Age advice!

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Long story short, my education was "sidetracked" over the years. My youngest child is 17 years old (Older kids are 25 & 23) and now I finally have true focus on myself and my goals. As far as my current education level, I completed a diploma program in Surgical Technology in 2004 and I am a few classes away from finishing my A.S. Is the age of 43 too old to pursue a CRNA career? :down:

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Moved to SRNA forum for more advice.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

If you're 43 now and are not a nurse yet, you won't be starting school at earliest until you're 46. You could be a crna by 48-49. As far as if that's too old, that's up to you. The hardest part about going back to school is lost income, lost time, and taking out loans for school.

If you plan to work until you're 65, that leaves 15 years at easily 150k / year

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Specializes in CRNA, Finally retired.

Yes, you are too old and too far behind in degrees. If you want to be an RN, then be an R.N. although I would be looking for something less physically taxing myself:)

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TEM73,

I think you should explore Anesthesia Assistant. AAs have limited roles and areas of practice, but if you love anesthesia this might be the perfect career change as an older adult.

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Specializes in CRNA, Finally retired.
TEM73,

I think you should explore Anesthesia Assistant. AAs have limited roles and areas of practice, but if you love anesthesia this might be the perfect career change as an older adult.

AAwould still require 6 years if full time study . How would the OP know know that anesthesia is even an attractive specialty? Not even a nurse yet! Also, no one is counting in the years if ICU experience he/she would need.

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