Am I too late to start?

Lissette Vega Alvarez · Dec 4, 2020

It’s NEVER too late for anything!! I went back to college at 40 after being self employed for 20 years and having been in the military...I graduated in May with a 3.97 GPA in Psychology, and was just accepted into Emory University for the accelerated MN. It will take me 15 months to get my masters and RN since I already have one degree, and then I’ll continue on to get my NP. The time you take from your kids to better yourself will also better their future and yours! If you have a 4 year degree already you can search for Accelerated BSN or MN programs and be a nurse in a year. Good luck!

SeasonedOne, RN · Dec 4, 2020

First of all, it is never too late to make life changes. That said, it is also good to enter into those changes with your eyes open. So here are some thoughts.

Since you are considering a start as an LVN you are likely in TX, CA or NY. (LPN in all other states.) A one year LVN program can be considered vocational (credits don't usually carry over to college programs) or affiliated with a community college (credits may be progressive with ASN, BSN, MSN). It also is a good way to get your feet wet in the profession if you aren't sure. These days LVNs work in LTC, some Hospitals, MD offices and Home Health. So schedule flexibility is available. Job availability can very depending on the area. Starting off as an LVN will give you valuable work experience if you want to pursue an RN in the future. If you have the financial and time option a 2 year Associate RN position might be something else to consider.

Nursing is not for the faint of heart even when we don't have a pandemic to deal with. Being able to function, make decisions, have empathy, stay calm while all around you is going crazy is needed. Some days are just routine without the drama. There can be great joys, extreme sadness, and times when you question why you are there. Did you do it right? Questioning keeps you sharp and on top of things. Being able to adjust and ride the nursing roller coaster is a skill that you will have to master. People skills are a must! Grumpy doctors, distraught families, surly patients can be a challenge. You have to be open to constructive criticism and learning every day. You won't have all the answers. What you learn in school is a small fraction of what you learn in your career. You can work independently but ultimately you are part of a team. That provides support and sometimes frustration like any position would. It can be the best place or the worst place depending on the day. Your responsible for the lives and well-being of those you care for. You are a patient advocate. And sometimes that means guiding decisions or stepping back on subjects that you don't agree with, but a course your patient chooses to pursue. It can be frustrating to just 'let it go'. Above all you have to be an ethical person who can leave their views at the door and do what is right for those in your care. And you will work with some of the most awesome people that could walk into your life.

Years ago when I started, I was told on my first day of LPN school that I was going to be a nurse 24/7. My world shifted from a worker in a job to being a professional nurse that had expectations. People expect you to know what to do in crises. They expect you to hold in confidence their most intimate secrets without judgement. As a nurse you approach decision making differently looking at all options and possible outcomes. Nursing can provide a good living with a variety of opportunities. Nurses make their decisions because they care about people, community, and a healthy world.

If your eye are open, go on and take the leap! The sky's the limit!

Brittany DeLong · Dec 5, 2020

As I mentioned I have zero college. So the RN program would require prior college wouldn't it? To be accepted based on GPA. I graduated HS 15 years ago and my GPA was not stellar but that is because I had very little motivation as a HS student. Now I am determined and more motivated than ever.

That being said I have mmassive experience in working with people. I bartender for 5 years and have been working with surly sales reps in a male dominated profession. Handling people is kinda my thing. I am empathic but have no problems telling it like it is. I love connecting with people and really want to feel like I've made a difference to someone. Yes I am located in TX and job availability isn't really an issue as I live in one of the larger cities and just south of another large city. (San Antonio and Austin)

Lissette Vega Alvarez · Dec 5, 2020

The Accelerated BSN or MN degree is based on previous college, not the RN itself. In some states you can do your RN in 2 years by getting an associate degree, and in others it’s 4 years for a BSN. The NCLEX is what will give you an RN license so look into the requirements for your state as far as the amount of schooling required to get you where you want to be. In NY RNs who have an associates degree are being required to get a BSN so things are changing by state.

Your grades in high school also don’t matter after a certain age. Some colleges will require you to take placement exams and others won’t, I didn’t have to. If your state offers the RN with an associates degree you can then complete your BSN online as long as you are licensed because your clinicals will be done.

NewPathForMe · Dec 5, 2020

Definitely not too late. Im 36 finishing prereqs now. The time is going to pass anyway, in 4 years you'll be 37 either way with or without a nursing degree so mind as well just go for it. You'll be glad you did!

cieethekid · Dec 5, 2020

I just met a PT who is on his way to completing his RN at 51 years old. So, start. It is never too late to better yourself. You got this mama.

whalestales, ASN, RN · Dec 5, 2020

22 hours ago, Brittany DeLong said:

As I mentioned I have zero college. So the RN program would require prior college wouldn't it? To be accepted based on GPA. I graduated HS 15 years ago and my GPA was not stellar but that is because I had very little motivation as a HS student. Now I am determined and more motivated than ever.

21 hours ago, Lissette Vega Alvarez said:

Your grades in high school also don’t matter after a certain age. Some colleges will require you to take placement exams and others won’t, I didn’t have to. If your state offers the RN with an associates degree you can then complete your BSN online as long as you are licensed because your clinicals will be done.

I would check your local community colleges. I know the one I am at currently offers "life credits" Or other similarly named programs that take your previous work experience to count toward credits. You might be able to knock off some marketing or business classes, and maybe public speaking! A lot of 2 year RN programs end up being 4 years because they require pre-requisites like English, math, sciences, public speaking, etc. These would also allow you to get a good GPA for the program, and a lot of community colleges offer evening classes so you can keep working and being with your kids.

Or as you mentioned you can try an LVN program which would only take 1 year.

Regarding your age, as previously mentioned people start nursing school at all ages! One of my classmates is in her 50s. I don't remember the exact quote I like on starting things new, but it was something like "If you worry about starting a degree now and being 45 when it ends, you are going to turn 45 regardless. Why not be 45 with a degree and a job you love?"

Good luck!

KalipsoRed21, BSN, RN · Dec 6, 2020

I don’t think it is ever to late to start and I would say becoming an LVN is a great way to start. What you are going to hear is all the reasons to go ahead and get an RN with an ADN or an RN. I say don’t. Get an LVN and find a job and do it for a year. If you like it the. Consider going to a two year program and getting an ADN. If you live in a rural or smaller city there will still be plenty of work for an LVN, you will make a decent wage and you can get a real taste for nursing without shelling out a ton of money. ADNs and BSNs make similar amounts as far as money goes. The BS will just give you a better opportunity to get into the business and management side of things if that is where you find yourself going. Good luck!

EmoryAMN2021 · Dec 7, 2020

3 hours ago, KalipsoRed21 said:

I don’t think it is ever to late to start and I would say becoming an LVN is a great way to start. What you are going to hear is all the reasons to go ahead and get an RN with an ADN or an RN. I say don’t. Get an LVN and find a job and do it for a year. If you like it the. Consider going to a two year program and getting an ADN. If you live in a rural or smaller city there will still be plenty of work for an LVN, you will make a decent wage and you can get a real taste for nursing without shelling out a ton of money. ADNs and BSNs make similar amounts as far as money goes. The BS will just give you a better opportunity to get into the business and management side of things if that is where you find yourself going. Good luck!

It really depends on the state and goals. In NY LPNs are being phased out and replaced with RNs, and an RN makes a lot more money besides being more employable. It isn’t expensive to get a BSN as there are plenty of affordable colleges and the return is worth the investment. It’s all up to what her goals are.

rachelalexis23 · Dec 7, 2020

It isn't too late at all!! I am 34 with 3 kids and will be graduating in may (fingers crossed) from an RN program with an associates, I would say about half my class is over 30. I also was a terrible, unmotivated student in highschool, I honestly don't think I can even remember half of highschool LOL. I was working a dead end job to make ends meet a couple of years ago, and just woke up and asked myself WHAT the hell am I doing?! I am watching these kids 10 years younger than me moving up in the world and building a better life for themselves. I allowed my fear of failure dictate my success. Most of your prerequisites can be used for other degrees or to get into other programs if you change your mind. Nursing can take you so many places, but also keep an open mind. Go to your local community colleges and see what they are offering. Ask yourself what are the things that interest you? Are you interested in learning how the human body works? Do you have a realistic idea of what nurses do? Also, if the college makes you take a placement exam and you don't do well don't sweat it! I honestly had to take all of the remedial math that they offered. I took a lot of my prerequisites as part time because I knew that would help me not feel overwhelmed and give me a better chance of getting good grades. Whatever you do, make sure you do your research and know what you are getting into. Ask other nurses what they love about their job and what they don't like. Get an idea of the different areas you can work in and how that looks with work life balance. Figure out what kind of support system you have available to you and work with that, even if that means only taking classes part time. Even if you decide not to go for nursing, please don't waste any time second guessing whether you should do something that is more fulfilling for yourself.

KalipsoRed21, BSN, RN · Dec 7, 2020

2 hours ago, EmoryAMN2021 said:

It really depends on the state and goals. In NY LPNs are being phased out and replaced with RNs, and an RN makes a lot more money besides being more employable. It isn’t expensive to get a BSN as there are plenty of affordable colleges and the return is worth the investment. It’s all up to what her goals are.

They have been trying to “phase out” LPNs for 20 years. Just as they have been trying to make BSN “the standard” for the last 15. If it costs $4K and 18 months to be an LVN (average wage $17-20 an hour) and 12-20K and 24 months to be an RN (average wage regardless of BSN or ADN is $24-30 an hour) then I would say the cost to wage benefit is justifiable for doing an LVN program. The average cost to bridge from LVN to ADN (RN) is $6-10K 1 year. The average cost to bridge from ADN to BSN is $10-30LK another year no real increase in wage unless you choose management. So if one wishes to experience nursing with the least amount of financial strain an LVN is a good option with opportunity to bridge at a later time after experience in the field, making a decent wage while going to school and actually experiencing the crap they are signing up for before spending more money. Seems like a great option to me. And as a person who went straight for a BSN and spent 47K right out of the gate, I say an LVN is way smarter financially. Especially since I am 12 years in to it, kinda hate it, and my coworkers who did progress up the ladder LVN to ADN make as much of not on occasion more than I do hourly and don’t feel as sc***ED as I do because they don’t have student loans.