[spb1]

I turned 60 last month and am about to finish pre-reqs. I am having a ball, challenging myself and enjoying the young ones in my classes. If it please God, I will be a nurse in 2008. I'm doing CNA class this summer to bump up the points for nursing school admittance, taking A & P II and just finished Algebra (with an A). My take on it is that if you want it, go for it!! Only you can say you are too old. I feel I have a lot to contribute to nursing and I bet you do too.

[RNsRWe]

Originally Posted by rntoben2008

I am almost 41, and waiting on the happy letter. I have wondered though, does age have an effect on the hiring process?? Did anyone out there have a hard time getting hired on because they were over 40?? My mother says I am too old, and asked me who would hire me? I tend to think my age brings a lot of wisdom and work experience with it. I don't know though.

Not at all. I remember reading somewhere that the average age of a nursing student was 36; I don't know if that's entry or graduation or something in between, but at any rate, I'm 39 (soon to be 40) and the hospitals are VERY eager to have me and my fellow "older" classmates as employees!

Actually, I had a nurse manager tell me she preferred the "older" grad nurses, because they had alot more life experience, more work hx to show, and they demonstrated by juggling families and school (and, oftentimes, work) that they could handle pressure. So she KNEW they could handle her unit!

From what I can see, it's an advantage

[luvs2readlots]

I'm 44(soon to be 45)and am scheduled to start nursing school August 21st as well! More power to us, I say! We bring wisdom from life lived. I'm so excited right now about finally starting after dreaming for years! As you can see from the posts you are not alone. My "study buddy" for API & II is starting this fall as well...she's 50 too. Go for it and good luck to you!

[Corvette Guy]

Originally Posted by nursingconsidered

Hi everyone!

While still considering a new career as LPN/LVN, is age 41 too old to begin a nursing career? I have no nursing experience. I've been in the legal field for almost 20 years and due to my worker's comp injury, I do not want to go back to the desk. Am I too old?

No

[Corvette Guy]

Originally Posted by spb1

I turned 60 last month and am about to finish pre-reqs. I am having a ball, challenging myself and enjoying the young ones in my classes. If it please God, I will be a nurse in 2008. I'm doing CNA class this summer to bump up the points for nursing school admittance, taking A & P II and just finished Algebra (with an A). My take on it is that if you want it, go for it!! Only you can say you are too old. I feel I have a lot to contribute to nursing and I bet you do too.

... I admire you! I'd bet you will make an awesome RN!

[rankinirn]

I'm 47, will be 48 in Oct. I graduated w/BSN this past Dec. I started Nursing School at 45. It was part of my career/life change (mid life crisis?) Anyway, I was treated like everyone else even though I was the oldest in my class at the time. I now have some great friends from Nursing School. Age is a state of mind. Don't be intimidated, just do it. If you wait and think about it more, you'll just be that much older when you start!

[hopefulstudent06]

At the school that I attend, most of the students taking pre-reqs are right out of high school and mommy and daddy are making them go to school. A majority of them do not get accepted into the ADN program and there are more "older" students in the program than younger ones. I think it is great that you are considering going back to school. I like talking to the students that are older than me, even if my best friend is younger than me. The students older than me understand what it is like to be married, have kids, have a house to take care of and know that there is more to life than going out and partying. I relate better to them. Don't let anyone discourage you. Shoot for your dream. Good luck and I hope you do go back to school.

[Daytonite]

Hi, nursingconsidered!

My mother went to LVN school when she was 50 and worked in CCU until she retired at 68. The largest percentage of nurses working today is in your age group, kiddo. My mother had no previous nursing experience before she started nursing school. She had piles of old medical journals with gross pictures that she read over the years. My father brought them home from the scrap yard (today called recycling centers) where he had a part time job cutting up old cars to be used for scrap metal. I had no previous nursing experience, other than what I heard my mother talk about before I started nursing school either. It has nothing to do with the kind of nurse you'll end up being. You learn everything you need to know in nursing school.

Is your old injury going to interfere with your ability to stand or lift? The biggest shock when I started working in nursing was all the standing. The only time I ever sit is to chart and that is maybe a total of an hour out of a shift. I've had plantar fasciitis ( http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/007021.htm ) twice (the second time because I foolishly stopped wearing arch supports in my shoes) and varicose veins. I know more nurses with back problems that you can imagine. I'm not trying to discourage you, only wanting you to consider how your old injury is going to fare against the physical rigors of nursing.

Welcome to allnurses!

[rntoben2008]

Originally Posted by Daytonite

Hi, nursingconsidered!

My mother went to LVN school when she was 50 and worked in CCU until she retired at 68. The largest percentage of nurses working today is in your age group, kiddo. My mother had no previous nursing experience before she started nursing school. She had piles of old medical journals with gross pictures that she read over the years. My father brought them home from the scrap yard (today called recycling centers) where he had a part time job cutting up old cars to be used for scrap metal. I had no previous nursing experience, other than what I heard my mother talk about before I started nursing school either. It has nothing to do with the kind of nurse you'll end up being. You learn everything you need to know in nursing school.

Is your old injury going to interfere with your ability to stand or lift? The biggest shock when I started working in nursing was all the standing. The only time I ever sit is to chart and that is maybe a total of an hour out of a shift. I've had plantar fasciitis ( http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/007021.htm ) twice (the second time because I foolishly stopped wearing arch supports in my shoes) and varicose veins. I know more nurses with back problems that you can imagine. I'm not trying to discourage you, only wanting you to consider how your old injury is going to fare against the physical rigors of nursing.

Welcome to allnurses!

Awesome post!! My hubby still works in one of the "scrap yards" and cuts up trailers for semi's. There is big money in scrap, believe or not. Anyhow awesome on your mom going back. Great advice on the aching back and feet. As a nurse assistant, I know the importance of good shoes. The cheap ones never did a thing for me. The feet will ache after your shift. Good luck to all of us on our journey.

[CarolinaGal]

I am 60, have a BA in English and went through last year's pre-reqs with straight A's. I start nursing school in August. You are never too old - I am having the time of my life!