Would you recommend nursing to a 46 year old doing a career change?

Nurses Career Support

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I am a senior executive in publishing. I 've run a large research department, managed staff, and a $3 million dollars budget. I don't want to do this for another 25 years. Am I insance to consider starting over in this field? What would your concerns be?

Thanks for any comments and gudiance.

I am a senior executive in publishing. I 've run a large research department, managed staff, and a $3 million dollars budget. I don't want to do this for another 25 years. Am I insance to consider starting over in this field? What would your concerns be?

Thanks for any comments and gudiance.

If you have a passion for helping others and find an interest in nursing then I think you should investigate a career change. Check out an accelerated BSN program.

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Everyone has already given great advice. You should carefully consider this decision. I don't think that you are too old (there was a man in his sixties in my nursing class), but I do wonder why have you chosen nursing? Is this something that you have always wanted to do? Spend as much time shadowing different types of nurses as possible. Even then, be conscious that actually being a nurse has a crushing responsibility that is not experienced just by observing.

If you can think of anything else in the world that you could possibly be happy doing, I would not recommend nursing. If you find yourself drawn to nursing because of the "helping" aspect, there are lots of other helping professions out there. However, there are many people that are very happy with their nursing careers. It is very individual, but this is a difficult time for the nursing profession. Poor working environments, long hours, high acuity of patients, high patient to nurse ratios, and mediocre pay are just some of current working conditions that contribute to high stress levels. I would recommend seeing a career counselor before making your decision.

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I do not reccommend that you go into nursing.

It is a tough tough job. I am just a wee bit younger than you, and have been an RN about 1 year and 1/2 now. I know the first year or 2 are tough......but I'm ready to run screaming from this profession. The stress is overwhelming, for me at least......it's just not worth it!!

Sorry to be a downer :~(

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Specializes in Post Anesthesia.

To be honest NO!. You are used to being the person that is in charge, setting the course, evaluating others preformance. I think the sources of burnout in nursing would end your career before you paid off your student loans. Powerlessness, lack of control of the big picture, lack of respect, limited input to how your job is structured. If you had time to get some experience under your belt and then return to school for advanced training in health care management, or advanced prac. nursing your previous skills would be an asset rather that a burden but at 46- that makes you 51 with a BSN, 55 or more to get your feet on the ground, 60-65 if you return for advanced education- It dosen't sound like a good path to me- but to each his own.

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Wow...i must say...this post was an eye opener!

I am also a male...considering nursing as a second career. I have a BS...but in business not medical field. I know that nursing is stressful, but is it really that bad?

I know that some jobs have more stress than others...but i had no idea.

(sigh):cry:

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Nursing is a great opportunity if you can handle it.

Since you are a male....i think you should meet with some male nurses in your area and take them to lunch. Pick their brains. Make friends with them. It would be worth it.

Getting advice from this forum may not be the best way to make a career decision. Its important.

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No, don't do it.

If you want to help people, volunteer. But keep your nice job.

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There have been some sad responses on this post. I don't think that nurses realize the jobs they have are necessary and respected. Its a shame.

I for one....have a tremendous amount of respect for nurses. The pay is not that of a doctor...but...i can think of alot of jobs that are less satisfying much less money too.

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Specializes in ER, ICU, Education.

I second TouyFL's comments. If you are up to staring over then go for it! The last thing we should do is turn away a smart, experienced professional. Yes you will have moments of frustration and feelings of helplessness. But that would be true for any type of career change. I too had a mid life career change but I left nursing - about 4 years ago.

I am now in management, over a department, with 20 employees, and a budget that is twenty times my pay. But you know what? Nursing is less stressful and I received more job satisfaction! And I worked trauma ER and SICU for 16 years. The for-profit, business world is cut throat and merciless! That's why they call it the rat race. Sometimes we don't realize what we have (and what is REALLY important) till we leave it. I am now preparing to return to nursing.

My husband is an RN too - he also changed careers from sales/management to nursing about ten years ago and he was in his mid 40's at the time. He handles it well and at least at the end of the day he can say that his work was not for naught. In nursing school he was the best student in the class and today he is very well respected by his co workers.

The only thing to consider is that the pay will be probably significantly less then you were used too. On average an Rn with a few years experience will make $40-60K/yr depending on location.

Are you in good enough financial shape to go to school and work part time as a nursing assistant? If so I would strongly recommend it. This will tell you pretty quickly if you can do the work and handle the stress of being a care taker.

Good luck

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