Questioning about starting all over again at 50+

[iwanna]

I went through my local OVR office to check about returning to work. I am an LPN and have not worked since June 2004. I have Sarcoidosis, a chronic illness with periods of exacerbations and remissions. I believe that I now have it under control with my meds. I have been stable for almost 2 years now.

My counselor at OVR suggested that I get my RN. I was shocked and said I would love it, if they would pay for it. And, that I almost had my RN in the past and it shouldn't take me that long to get it. He told me to get a letter from my dr. why she believed that getting an RN would be more beneficial than working more physcial positions with my LPN. There are more opportunities for the RN vs LPN. The only jobs in my local area are in nursing homes. I was estatic that day.

Then, I called around to nursing schools, including the one I attended in the past. I was broken-hearted to learn that I would have to repeat all of my science courses over again. A&P, Micro, etc. I could understand the clinical nursing aspect of it. But, anatomy has not changed! I was hoping that I would only need to take challenge exams. And, the school I attended in the past wants me to get 3 reference letters for interview to get into nursing school, again. I am definitely not returning there. That really irked me. The director of the nursing school was my clinical instructor. I liked her, and she liked me. I felt like I got a slap in the face from her.

I guess that I had waited too long to get back in. I did not realize that it had been so long. I left the RN program back in 1996. My college courses were in 93-94. So, they are too old for anyone to accept.

It looks like if I am lucky the earliest I will get back into school is fall of 2009. I am 51 now, so I will be about 54 when I am done. I don't know if I want to go through it all, again. I definitely do not want to do bedside nursing. Of course, that is the point of me getting my RN. I realize that I would have to get through my clinicals. I believe that I could handle that. I would like to work in drug & alcohol. I have worked in that as an LPN. Also, I think that I would be interested in home health or hospice where there is only one patient at a time.

Am I nuts for even considering this again? For the past week, I said forget it, that I am too old. But, today I am thinking that if they pay for it, why not? Financially, I should be working now. But, in the long run, I will be making more money, later. And, I can still collect my SSDI while going to school.

[iwanna]

Epona -Yes, I decided definitely not to attempt RN training, again. I know what you mean about it being tough in RN school. It was very intense and difficult back in my late 30's. I can only imagine what it would be like now. I made it quite far in my program back then. And, I had fears of making it that far again, and to fail at the end. It would be so frustrating and devastating, a second time. At least, I was at a point where I could transfer into LPN course.

My sister has dubbed me "the professional student". Unfortunately, I don't posess the degree that someone with four plus years of schooling would have. I started out to be a medical office assistant when I was 34 and graduated at 36. I was shocked when I graduated and went on job interviews. At that time, medical assistants were making just a hair above minimum wage and no benefits. So, I decided to go on to be an RN. I was a single mother of two school-aged children. And, I was 39, by the time I was done. I get mad when I think about 5 years of training to end up in a profession that only takes one year. Funny, I had someone try to talk me out of going for an MOA and that LPN was the way to go. But, I heard that LPNs were being phased out. Why did I not listen to her? Oh well, shoulda, coulda, woulda is senseless. I can't change it now.

Transplant nurse- I am on it. I called my OVR counselor and told him that is the route that I want to go, if I don't get job soon. He told me that they may help me with some of it. I already have an ASB degree from the local business school for medical office assistant. They won't pay for another degree, but will help me with some costs. I really don't think that I would need a degree program. As, I already have the medical courses down pat. I would just need to take the clerical part of it. I'm hoping it that it is just a matter of taking a few classes and being able to certify. Do you know how long it took her for training?

I did just apply for a position at hospital for an abstract coder. However, I highly doubt that I would get position. But, I thought tht I would give it a shot. It did post that an LPN with a minimum of three years experience in healthcare would qualify. For this position, though, I would hire someone with more clerical background. Although, I did have a very brief intro to coding in my MOA course.

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

In what state do you practice? http://www.excelsior.edu might be the solution for you.

[Rad Student]

I have also been called a professional student, but it's not by choice! The jobs for life disappeared just about the time I earned my BA, so I never got one, and now no one does. Due to no safety net in the US, we are forced into that position.

[caliotter3]

If you can't get into a stay at home position right away then try home health. Your previous experience qualifies you. Most of the time I have seen provisions made for older nurses who could not do heavy transfers, etc. You only have one patient at a time for shift work (which I recommend over intermittent visits) and you can work as few or as many days during the week as you want. Sometimes you can get a very easy case where you do little more than monitor a peds case while they sleep at night . Some trach and g tube care and/or monitoring the vent might be involved. But this is far less strenous that accepting a full load in an acute setting. Good luck in your future endeavors. Please keep us posted.

[iwanna]

I have thought about home health/hospice, but I don't have med-surg background. I have worked mainly in behavioral health. Although, I did work, geri-psych, but we were not a medical facility. We would send our pts. to local hospital when needed. We did minimal med-surg. I have had some pts. with g-tube. And, it's awful that I don't remember much. It seems like it was so long, ago. It has been six years since I worked geri-psych. I have thought about applying to different agencies such as Maxim.