OK, so I need some advice. I'm very seriously considering my second career as nursing. I'm 45, and am very successful in a marketing position. I'm burned out and have always wanted to be a nurse. My background is business. I have some college level science, but I pulled my transcripts and need to take about 8 courses to get my prelims in. I'm enrolled in classes this spring, will still be working full time and am nervous about balancing work and school. My husband is very supportive, and wants me to do what makes me happy. My goal is to enroll in a masters for non-nursing in Summer of 2012. I'll graduate with a masters and can take the RN test. Am I too old to do this? I would graduate in late 2013 ( six semester program) at age 48.
Would really appreciate any advice and if I can realistically have a second career at nursing at this age.
I am male and started nursing school at 52 while owning 4 businesses. Through school I sold 3 of them which was as hard as school itself. I am now 55 and an RN. Don't get me wrong, school is very hard, but my wife helped me through the mental struggle and time availability.
If you love people and helping them in their time of need; go for it, age will not hinder those expectations.
I started college and Nursing school in my late 30s. When I went to nursing school I was 40. I thought I would be the oldest one there. I was very surprised to find that there were several students in my age group and we even celebrated on 50th birthday the first year. I found that age and maturity make a difference in the way you think and react to certain situations. You bring a differnt kind of experience to your classmates and the younger ones help you see a different view of the world. Nursing school in your 40s and 50s is challenging, thrilling, exhausting and invigorating all at once. You are never to old to learn something new. GO FOR IT!!!
I am 42 and am wife and mom of 19 years. I started back to school part-time in 2001 while working full-time as a nurse recruiter. I transitioned to a nurse intern position the summer prior to my senior year and graduated with my BSN May 2010. I began working as a RN this past June. I absolutely love my job and have no regrets about returning to school. My job prior was well paying, quite a bit more than what I earn now. But the hours it took away from my family and the stress that it created is so different than the balance and enjoyment that I have now.
Go back to school. You will find yourself growing in knowledge and confidence with every class you take. Nursing is a wonderful profession. I am so thankful that I stuck it out.
I am 44 and will begin my nursing school journey on March 9th, 2011. I am excited and scared at the same time. I know that I can and will succeed in the program but I am concerned about being hired afterward. I would eventually love to end up with a career in Labor and Delivery and plan on working for at least 20 years. Does anyone have input on this?
Hello to the woman considering going into nursing at 45. I ask "why not"?
Assuming your health is good, you could work in the field 20 more years after graduating. There are also many areas of nursing, some of which are kinder to knees and back, but many patients and fellow nurses will assume you have many more years of experience than you will have, which can work in your favor, as well as that of the patient.
There is no age limit to being a healer, comforter, or patient advocate. Our population is aging fast, and caring nurses will be in increased demand.
OK, so I need some advice. I'm very seriously considering my second career as nursing. I'm 45, and am very successful in a marketing position. I'm burned out and have always wanted to be a nurse. My background is business. I have some college level science, but I pulled my transcripts and need to take about 8 courses to get my prelims in. I'm enrolled in classes this spring, will still be working full time and am nervous about balancing work and school. My husband is very supportive, and wants me to do what makes me happy. My goal is to enroll in a masters for non-nursing in Summer of 2012. I'll graduate with a masters and can take the RN test. Am I too old to do this? I would graduate in late 2013 ( six semester program) at age 48.
Would really appreciate any advice and if I can realistically have a second career at nursing at this age.
Thanks!
I was 50 y/o when I decided to get my RN degree I was 54 when I got my RN degree (thats with pre req's and all) and now I am 55 going for my BSN so yes I say go for it you are still young :)
GO for it....I started my pre-reqs in 2007 at age 45. Now, I've just started my 3rd semester (OB/Peds), and I will honestly tell you that this whole adventure has been the most challenging and at the same time, the most rewarding experience of my life.
One of the best pieces of advice I read on this forum, when I was contemplating whether or not I was too old to start Nursing Schcool, was this.
Time will move on -- 5 years from now, you're going to be the age that you are. The difference is -- Did you decide now, to have "RN" at the end of your name or not?
Remember; whether you think you can or think you can't -- you are right.
Don't "Woulda-Shoulda-Coulda", 5 years from now. GO FOR IT!!!!!
How old would you be if you didn't go to nursing school? ;-) I didn't start pre-req's until I was 47, and got my RN license the same year I turned 52. Like you, I wanted to be a nurse after I graduated from hs, but that didn't happen, and regretted it almost every day. Go for it - the sooner you start, the sooner you'll realize your dream.
OK, so I need some advice. I'm very seriously considering my second career as nursing. I'm 45, and am very successful in a marketing position. I'm burned out and have always wanted to be a nurse. My background is business. I have some college level science, but I pulled my transcripts and need to take about 8 courses to get my prelims in. I'm enrolled in classes this spring, will still be working full time and am nervous about balancing work and school. My husband is very supportive, and wants me to do what makes me happy. My goal is to enroll in a masters for non-nursing in Summer of 2012. I'll graduate with a masters and can take the RN test. Am I too old to do this? I would graduate in late 2013 ( six semester program) at age 48.
Would really appreciate any advice and if I can realistically have a second career at nursing at this age.
Thanks!
Of course it's realistic. I'm 57 (2nd career nurse) and just started working as an RN less than two years ago. I chose an ADN program at age 53 (wanted the quickest route & didn't need another bachelors degree), finished in 2 years and couldn't be happier with my career choice!
Forget the age concerns... It's never too late to ma-tric-u-late..(Hey, I like that) Having said that, it's time to ruffle some feathers. My only concern are of those who apply for advance degrees without thorough clinical experience hoping to minimize the "walk" and maximize the "talk." And it's not a matter of "Well, they'll let me get this or that degree" Of course they will...it's a business...and you are a paying customer. Their prime concern is not the advancement of nursing conditions and practice...but it should be yours.
I worked in the financial district in NY for 22 years, was layed off for a year and a half, then decided to go to nursing school at the age of 46. I always wanted to be a nurse, and somewhere i got the guts to do it. Quite honestly it was hard as hell, but it absolutely is the best thing I ever did. I did a year of prereqs and did a 14 month Accelerated BSN program at Seton Hall. Good luck!
Ilovemywife
36 Posts
I am male and started nursing school at 52 while owning 4 businesses. Through school I sold 3 of them which was as hard as school itself. I am now 55 and an RN. Don't get me wrong, school is very hard, but my wife helped me through the mental struggle and time availability.
If you love people and helping them in their time of need; go for it, age will not hinder those expectations.