Any other mid-life career changers here?

suzy253, RN · Mar 3, 2006

I'm one. Was a secretary until 3 years ago; started nursing school age 49; graduating in May at age 53.

clee1 · Mar 4, 2006

Stacks and stacks of us.

I am 38, and have been in IT for the last 17 years. In LPN school now and planning to bridge to RN as soon as I get licensed.

Come on in.... the water is mighty fine!

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Mar 4, 2006

I know of an LVN charge nurse who completed an LVN program at age 56. Age is not a factor as long as you have the passion to help others.

buddhababy2monster · Mar 4, 2006

Hi! I'm 35 and beginning an accelerated BSN program in Philly in May. I've been an Optometrist for 10 years so I've had all the pre-reqs, even though it seems like I took them a million years ago. I am so unhappy with my current profession I started to fear for my mental health. It's never too late to make a change, even if it's a little scary!

MindI · Mar 4, 2006

Scary indeed. I'm 36 and am looking to take the second career change plunge into nursing. My biggest fear is getting wait listed by the local programs in my area.

utahliz · Mar 5, 2006

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gcja · Mar 5, 2006

I just graduated from nursing school in december at the ripe old age of 45 . I am a retired police officer and former councilwoman. prior to becoming a po I was a legal secretary. I have had many "careers". Upon graduation from nursing school I immediately went into med surge. my hospital was one of the few that hired "graduate nurses". well, I can honestly say that this is the hardest job I have ever had. It is not the physical stress that is troublesome. it is that fact that in eight hours I don't have time to eat or pee. I am assigned to nightshift with sixteen patients. anyone who thinks that patients sleep all night are very mistaken. my patients are up all night requesting meds, needing to be changed or just plain shouting. i have the option of splitting the sixteen patients with the lpn. problem with that is I will be signing off on all her work. work that I haven't supervised so it is work I won't be signing off on. I just passed nyclex and now have my license to worry about. I have nothing but the utmost respect for these nurses who work med surge. I also have the good fortune of not having to perform this type of work. I quit med surge and accepted a position at a psych hospital. the great thing about nursing is if you are not happy you can move on. as far as being 45, it is more of an asset than a problem. If I was 23 I might have stayed at the first job for much longer and suffered - for fear of failure. At 45 I know a lot sooner that it is just time to move on and not waste time. good luck.

skoolgirl50 · Mar 5, 2006

I too am a mid-life career changer. I am 51 and I am about to enter my second year of LPN school. I have had the same questions you had about age and just getting started on a new career. Like one of the other responses said, if you have a passion go for it. I recieved some advise when I first started this journey. 1. Enjoy the journey and 2. Don't let any thing get in your way of your goal. Well let me tell you I have been enjoying the journey. I am learning things I never thought I could learn. I am a straight A student. Every semester there are girls who have dropped out of the school. In my view it only makes me strongeer. I've had counslers or other student try to discourage me and tell me how competitive it is or how hard it is. I think to my self, you are in my way, I won't listen to any of this. If all the other Nurses let people try to discourage them we would not have care givers. So go for it and good luck. Just study and do the best you can do.