I had asked this question awhile back about going into nursing but did not get many replies, so I am rephrasing it. Do you think at age 39, I should start this ADN program I have been accepted into? I have read many posts where people say they would not recommend it as a career change, especially at an older age since it is so stressful and physically demanding. My choices are this two-year ADN program or spending the next two years completing my Bachelor's degree in something else. Any thoughts?
Is it easy to get an office type job as an RN or do you have work in a hospital? I have years of clerical medical experience but no hands-on experience. I currently work as a urology medical transcriptionist. In the past, I was a licensed workers comp adjuster. Maybe some of this experience could land me an office nursing job??
i had a classmate who was 47 when she started nursing school. quite grandmotherly cute when she had to use her reading glasses in class; she mocked me when i would laugh and say, "just you wait, you'll suffer the same plight; presbyopia is just around the corner for you!"
unfortunately, while in the program she had to redo anatomy and redo/challenge psychology, beyond the call of duty. she passed with flying colors. at 51 she is still a practicing nurse.
i was 42 when i started nursing school. it is never too late to become a nurse. besides, all of that life experience gives you something to use to your benefit. most of life experiences interrelate to nursing imho.
I graduated last June. I was 48. I find that the age is a plus when looking for a job. People expect me to be able to handle the more common sense issues better than a younger person might.
If you search the board you will find many many posts about office type jobs for RNs. Yes, there are plenty. There are things like community health and school nursing. And not all hospital jobs are awful either. There's the operating room, and labor and delivery and NICU, where you aren't a glorified waitress. I'm working PACU now, and love it.
Age is not an issue. Physical stamina is not an issue, or at least I haven't found it to be. 48 isn't old. I feel 48 years young. (Oh, except for the glasses thing...grin)
I would go for it. Go into clinical with an open mind. You will find an area that really turns you on for your first job. (I just graduated at 47.) You are just a pup.
I start ADN program in Aug., and I am 44!!! When I am done with 2 year, I plan on going to a 18 month RN to MSN program at one of the colleges in my area!
I will be 46 when I graduate with RN in 2010!
I think that as older nurses, we have a lot of other kinds of experience to offer. Personally I have 15+ years as a CNA, the mother of a juvenile diabetic (diagnosed 1 week after he turned 13, and is now 25), and a child with autism (secondary diagnosis speech and language impaired, and reactive airway).
I think being older can be an asset, and even at 44, I am stronger than many half my age.
Good Luck in your endeavors & CHEERS!
Normandale???? then Metro state?
I almost went that route. I ended up as an MSU Accelerated RN student. I am starting at the VA next month. Best of luck!
Absolutely!! the oldest person in my graduating class was 52.
look at it this way.
you might be 41 when you graduate, but you are going to be 41 anyway so you might as well be graduated from nursing school. wouldn't that make turning 41 better in some way??
Loved the response that read "you are just a pup" !:paw:
It's true. Always a nurse at heart, I put off nursing school for many years; always too happy to let any excuse stand in the way. Despite extreme encouragement from friends, I was using my "stay-at-home-mom" role as a hideout...until the day I realized I had three teens quickly outgrowing their need for me. (In my daughter's words: "Mom, get a life!") So I did.
To help with my anxiety, I made a soundtrack of upbeat, encouraging songs to listen to on the drive to school. Once in class, I discovered that I was not the only 40-something...and that life experience lends itself well to the endeavor.
Thank goodness I went to nursing school. Although I had a few extra stress factors during my program (back surgery one week into clinicals, my 18 yr. old son's psychological "crash & burn", my 17 yr. old daughter dating a nightmarish boyfriend) graduation was a triumphant moment. Something I did for me.
As devastating as it was to witness my son's journey into mental illness, I am grateful to have been in school to learn about psych; ie.
self-medicating goes hand-in-hand with brain disorders. Without the knowledge picked up during that segment of school, I would have drowned in the sea of "where did I go wrong as a parent?"
Years of suicide-watch and monitoring my son's signs/symptoms, along the path to his bipolar diagnosis, give me great empathy for families I see (as a peds staff nurse) on similar paths with their children. Nursing has brought unexpected value to my life. Looking at 50 in the not-too-far distance, I don't feel any differently than the day I began....except perhaps more grateful for the experience....and a little smarter.
i graduated last june. i was 48. i find that the age is a plus when looking for a job. people expect me to be able to handle the more common sense issues better than a younger person might.
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heck, yeah!
plus, between my age and my life experience, i was rarely "pegged" as a student during clinicals. often had to argue that no, i really can't do xyz because i'm not a nurse yet!!
was 33 when i graduated 17 years ago, after a stint as an army officer and 4 years as a sahm. go for it...
Go for it, my friend started her Training at 38, at 41 went on to complete her BSN, at 45 completed a NP course, she then went on to complete her Masters in Nursing Administration, She is now running a High risk OB clinic and loves it. Age is only a number - being a nurse does require energy, age is only a number - go for it!
I started with the LPN program at 39! No regrests and part of my plan is to have a flexible career as I get older such as teaching, admin or even telephonic nursing. If you want to be a nurse definitely go for it. FWIW I wasn't the oldest one in either my LPN or RN class.
CaLLaCoDe, BSN, RN
1,174 Posts
i had a classmate who was 47 when she started nursing school. quite grandmotherly cute when she had to use her reading glasses in class; she mocked me when i would laugh and say, "just you wait, you'll suffer the same plight; presbyopia is just around the corner for you!"
unfortunately, while in the program she had to redo anatomy and redo/challenge psychology, beyond the call of duty. she passed with flying colors. at 51 she is still a practicing nurse.
i was 42 when i started nursing school. it is never too late to become a nurse. besides, all of that life experience gives you something to use to your benefit. most of life experiences interrelate to nursing imho.