Too late to be a nurse?

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Hello everyone,

Thank you for reading my questions. I am turning 59 in two weeks and really want to be a nurse. Practically speaking, is it possible for me to be too old to learn the skills I'll need? And too old to be hired somewhere? Thank you for any advice - your points of view are invaluable to me right now.

Thanks Medicalpartisan - I agree about the importance of being certain that I'm physically and mentally able to take it on. My former career was highly demanding (I was a documentary filmmaker for National Geo) and I've stayed in shape physically.

Mentally, nursing is also going to be demanding I realize as I've been scanning online resources regarding nursing requirements. I've actually decided upon Physical Therapy doctorate, as it's a little bit lighter regarding coursework.

But ultimately, the biggest hurdle is a financial one. A lot of people are warning me about debt. I'm balancing being positive and still staying practical. I will do all I can to get grants and scholarships and low-interest loans. The clock is ticking, but my heart is still beating too. I'm not giving up until all doors are closed.

Thank you and everyone else on the Site for lending your advice. I will continue to try and realize my dream.

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I became a nurse in my early 40's, the class before mine had a wife and husband in their mid 50's. Like most of the post it is never too late to learn. And I have never had a problem with employment. The willingness to learn is what has helped me and being willing to take chances by changing jobs to get more experience and training. Wishing you the best as you take on a new adventure of learning and becoming a Nurse.

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Go for it! I'm 45 going into my sophomore year. Also a second career for me. If I'm ill and in need of care, I don't care what the age of the nurse is as long as he or she exhibits the competence and compassion required to get me through it.

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what you talking about,age..it's nothing but a number.the retirement age keeps going up.but as of now.you've got a solid 15 yrs in the workforce i'm 29 and i'm the youngest in my class for an LPN program.so don't say tomorrow do it today and you'll never say you wish you did..

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At the tender age of 24 I felt like i was starting to late (whattttttttt) i work for a company that deal with prescription benefits and spoke to this one member who was so excited to tell me she just graduated with her asn degree at SIXTYYYYYY she shut me right on up. My dear friend you are the only one who can limit what you do IT IS NEVER TOO LATE

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I will say this to the OP if you want to be a nurse be a nurse don't be a PT because the educational plan works better for you. I'm living proof of that same decision gone bad.

In 1972 I wanted to be a nurse but it was easier to get into physical therapy. I did my pre requisites and got accepted into PT one semester into the program I hated it. I settled because it was easier. I dropped out of PT and finished college with enough science credits to be a HS biology teacher and that's what I did.

If I had it to do all over again....well here I am on allnurses so you know what I would have done:-)

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I'll be 51 when I complete my BSN.

i'm the oldest. But it is ok! I'm "get tin' her done" as Larry The Camle Guy says.

I graduated with an AS for medical assisting 3 yrs ago. My class mate was 63 when we finished. I had better grades, but he found a job 1st n actually helped me find employment. You can do this!

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Figured I should post to the boards eventually and this is a great post to start....everyone in most my classes are the same ages as my daughters basically saying I'm one of the older students....just turned 52. My last 3 pre refs to finish and I will start in the program and most likely the oldest again.....moving to denver for school up there and luckily I will be able to go to school full time and not have to work much my fiancée is bankrolling school for me....anyways I digress....I study a lot, I got my cna and pct which includes or, EKG, phlebotomy, NG tubes, enemas, Foleys etc and medical billing and coding cert, while taking pre reqs and working 30hrs a week....I just know that if I did this when I was in college after high school I would have quit cause it is a ton of work and it's hard sometimes. I think life experience, parenthood, working, military, etc helps a ton. In denver I also plan to get my med license and try to get certified in psych while going to school...everything will help...Anyways.....we can do this....

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
Well as we know age is just a number; if you are physically, and mentally healthy and if it something you want to do badly....go for it..... if you need self-actualization. However, when I look at the trends in employment. It is very difficult for older experienced nurses to obtain employment....I don't know how and older person would fare as a new grad.The economic downturn may put a damper on the number of opportunities available, but you can also create your own job if you have the capital, and the resources.

Older experienced nurses have more difficulty finding a job because they're at the top of their pay scale and management doesn't want to pay top dollar when they could hire two new grads for the same money than because they're older. An older new grad would be the perfect job candidate: maturity and life experience at the bottom of the pay scale!

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
Thanks Medicalpartisan - I agree about the importance of being certain that I'm physically and mentally able to take it on. My former career was highly demanding (I was a documentary filmmaker for National Geo) and I've stayed in shape physically.

Mentally, nursing is also going to be demanding I realize as I've been scanning online resources regarding nursing requirements. I've actually decided upon Physical Therapy doctorate, as it's a little bit lighter regarding coursework.

But ultimately, the biggest hurdle is a financial one. A lot of people are warning me about debt. I'm balancing being positive and still staying practical. I will do all I can to get grants and scholarships and low-interest loans. The clock is ticking, but my heart is still beating too. I'm not giving up until all doors are closed.

Thank you and everyone else on the Site for lending your advice. I will continue to try and realize my dream.

A DPT is lighter in coursework than a BSN? Who knew?

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A DPT is lighter in coursework than a BSN? Who knew?

I guess I don't know. You are right. It certainly isn't. Thanks I stand corrected!

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I became a LVN at the age of 64. I was a medical assistant for twenty years. My son was diagnosed with testicular cancer and I was his care taker. I did everything an RN would do for his care. We live out in the country and the RN that was assigned to his case was fired. The agency said, they didn't have anyone to come to our house. Needless to say, I took over!

Monalisa

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