Advice for a latebloomer needed

Nurses General Nursing

Published

I am over 40 and have spent my life taking care of everyone else.

Now, finally, I am in a position to follow my own dreams. I am considering pursuing a 2 year nursing degree, which will actually take 3-4 years here in GA. I wonder about a lot of the practical realities of starting later in life. I'm not even sure what questions I should ask before taking the plunge.

Is it too late for me?

Are nurses still able to get decent jobs into thier 60's?

What if I can't see well enough to start IV's or draw blood?

Any advice you can give would be greatly appreciated.

I vote yes! I was 44 when I started my 2 year program-same thing reality is 3-4 years with pre-reqs. Dropped out for a while to care for a dying parent, but graduated at 49. Once you are done you have a lot of options. Lots of part-time slots available, some with benefits, some not. Tons of different things to do. Of the 50 people I started my RN classes with, 1/3 of us were over 40, and everyone graduated. It will make you cry, make you tear your hair out, make you laugh, and it ain't NEVER boring!

Awww....shoot....I'm 39 and just graduated from LPN. Our oldest lady was 58. And she was awesome!

If you like nursing, by all means, don't let age stop you. You'll be the same age in the future whether you go to school or not...may as well have something to show for it! :D

Best of Luck!

Julie :)

Originally posted by Rosemary4126

I am over 40 and have spent my life taking care of everyone else.

Now, finally, I am in a position to follow my own dreams. I am considering pursuing a 2 year nursing degree, which will actually take 3-4 years here in GA. I wonder about a lot of the practical realities of starting later in life. I'm not even sure what questions I should ask before taking the plunge.

Is it too late for me?

Are nurses still able to get decent jobs into thier 60's?

What if I can't see well enough to start IV's or draw blood?

Any advice you can give would be greatly appreciated.

Another post already mentions what I was getting ready to say: in 3-4 years, you'll still be older, whether you finish the degree or not. It's not too late for you!

I would encourage you to -- depending on how much education you already have under your belt -- consider a BSN program, rather than the 2 year program. There's nothing wrong with the ADN, but if you think you might want to complete a BSN later, finishing it now gets it out of your way.

If you can't see well enough? Get glasses. :-) (Even better, check out http://www.seeclearlymethod.com/ I have used a variant of this system for years, and have 20/20 vision at 47, and have never used glasses).

Life can be a lot of fun. And contrary to what some will tell you, so can nursing. Climb on board!

Jim Huffman, RN

http://www.NetworkForNurses.com

Specializes in Neuroscience ICU, CNRN, SCRN.

As my signature line says, its never to late to be what you might have been! I'm 46 y/o and just started my prereqs this year. I will be graduating with my ASN-RN when I'm 48. That does scare me at times, but I look at my mom and mother-in-law, who are both 70 years young, and figure, if they can still be working (and loving life), then I still have plenty good years ahead of me...especially if I'm doing work I've always been drawn to. As the other posters have said, just take care of your health and your sanity, and GO FOR IT!

Hi Rosemary, I'm 39 and will be starting my 2 year ADN program in the Fall of 2003. I also live in Georgia. I agree with what the others have said. I figure I'll be working for at least another 20 years, so I might as well be doing what I've always dreamed of doing! My kids are in high school and are so encouraging to me - they think it is great their mom is going back to school. And I don't plan on stopping at ADN, as soon as I'm working, I want to start my RN-BSN program and would love to get my MSN. But I will be perfectly happy being an RN and just realizing one dream.

By the way, which school in Georgia are you going to?

I was over 45 and I made it . We even have a gagit today called glasses and mine aloows me to start IV's and stuff. Go for it you will not regret it. And we need a few good nurses like you. as you can see my glasses will not prevent typos. Good Luck

Specializes in LTC,Hospice/palliative care,acute care.
Originally posted by Rosemary4126

I am over 40 and have spent my life taking care of everyone else.

Now, finally, I am in a position to follow my own dreams. I am considering pursuing a 2 year nursing degree, which will actually take 3-4 years here in GA. I wonder about a lot of the practical realities of starting later in life. I'm not even sure what questions I should ask before taking the plunge.

Is it too late for me?

Are nurses still able to get decent jobs into thier 60's?

What if I can't see well enough to start IV's or draw blood?

Any advice you can give would be greatly appreciated.

You go,Rosemary!This is YOUR turn----good luck...Nursing is such a vast field-some areas are much more physically demanding then others and with so much to choose from you will find the perfect fit.And the new bi-focals are supposed to be very easy to adjust to......but you may work in an area in which you never have to start and IV or do a blood draw...Take vitamins,eat well and exercise-you will be great...

Go for it!

You've got more energy than you think you do, especially when you have a goal you love.

Life experience and common sense are worth their weight in gold.

Going back to school makes you feel and think young (works esp. well when you're surrounded by 20 somethings.)

Specializes in correctional, psych, ICU, CCU, ER.

Go for it!!! Like Youda said. Like we told one of my girlfriend's Moms, who wondered at age 50 if she was "too old" I said , "How old are you going to be in 5 years if you go to nsg school?" She said "55", I said,"And how old will you be in 5 years if you DON'T go to nsg school?" she got the point, went to nsg school and worked with a rehab center for 20 years.

Heck, my husband, who will be 51 soon is in his second career, after 30 years in computers, as a student nurse. He gets his retirement from the government and will get his retirement from the second career, too. You go girl!!!

+ Add a Comment