live-153574.html

17 years to come out ahead? i doubt that!! it took me 6 months to come out ahead.

Actually, you're right ...that was a typo. It would be more like 12 years. Nevertheless, when I calcuated what I could earn with much better paying jobs (80K to start) plus full reimbursement for my bachelor's and grad school (no debt) plus school time credited as work time (with no loss of income while I am in school) ...

It would take me 12 years to do any better as a CRNA, since I would be making $110K a year with no debt, no loss of income, and no lost retirement benefits. (Regarding questions about that salary, I have that in writing. And no, it's not in a rural area.)

With CRNA I would be making $140K a year, but I'd have 100K or more of debt and a lot of lost income. Here's how the numbers broke down for the next five years. Keep in mind that I still have to get my bachelor's, which is why I'm looking at a five year schedule:

CRNA:

3 years ICU pay at 55K, two years CRNA school with no income: 165K

Debt for CRNA school and living expenses: -100-150K

Net income after five years: 15-65K

Other job:

5 years pay at 80K: 400K

Debt for school: none

Income loss during school: none

Net income after five years: 400K

By becoming a CRNA I'd be down by anywhere from 335-385K after five years. Now ... CRNA's make $140K in my area. BUT, I'd be making $110K in five years with the other job.

So the net benefit with CRNA would be an extra $30K a year. Divide the 335-385K loss by 30K a year and it would take you 11-13 years to recoup the costs and lost income ... and come out ahead.

Now, I know that CRNA's can make a lot more than $140K a year with OT and such. But I could make a lot more with OT, etc. in the other job as well. For purposes of my calculations, I relied on base salary for comparison, since the other factors are variable.

And, you're dismissing the fact that there's good chance I wouldn't get into CRNA school at all. With 15 percent acceptance rates, that's a distinct possibility. I would probably have to apply more than once over the next five years and could easily still not get in.

So, I would definitely lose $125K in salary over five years if that happened (80K-55K = 25K x five years = 125K) ... and I'd be back to square one with five years of lost income and lost pension benefits. Not to mention, I'd lose another $60K by delaying getting my NP for another two years (110K - 80K = 30K x 2 = 60K)

With that scenario (which, let's face it, is likely), total income loss is $185K and, I'd also lose an extra $14,000 a year on my pension when I retire. Assuming I get lucky and live another 20 years after retirement, you're looking at $280K in lost pension or, a loss of $140K if I only live another ten years.

All of this is why (getting back to the topic at hand) ... it's not worth taking the chance at my age. In my '40s I just don't feel I can take the chance on wasting another five years worth of lost income and retirement benefits if things don't work out. If I was 20 years younger, then it would be a different story.

:typing

darienblythe79 · May 27, 2006

The 15 percent acceptance rates come directly from the two schools I would apply to. I'm not in a position where I can move around the country and go to any school that takes me. Besides, similar rates have been posted on this board.
Well ... that's the rub. Living expenses. I have a house and a mortgage. Just for living expenses alone I'd have to borrow $100K for two years without any income not including include tuition, books, gas, etc. Again, similar loan amounts (and a lot higher) have been posted on this board.
https://allnurses.com/forums/f227/anyone-take-out-50-000-per-year-live-153574.html
Actually, you're right ...that was a typo. It would be more like 12 years. Nevertheless, when I calcuated what I could earn with much better paying jobs (80K to start) plus full reimbursement for my bachelor's and grad school (no debt) plus school time credited as work time (with no loss of income while I am in school) ...
It would take me 12 years to do any better as a CRNA, since I would be making $110K a year with no debt, no loss of income, and no lost retirement benefits. (Regarding questions about that salary, I have that in writing. And no, it's not in a rural area.)
With CRNA I would be making $140K a year, but I'd have 100K or more of debt and a lot of lost income. Here's how the numbers broke down for the next five years. Keep in mind that I still have to get by bachelor's, which is why I would be looking at a five year schedule:
CRNA:
3 years ICU pay at 55K, two years CRNA school with no income: 165K
Debt for CRNA school and living expenses: -100-150K
Net income after five years: 15-65K
Other job:
5 years pay at 80K: 400K
Debt for school: none
Income loss during school: none
Net income after five years: 400K
By becoming a CRNA I'd be down by anywhere from 335-385K after five years. Now ... CRNA's make $140K in my area. BUT, I'd be making $110K in five years with the other job.
So the net benefit with CRNA would be an extra $30K a year. Divide the 335-385K loss by 30K a year and it would take you 11-13 years to recoup the costs and lost income ... and come out ahead.
Now, I know that CRNA's can make a lot more than $140K a year with OT and such. But I could make a lot more with OT, etc. in the other job as well. For purposes of my calculations, I relied on base salary for comparison, since the other factors are variable.
And, you're dismissing the fact that there's good chance I wouldn't get into CRNA school at all. With 15 percent acceptance rates, that's a distinct possibility. I would probably have to apply more than once over the next five years and could easily still not get in.
So, I would definitely lose $125K in salary over five years if that happened (80K-55K = 25K x five years = 125K) ... and I'd be back to square one with five years of lost income and lost pension benefits. Not to mention, I'd lose another $60K by delaying getting my NP for another two years (110K - 80K = 30K x 2 = 60K)
With that scenario (which, let's face it, is likely), total income loss is $185K and, I'd also lose an extra $14,000 a year on my pension when I retire. Assuming I get lucky and live another 20 years after retirement, you're looking at $280K in lost pension or, a loss of $140K if I only live another ten years.
All of this is why (getting back to the topic at hand) ... it's not worth taking the chance at my age. In my '40s I just don't feel I can take the chance on wasting another five years worth of lost income and retirement benefits if things don't work out. If I was 20 years younger, then it would be a different story.
:typing

Whatever hang ups you have about CRNA school you need to relax. I see you have baited the new guy to bring up your old arguement again. https://allnurses.com/forums/f227/economic-realities-trying-get-into-crna-school-worth-156728.html

You managed to get that thread closed, are you trying to do the same here? Your response has nothing to do with the OP question. Chill out.

Sheri257 · May 27, 2006

Yeah, I overreacted on that thread. And no, I'm not trying to get this thread closed. I guess you didn't read the last paragraph of my post, which does address the OP's question. But, if people have a problem with this part of the discussion, I'm happy to leave it at that. My overall point is: the older you are, the harder it is to make the CRNA thing work.

:typing

dec30dd · May 27, 2006

Hi all! I am 38, married, two (2) children, ages 15 and soon to be 13 (boys). I have my AAS Degree. I am currently a Corporate Paralegal. I just started doing CRNA's employment agreements three (3) years ago. Three (3) years ago I want to started nursing school and too be honest I was scared of "starting over". Now I am ready. I have a lot of prereqs., but I a fine with that. I start in Feb. My husband who is also my BEST FRIEND is extremely supportive and our children are amazing and supportive. I haven't mentioned it to one (1) person at work. When I am doing an employment agreement for one of the groups we represent I work directly with the Chief and President of Anesthesiology for surgical corp. He is affliated with major hospitals in my area. I know that he would be happy to know that he played a major role in regard to me wanting to become a CRNA. I haven't told him because he is one of my boss' clients. I was think about getting a job in a hospital, so that I could work until 3 or 4 the latest. Right now I have to work until 5:00pm and I cannot change my schedule not even for school. Back to my question. One (1) of my friends that I told said, that I was too old to begin and by the time I graduate with my RN degree I will be 41 at least. That is true I most likely will be 41 because I am going part-time. What do you think? I have prayed on it. God bless.

Age is not a problem when come to study. I'm 38 and I'm doing my second year nursing course, so go for it. Hold on to your dream.