Am I too old to fulfill my original dream?

Whispera, MSN, RN · Feb 21, 2009

I think you probably could take courses. Contact schools near you for more information. My question is...do you really want to? Are you talking about floor nursing? The reason I ask is that it can be physically brutal. As an elder nurse, I found it very difficult to keep up with the physical demands when I worked as a floor nurse. Maybe you could job shadow someone to see what it's really like nowadays?

HM2VikingRN, RN · Feb 21, 2009

Have you thought about becoming a nurse educator?

HM2VikingRN, RN · Feb 21, 2009

You definitely have the skills to work as a PHN or as a clinical instructor.

CITCAT · Feb 21, 2009

dear krissy what is old? i say old is when your dead. hey go for it, instructors,teachers are in reat demand at colleges and universities,there is a crtical shortage of rns that will teach especially those who want to be lpns come on whatch waitin for?you are competent,intellegent woman age has nothing to do with it.

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suzanne4

justiceforjoy · Feb 21, 2009

I have a 53-year-old student in my LPN class... He's awesome! I enjoy having him in my class and at practicum, his clients/patients just adore him.

OMHSNURSE · Feb 21, 2009

You are never too old to fullfil your dreams. The majority of my LPN class was 45-60 years old. I think when you are older, you know more and you are more dedicated. So "Rock On", and goodluck.

suzanne4, RN · Feb 21, 2009

Have you thought about becoming a nurse educator?

Sorry, but they had two years of experience in the field of nursing 1970 or so. That most definitely does not make them current to be a nurse educator. So much has changed since then.

Nurse educators are expected to have at least five years of current work experience as well in the role of the RN.

suzanne4, RN · Feb 21, 2009

dear krissy what is old? i say old is when your dead. hey go for it, instructors,teachers are in reat demand at colleges and universities,there is a crtical shortage of rns that will teach especially those who want to be lpns come on whatch waitin for?you are competent,intellegent woman age has nothing to do with it.
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suzanne4

if one does not have current work experience as an rn, and minimum of five years as well; how in the world is someone going to be able teach nurses.

last experience as an rn was in 1970 or so. not recent.

suzanne4, RN · Feb 21, 2009

You definitely have the skills to work as a PHN or as a clinical instructor.

Clinical instructors in the US require minimum of five years of full-time experience as an RN before one is able to teach in any nursing program in the US.

PHN requires current work experience as an RN as well as they have many skills that they need to possess.

suzanne4, RN · Feb 21, 2009

I received my BS in Nursing in 1969. I worked as a school nurse teacher for two years, and then spent the rest of my career as a classroom teacher. I have an MA in teaching. Is it possible for me to take a two year RN program even though I am already certified and registered as an RN in my state? I took a refresher course, and it was ridiculous. I need to learn everything over again. Too many years have passed. Am I too old to fulfill my original dream? Is what I am saying possible? I am 61. Krisssy

In order to get accepted to a two year program now, you will have to take all of the pre-reqs again including the science courses. The two year programs actually work out to be about three years in length.

I also think that some are misunderstanding the experience that you had as an RN back when you were working in that role. It was as a school nurse essentially, not in the world of hospitals, if I remember correctly. You are also stating that you had problems with the refresher program, so teaching nursing students would not be something even to consider as others have mentioned here.

It has nothing to do with age, but the length of time that it has been since you were in the role of an RN. Refresher programs do not always work for all, they can work for some. But you already tried that route and it did not work for you. You are talking of being away from nursing for more than 35 years; things are so very different now. And yes, you would be starting over if that is something that you wish to do, it can be done.

suzanne4, RN · Feb 21, 2009

For others that are reading here, attending nursing school now is not the issue at all. And yes, there are many that are so-called older students. But they are that, students.

Suggesting that someone that has been away from the field for more than 35 years and never worked in a hospital setting should be teaching just does not make any sense to me. And if they are stating that they had issues with a refresher program and then wish to attend school again, that is something completely different from wanting to teach nurses.

You cannot teach if you do not have the skills in that area.