Becoming a nurse later in life

World Canada

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Hello. Thanks for reading.

I'm a guy in my mid-40's thinking about becoming an RN. Am I crazy to do so? Are there others who have done so successfully?

My education background is a bit odd to be considering this. In the very early 90's I became an electronics technologist. Since then I have continuously taking both classroom and distance learning courses in technology and business. For about the past 15 years I have been involved in business development related to technology.

I will complete a bachelor's degree in 2016 (Technology Management).

I've been thinking long and hard about a serious career change. One that I get to work with and help people. Coupling that with something that involves science and technology brought my mind to becoming a nurse.

Looking into how I could make this happen, I have looked into Bachelor of Nursing Accelerated Track (BNAT) program at University of Calgary, the Bachelor of Nursing - After Degree at University of Lethbridge, and the Master of Science (Applied) in Nursing - Direct-Entry at McGill.

For any of these programs, I would need to do some prerequisite work before being accepted. However, knowing myself I feel pretty confident that I can get into them.

Does anyone know if there have been people my age that have successfully graduated from one of these programs or similar – and been working after?

Any and all opinions are welcome J Thanks.

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

Lol no worries. I was 38 when I started. The oldest in my class was 54. I precepted a student that was 59.

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

Do yourself a favor first. Shadow a nurse for 12 hours. (And I mean 12 hours straight) taking every step he/ she takes. Being mindful of every decision and action.

I work with many 2nd degree nurses who never bothered to see what nursing is actually like before they took such and expensive, life-altering plunge.

And you're certainly not too old. Just a caution to do your due diligence first.

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I turn 40 in July, and my program starts in August. I'm doing an accelerated masters program for non-nurses. Yes, we can do this.

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I didn't know you can do a accelerated program to get your masters for non nursing

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I went back to school for nursing at age 47 after many years in an entirely different field. Now I'm 54 and enrolled in a DNP program. You'll be in good company :)

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Regarding shadowing:

This sounds like a very excellent idea. I'm going to look into this now.

It is a very life-altering plunge. While I am fairly confident of the answer to the question of "can I?" the question of "should I?" is less clear. This sounds like a good way to get an answer to that.

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I didn't know you can do a accelerated program to get your masters for non nursing

From what I have read there is only one program in Canada at McGill.

Master of Science (Applied) in Nursing - Direct-Entry | Ingram School of Nursing - McGill University

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I didn't know you can do a accelerated program to get your masters for non nursing

I'm doing the CNL program at AU in Georgia.

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Do your due diligence regarding employment opportunities in your area. If you have a family to support, it might not be wise to incur debt for a nursing degree only to find that employment is difficult to obtain or maintain. If I had known what the employment outlook was for nursing, I never would have pursued the career change in my early 40's.

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Which province do you intend to work in? Is McGill the only university in Canada that has direct entry masters of nursing program? If so, is it because Quebec has different licensing requirements for RNs than other Canadian provinces do?

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OK, reality check.

The Alberta job market isn't great.

You will be close to 50 when you graduate. Many Alberta nurses retire at 55-58 with their pensions.

You will be a new grad competing with other new grads. Are you willing to work as a casual for 2-3 years with no benefits or pension rights? Can you afford to do this?

AHS and it's affiliates use seniority as a determining factor for hiring for permanent lines. They also look at how long you will be there for them.

The reality is yes you can do it academically. Getting hired isn't that easy. A 50yo v. a 32yo? They will go with the younger nurse every time because of the investment they make in you hiring. Are you willing to go to the bottom of the vacation/seniority totem pole and wind up working most stats and working every other weekend? Can you adapt to rotating shift?

People aren't appreciative of the help we give them, over the two decades I've been nursing in Alberta, the patients have become more demanding and have great senses of entitlement. They see only themselves. They want what they want when they want it and they are not reluctant to tell you that they pay your wages.

With your background have you looked into the technology of healthcare equipment and it's maintenance.

Nursing isn't rosy and it isn't ugly. But if you think in this province it's a safe, stable job with people who will be greatful for you care, you are coming in for the wrong reason.

The further north you go in this province the needier and more entitled the patient population. Frequent flies from Fort Mac, GP and the fly in reserves are common in the larger hospitals.

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