Am I too old to go to nursing school and into a nursing career?

Nurses General Nursing

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Thinking about going into the nursing profession with no nursing credentials. Have desgrees in chemistry, been in industry, teaching, retail most recently. what are the facts? realistic for me to do this? cost? i'm 58 yo. anyone else enter nursing field at that time of life?

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Specializes in Cardiology, Oncology, Medsurge.

OOPs double post...:-(

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Specializes in Cardiology, Oncology, Medsurge.
thinking about going into the nursing profession with no nursing credentials. have desgrees in chemistry, been in industry, teaching, retail most recently. what are the facts? realistic for me to do this? cost? i'm 58 yo. anyone else enter nursing field at that time of life?

i would encourage you to go back to school and become a nurse. don't let age be a hindrance. we need nurses of all age groups. your understanding of chemistry is a definite plus and rather than persuing an md you're smart to chose nursing. the longer you work the more healthier you'll be. and besides, this field is so fun to be in...i just love the diverse approaches nurses have to treating their patients.

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Specializes in ER then CVICU now.

As long as you have life, it is never too late to do anything you want to do.

Good luck!

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Specializes in being a Credible Source.

I think it's realistic. You've got a strong science background which is a real plus and your experience as a teacher is a benefit.

Cost? Well, it really depends on where you are and whether you go private or public and whether you go to a CC or a university.

I'm in CA and our CC costs are $20 per unit. My program costs at the university are about $2100 per semester for five semesters. Books cost a ton. You're probably safe budgeting $600 per semester for books but it will depend on how well you bargain shop and just what's required in your program.

You'll also have to buy uniforms and a bit of equipment.

The real question is to you: Do you think you're too old? If so, why?

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

I urge you to think about it carefully before you invest in a nursing education at your age. In particular, explore the job opportunities for new graduates in your area and be sure they appeal to you. A lot of "mature" people enter nursing thinking they can by-pass the entry level jobs and imagine only a career that only includes jobs usually held by nurses with a few years of experience. Some of those entry level jobs require physical fitness that you might not have in your 60's -- which is how old you will be when you start actually practicing.

I am 52 years old and can't imagine doing the work of a staff nurse at my age -- though a lot of people do it. My bad knees, hips, and feet would require pain meds all the time and the stress on them would probably increase my chances of needing joint replacement surgery. Also, the 12-hour shifts and rotating shifts would be hard on my general health -- and I don't think it would be good for my high blood pressure or pre-diabetic conditions. My body is not the same as it was when I was in my 20's and yours probably isn't either.

If you can count on remaining strong and healthy -- and are prepared to work the types of jobs that will be available to you as a new grad -- and don't mind being taught and supervised by people in their 20's -- then go for it. But be sure you have investigated it thoroughly before you make the investment. Some people start their careers late in life and are happy with their decision -- but I have also met a lot of people who are not happy with that decision after they realize that their "fantasy careers" don't match well with the realities of being on the bottom rung of the nursing career ladder at that stage of life.

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If you feel motivated enough to go to school then you should do great. I will (hopefully) be 37 when I finish nursing school and I have a lab partner that told me she will be 50 when she finishes. Do not let anything get in the way of your dreams. Good luck.

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Specializes in ob/gyn med /surg.

in my program we had a 65 year old man. i thought he was pretty gutsy and he is now working in icu. he was young at heart. go for it..

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
Thinking about going into the nursing profession with no nursing credentials. Have desgrees in chemistry, been in industry, teaching, retail most recently. what are the facts? realistic for me to do this? cost? i'm 58 yo. anyone else enter nursing field at that time of life?

Age is a state of mind. We have a nurse that works in our OR that is on the verge of turning 69. Although she's been a nurse since she was 21, the fact is that she's still working. Sharp as a tack, great nurse, i requested her as the circulator for a procedure i had done back in March. And she plans on working until she just can't physically do it anymore. She can retire, she's financially set to, but she just doesn't want to.

And i feel very sorry for the person who would even think of telling her she's too old....wooooo:lol2:

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

I would never discourage anyone from becoming a nurse. However, I think it is an individual decision once you get a little older. I'm 49 and can still do 12 hour shifts which realistically mean no breaks, a 5 minute bathroom break here and there and eating on the run. However, I am tired afterwards too. My entire reason to go back to grad school was to have options for when I get older. I will have to work until 70 and don't see many staff nurses past 60 or so.

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Specializes in Med Surg, Hospice.

I'll be 46 when I finish my LPN program, and probably close to 50 by the time I finish my RN program. This is something I've wanted my whole life, but I was stupid in my 20's and let people talk me out of going into Nursing. I'm just glad I woke up and smelled the proverbial coffee. I don't care what age I am when I graduate. My instructor just told us in clinicals last week that a woman graduated from college with a Bachelor's at 90, and now she's going on for her Master's. If you really want to do it, then go for it.

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Go for it! I just graduated & passed my RN Nclex & I am 49. My friend did the same & she is 58. Our graduating class got jobs as: One went to a burn center, a few to long-term care, many to med/surg, dialysis, OR. We were all worried about jobs when we graduated as we are in a small rural area but found that there was a lot available to newbies. Many places are really supportive of new grads. Yes, school is expensive but I felt it was worth it. Good luck to you. :up:

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