Am I too old to be an RN.... or should I just stay an LPN?

[Nurse Beth]

Dear Unsure,

I would be the last person to discourage any form of education for anyone, anytime. Education is a life-long pursuit, and as a bonus, it keeps you young!

Should you go for your RN or just stay an LPN? Is becoming an RN your dream? Are self-doubts holding you back? Avoid making decisions based on fear. What are your loved ones telling you?

We each have only one lifetime to either go for our dreams or talk ourselves out of them. There's no reason to put the I'm too old restriction on yourself.

After all, Hillary Clinton is running for President of the United States and she's 67 years old, right?

As with every choice, there are factors to be considered. Ageism in the marketplace exists. Some Nursing Jobs require physical stamina. It will be a matter of finding the right place for you.

The good thing is that you are known and already have connections in the nursing world. That is golden when you go to look for a job. When you do find your spot, you will bring a wealth of life experience to the role.

Deep inside, you already know the answer to your question, and it will not leave you with regret.

There are many nurses on the site here who have stories of becoming an RN later in life, and hopefully they will share their experiences.

Best wishes!

Nurse Beth

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I suppose I'm the lone voice of disagreement here, but we do not know precisely how old the OP is. Personally, I wouldn't want to be burdened with intractable student loan debt into my 60s and 70s. I wouldn't want to be busting my butt, rolling heavy patients, and pushing a medication cart around in my 60s and 70s, either.

If the OP can continue her education cheaply, I'd say go for it. This is not a decision to take lightly. Good luck to him/her!

[thenightnurse456]

I'm a nurse in medical school.

I never let a number dictate what I can and can't achieve in life.

[NavyPooh65]

Hello..

I'm a long way from becoming a nurse. I'm 49 and start classes in August to become an RN! Age is a number!

[OldnurseRN]

I stand by what I originally posted. No, you are not too old to become a nurse but, what I said is you will have a difficult time getting hired. I have many many years in and after losing a position due to surgery I had to go traveling to make a living. No one wanted an old nurse! When I just plain got tired of being away from my family, that includes a husband, children, grandchildren AND great-grandchildren, I came home and tried absolutely everywhere. My experience was ER, Oncology, and Med-Surg, along with psychiatric nursing. I've worked as a traveler at Johns Hopkins, Texas Children, some of the BEST facilities and I got nothing. Now I am in LTC. At my age this is killing me! Understaffed overworked with heavy immobile residents. Unless you are in some fabulous Utopian place you WILL encounter the silent age discrimination. They will sing praises over your resume until that face-to-face and then you will likely get that form letter of rejection. Ugly truth, isn't it?

[vuphan86]

One of my classmate will turn in 58 when he graduates from nursing program. he shares his story in front of the class on the first day in nursing school that, " I never give up on my dream even though it takes me 5 years to get into the nursing program. if tomrrow is my last day, i will still try my best to achieve my dream." i hope this real story helps you.

[walterh]

Go for it! I'm 62 and have been a RN for over 30 years. I bet your practical knowledge easily outstrips any new grad and you are, and will be an asset anywhere you work. Here in New England, most LPNs I know do essentially the same work as RNs but don't get paid for it. The two years of school will pass by quickly and may be tough (I personally don't do well with formal education.) but those 2 years will pass no matter what you do.

Good luck, Walter Hobbs RN, BSN

[Lee J A]

Go get'em girl!!!!

[roofrn]

I got my RN license in my 50s, and I was NOT the oldest person in my class who passed the NCLEX that year. If you have energy, are organized and passionate about taking your nursing career to a new level, go for it. You will need to strategize about the most efficient way to go from LPN to RN, whether you want a BS or an AS degree. But there is no reason not to if you really want it. I have encountered older nurses who are still working in their 70s, maybe not doing the hardest med/surg, ICU or OP jobs, but still active and giving their expertise to patients in need.

[Mikayla13]

I have more than 40 years of nursing experience. I started out as an LPN and worked for 17 years before going back to get my RN. I have been working in case management since 1996. I am constantly receiving offers for new positions, almost weekly. The baby boomers are retiring, so, there should be plenty of opportunity for RN's. Good luck.

[Mikayla13]

With all of the great experience you have, have you ever considered case management? If you have basic computer skills, many insurance companies, Anthem, Kaiser, Dignity Health, may be willing to train you? Good luck.

[SororAKS, ADN, RN]

Age is a number. Go for it!

[sychnurz]

I went to school to become an RN when I was nearly 50. I knew nothing at all about nursing except what I'd seen on tv and very limited contact with hospital nurses. I graduated when I was 53, passed boards on the second try and never looked back! Go for it, if it's something that you really want! Best of luck and all good wishes!