Am I Too Old?

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Hello everyone,

I am 48 and just graduated less than a week ago with as B.S. in Public Health. My goal was to finish that degree and apply to a Post Bac Nursing Program, but now I'm worried that I may be too old. I will 49 in a few months which means I would be 50 when I graduate from Nursing school. (that is if I'm accepted right away) This is what I have wanted for so long, but wondering if I should just let it go. What are some of your views on this?

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

Is this something you are going to regret NOT doing down the road? If it is something you've always wanted and you're physically up for it, go for it! 50's coming whether you pursue nursing or not. Why not be 50 with that Nursing degree? I'm in my early 40's myself and just graduated from nursing school, and I want to say probably 10-15% of my ADN class was in the 40-50 age range.

Oh, and congrats on your recent Bachelor's degree!

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Nursing is extremely taxing , physically and emotionally. I was fortunate to be able to do bedside nursing until the age of 60, it wasn't easy and I could only do 8 hour shifts.

I feel that all the effort going into earning a nursing degree.. using it for maybe ten years.. would not be worth it.

Seems like you could do something worthwhile and lucrative with your current degree.

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Health?Are you a young 48 or an old 48? What is your health and energy level like?

Money. How are you going to pay for this? Is there money set aside, will you pay as you go or will you graduate at 50 with a load of debt?

Desire? You chose public health for a reason. Would there be satisfaction to be gained in working in the field you have just studied? How much do you really know about nursing? I would recommend some job shadowing in nursing. The majority of new grads get whatever jobs they can find these days. New grads of all ages are well familiar with night shifts and heavy lifting. Would this be acceptable for you?

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I will graduate from my ASN program at 44 this May, from my BSN about the time I turn 46. I'm not too old, neither are you. There are people behind me in my program who are probably 10 years older than me. Do what will make you happy, you only get one chance at this whole life thing. Good luck :)

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Went to school at the age of 48 and became RN at the age of 51. BEST THING I EVER DID! I will never have to worry about retirement, I will always have a job. Nursing is so wide open that I can semi retire at 62-65 and work as a nurse part-time. I can even do less physical part time jobs as a nurse e.g. doing bus runs way into my 70's. And the money is still pretty good. Go for it, you will never regret having that RN after your name!

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Specializes in Hospitalist Medicine.

I'll be 45 when I complete my ADN, 47 when I finish my BSN and, hopefully, 49 when I finish PA school. Is it ideal? No. But I'm so happy to finally get to pursue my dream. Only wish I had the opportunity to do it years ago :)

Keep yourself in good shape!

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Specializes in Hospice, Palliative Care.

Good day, rdl48:

I turned 50 this past May; for the past ~ 3 decades I was involved in information technology. This past June I started working on my prerequisites for a RN program. I've already been accepted into one nursing school based on my grades to date; and, there's the potential to have three acceptances by this coming January (including the original acceptance).

Jesus willing, I will start a RN program this coming August 2014; and depending on the school I accept back, my anticipated graduation date will be between May 2016 and early 2017. Then comes the NCLEX boards. All in all, if Jesus allows it, I will be an RN between age 53 and 54. Then hopefully a job while I work on my BSN, then MSN.

Prior to taking this path, I did go to vocational counseling as well as talking with both students who were over 50 as well as students who went back to school in their SIXTIES for nursing. They all did well, and were glad they made the choice.

Follow your dream!

Thank you.

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Don't listen to the people that tell you it's not worth it, since you'll only have about 10 or so years in it...so what? Would you rather be spending those 10 years doing something you've always dreamed of doing or something that you are just settling with? Go for it!!!

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You are never too old to live your dream. If you feel it is worth it, go for it! You do not want to look back years from now with regret.

Regret is a terrible feeling.

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Girl no you are not too old! Period. So get that negative thought out of your head and pursue your dream

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I thought I might be too old starting at 41, but everyone I talk to has said that there are people in nursing school in their 40s, 50s and 60s. They also said that these are some of the best students in class. I think that if we have already been there, done that in another career and know we want to be nurses, it is meant to be. Besides MDs are routinely working into their 60s and 70s, so why the heck not.

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