Starting Nursing At 40...am I Too Late???

Nurses New Nurse

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Hello All,

Im just starting nursing at 40 years old and Im wondering is this going to backfire on me in the long run???

I only have about 20-25 yrs--if God spares life :)--to put in the field and most of the nurses that I am meeting that are my age have already been in the field for at least 20 yrs!!!! Is this a good thing or a bad thing :confused:

Now, I should mention that I am a really "YOUNG" looking 40 y/o...People often mistake me for 25-27-- which I love by the way--who wouldnt :D...but Im still worried about agism :uhoh21:.

Im just starting a new floor and my co-workers are dying to know my age, of course Im not going to say....overall, I guess Im wondering is starting nursing this late in the game a good idea?????

I welcome any thoughts on this :wink2:.

I just posted this on another thread about age, but I'll share it here too. :D

I got into my nursing program at age 35 and just graduated at age 38. I worried I was too old but I told myself that no matter what I did, the time was still going to pass, so why not do something wonderful with it?? I could be a nurse in 2 years or I could still be a secretary - either way, 2 years were going to go by!! And here I am, graduated and ready to go. I wouldn't change a thing! And BTW, it seems to me the older you are, the faster the time passes. School literally FLEW by for me.

Specializes in Womens health, labor and delivery.

I graduated nursing school a month before I turned 45, and I was not the oldest one in my class.... Now that I have been a nurse for about 6 months, I will say, that life experience, and the age factor has come in handy in some areas. However, the body does feel a little stiff in the the morning after a busy night at work...:yawn:

Specializes in ob, geriatric, peds.

As my 40th birthday present to myself, I began my venture into returning to school. I have to admit it is the best thing I have ever done! I am now in the program with 3 semesters left and so glad I have done this. There have been times I have had to really give myself a good kick, IT'S HARD with family, work school and studying. I have cried from being overwhelmed but I remind myself how bad I want this and continue on. What a boost for my self esteem to think hey I am doing this! It is also great to study right along side your childern and set a great example. My 12 year olds grades have actually gone up since I started school! The dedication to studying can sometimes be trying, I'm always stuck in a book and miss out on a lot of invitations for fun but I know how this is going to pay off in the end. Just think as you are being pinned as a nurse how great that will feel! Do it! You will so good about yourself!:yeah:

I just graduated and am 40. I never thought that it was "too late" or i was "too old" to get into nursing. I wanted to change in life for the better, to have a career for myself, so that is what i did.

I truly believe it is never too late to do anything, or change anything in your life. what else are we here for? To just do the same thing every day after we reach a certain age? Life is about growing and changing.

Youre never too old. My mom and I she is (53) just graduated this year form LVN and we are planning on going into Rn school asap. Let that inspire ya!

Specializes in Oncology, Emergency Department.

A resounding NO, you are not too late! I just graduated this May with my BSN and I started my first job on an oncology/BMT floor this past week. I am 53 years old so I have a few years up on you :). All it takes is confidence and hard work and you used both those skills during nursing school and you made it! Good luck to you :yeah:

Diversity only strengthens us as a profession. Think of how great and different your experience is and how that will be an asset to your profession.

Of course, there are some people who will point and whisper (not really, but let's face it, there are crabby people everywhere). Just smile, do your best, and be yourself.

oh i know a person from our class who's already 55...well, she was an enrolled nurse, and she was trying to get the degree to become an RN. took a lot of work on her part, but she was absolutely great doing clinical work!

I'm 56 years old and graduated lpn school in oct. of 2007. the job opportunites are not there as i was told they would be. i'm currently doing my rn and wonder if the outlook will be the same. i'll be 58 when i graduate. i feel mislead.:scrying:

I'm 56 years old and graduated lpn school in oct. of 2007. the job opportunites are not there as i was told they would be. i'm currently doing my rn and wonder if the outlook will be the same. i'll be 58 when i graduate. i feel mislead.:scrying:

in our class of about 35, four are above 50, three of who have previous nursing experiences. they're basically trained as Enrolled Nurses, but since New Zealand is wiping out EN's, these three people chose to do the three year degree and continue being an RN.

the other one didnt have any previous nursing experience...but even before we graduate may next year, she already has a spot as a prison nurse. hopefully you would be able to find one. we don't have much problems here with age in relation to avaliability of nursing work.

Boy it seems as though this thread keeps going going and going and I love it!!!!:redbeathe

Thanks to all who have responded thus far the they have been so inspiring.

In an article I read on Nurses "re-entering the work force after a carreer break" most of them over 40, pointed out that these nurses are considered valuable staff bringing maturity, life experiences, and enthusiasm to their work....Which pretty much sums up alot of the responses made on this thread.

So, good luck to all the MATURE RN's coming into the field, we can only make it better!!!!!:D

I'm 56 years old and graduated lpn school in oct. of 2007. the job opportunites are not there as i was told they would be. i'm currently doing my rn and wonder if the outlook will be the same. i'll be 58 when i graduate. i feel mislead.:scrying:

Hi Mike532,

I hope the job opporotunities would open up more with an R.N liscense versus an LPN liscense....At least out here on the westcoast the opportunities are endless for RN's (I know your geographical area plays a huge role in what type of job openings you will have) .

Good luck to you :nuke:

Sunnybeach

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