Am I too old to become an RN??

Nursing Students LPN-RN

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Hi, I'm 32 years old going on 33 I'm a few months. I'm an LVN in California. I'd like to go back to school to "challenge" myself & get that RN title. I'm happy with my accomplishments so far and my work & hourly wages. But inside, i just want to get that extra piece of the pie since it's available for the taking.

The bridge LVN-RN or LVN-BSN are all available at the public colleges, they require the prerequisites, which at this point will take me over a year to get, that's not including the other extra year of school.

Since my aim is to get that RN title for my own accomplishments, i don't mind if it's ADN or BSN. At this point, i might as well go to a private school for my ADN, which will take less time than a public school.

But by the time I'm done, I'll be 35 years old. Am i too old to go back to school? Will i be too old to get the RN title by then?

Just thoughts, thanks for reading.;)

Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

Don't listen to the naysayers. I once thought I was "too old" for nursing school at the ripe old age of 35, but I did it anyway and graduated at 38. Best thing I ever did for myself and my family, even though my career was cut short by personal issues that forced me to retire at 55. And while you're at it, get your BSN. It opens many more doors than the ADN. Go for it!

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Not at all. There were several LPN to RN students in my program, some were in their 50s and I believe one was over 60. They all graduated on time and they were excellent resources for us "nurslings" throughout school. I panicked during my ED sim but my LPN partner knew exactly what to do and talked me through everything. She was great!

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Specializes in critical care, ER,ICU, CVSURG, CCU.
Hi, I'm 32 years old going on 33 I'm a few months. I'm an LVN in California. I'd like to go back to school to "challenge" myself & get that RN title. I'm happy with my accomplishments so far and my work & hourly wages. But inside, i just want to get that extra piece of the pie since it's available for the taking.

The bridge LVN-RN or LVN-BSN are all available at the public colleges, they require the prerequisites, which at this point will take me over a year to get, that's not including the other extra year of school.

Since my aim is to get that RN title for my own accomplishments, i don't mind if it's ADN or BSN. At this point, i might as well go to a private school for my ADN, which will take less time than a public school.

But by the time I'm done, I'll be 35 years old. Am i too old to go back to school? Will i be too old to get the RN title by then?

Just thoughts, thanks for reading.;)

nO you are not to old, I'm 68, that's too old, best wishes

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Dear Bananerz84,

I don't think your question is crazy, by any means. Based on my interpretation of what you've written, you are a good candidate to get your registered nursing degree. I would go the LVN-BSN route; you can likely do much of it online, and also part-time if that works better for you.

As a third-career nurse, I must say that I think I started nursing too late in life, and am now facing changes that do not suit working as an older nurse. I don't mean 45, 50, or 55, but 60!

Best of luck. You seem like you'll be perfect, and the field of nursing will be lucky to have you.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

You're not too old, but please rethink the private college especially if its very expensive as most are! Student loans are the worst debt out there and I would avoid them like the plague or at least keep them to the absolute minimum. I went to a private ADN program and graduated with $22,000 in debt back in 93 that took me over 20 years to pay off. I was making $13 hour as a new grad, twice my previous pay as a secretary but the student loans really dragged me down and with rent and a car payment took over half my income. I ended up not paying them off in ten years, took deferments a couple times because of health issues and money issues. I hate to think how much money on interest I wasted. For years I regretted the loans and wondered if I was really any better off financially when I had to write the loan check each month. I'm so grateful and relieved to finally be free of them!

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Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.

The age thing is going to be extremely personal. I don't think any one person can tell you whether you're too old or not- that's going to be a personal decision involving where you are in life and what your ultimate goals are. I'm 35. I don't think I'm too old to go back to school and get the next level degree (doctorate), but my goals don't require me to do so.

I will go against the grain and say that a private school isn't necessarily a bad idea, as long as it's one that is well respected, affordable, and not a predatory for-profit school. I think a lot of people automatically combine "private" with the "predatory for-profit". I attended a private school for my initial pre-licensure BSN degree, and it was actually less expensive than the public state schools at full price, I was given a 1/3 tuition scholarship for my high school academics, and the program has a very good local reputation.

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You're not too old, but please rethink the private college especially if its very expensive as most are! Student loans are the worst debt out there and I would avoid them like the plague or at least keep them to the absolute minimum. I went to a private ADN program and graduated with $22,000 in debt back in 93 that took me over 20 years to pay off. I was making $13 hour as a new grad, twice my previous pay as a secretary but the student loans really dragged me down and with rent and a car payment took over half my income. I ended up not paying them off in ten years, took deferments a couple times because of health issues and money issues. I hate to think how much money on interest I wasted. For years I regretted the loans and wondered if I was really any better off financially when I had to write the loan check each month. I'm so grateful and relieved to finally be free of them!

One of the schools i have an appt with is cal state university in Fullerton and that's the LVN-BSN route and that's a public university. That would take me 3 years including my prerequisites time. My husband is very supportive and says he's okay with the public or private route. Thanks for the input, I'll keep this in mind.

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I don't understand why people are so cranky about this question. As Rose Queen pointed out, age is personal. Asking if you're "too old" for something is really just looking for things that you're not considering that other people have. Trying to figure out if you're missing something. It's the knowing that you don't know what you don't know, isn't it? There are lots of factors that play into furthering your education, not *just* having the RN at the end of the line - things like the process to getting that RN.

Anyway - school is tough is get back into when you've been out for a while, but I've found (at 37), when you want something bad enough, you get it done. I'll be graduating when I'm 40. Good luck.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

You'll turn 35 whether or not you become an RN, so why not?

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
You haven't the slightest idea on the struggles I've dealt with, let's get that clear.

My way of expressing myself in writing has nothing to do with what type of Nurse i am. Nor my ability to adapt. How I may analyze a situation, nor how I may assess a situation and decide the best outcome resolution. And definitely not how I perform as a Nurse.

i'm too much of this and that to to be an RN???? I mean let's be honest, just look at the way you express yourself, same thing can be said about you. As I am expressing myself online....well you sound bitter as hell and get off your high horse. I've seen the best of RNs and the worse of RNs, and I can tell you for a fact that if You can be an RN then so can I.

I'm more than aware about the struggles people go through.

But I also know myself, and I make it work one way or another. I challenge myself even when I know it's not easy. If I see RN being part of my accomplishments then it will be done with dedication and focus.

You just very eloquently answered your own question here! Good luck.

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If you had written that you were 55 or 65, I could see wondering if you are too old. The reality is that you are never too old to do anything in life. We are as young or as old as we decide to be in life. Go ahead and get what you need or want out of life. The time is going to pass anyway. Do you want to risk turning 36 and regretting that you had not gotten the career-enhancing BSN?

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Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.

Good grief we have a tough crowd here today!!!!! OP it seems as though your mind is made up. It can be scary to think of going back to school again in your 30's. I get it. I am going back to eventually do my NP. Need to finish RN-BSN first. I'll be in my 40's by the time I finish NP. However, you're already a LVN and in the profession, this will already give you a huge advantage. You got this! It's far more normal for older peeps in college now with so many people going for second careers. Besides no way I would have had the patience fresh out of HS.

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