How old is too old to become a new RN?

Nurses General Nursing

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I am 56, and have been a dental assistant for the last 21 years. At my age, am I too old to pursue earning an ADN? I am concerned about employment opportunities at the age of 58 when I graduate. I would appreciate any honest feedback from experienced nurses. Thanks😃

There is obviously a large split between people who say this is not a good idea and people who say anything is possible. I would encourage you to consider that the majority of people who say this is not a good idea are experienced nurses, and the majority who are saying anything is possible are people who have recently attempted or are attempting what you are contemplating, and have not yet felt the full impact of their decision. I wonder if all these 55+ year old students and new grads will be working as nurses and as enthusiastic about it in ten years. Perhaps some of them will- it is certainly true that anything is possible.

One thing that not as many people mentioned is the full financial weight of the decision. Unless you will be able to work full time during school (which is unlikely, unless your employer is very flexible and you are very, very fit and able- even as a twentysomething, I struggled to work half-time during nursing school, and peers who were working full time often stood up in the aisles through lectures to avoid falling asleep at their desks), you must consider not only the cost of tuition but also the lost income from your schooling years.

Entirely leaving aside whether or not you will find fulfillment in nursing, you should look at: how much total tuition will cost at the program you are considering, how much income you will lose during your years of school, and what the difference is between your likely starting salary as a new graduate nurse and what you make now. Calculate how many years it will take to recoup those financial losses, and consider the age you will be when you begin making a profit on this new career. Consider that many new grads do not start working immediately after graduation- allow at least six months to pass boards and be hired, and know that it may take longer or require a move to another area to find new grad programs willing to hire you.

Are your retirement and savings account well ahead of where they needs to be now in order for you to retire comfortably, so you can take a several year brake from contributing to them? Will you be required to take on educational debt to achieve this goal, and if so, will that debt represent a burden to yourself or your family if you are unable to repay it by obtaining a higher paying job later? Nursing has a high burnout and injury rate, and though nobody has a crystal ball for what health challenges the future holds, the floor nurses in their sixties and seventies I know are VERY MUCH the exception, not the rule- and most of them are experienced nurses at the end of their careers who have the professional and knowledge capital to bargain with coworkers and management to avoid the heaviest labor. New grads are not granted the same privileges, and though age discrimination is illegal, it is still ABSOLUTELY true that given equally inexperienced young and old applicants, many managers will choose the younger employee, and that many older employees who do find work in youth-dominated fields face discrimination from their coworkers, especially if they lack experience.

The only way I would say moving from an established career to nursing in one's late fifties/early sixties is a good idea is if:

1. You are already comfortably set for retirement and can afford several years of not contributing to those savings without going off-track,

2. You have a financial cushion in the form of enough savings or a well-earning spouse whose salary is enough to support you both during school and after, if necessary,

3. You are in excellent physical health and already very active, and foresee still being able to work 1-2 years of night shifts on a floor unit 4 years from now,

4. You are enthusiastic and optimistic about the prospect of working enough years after retirement to recoup the cost of school and earnings lost during school.

5. You have a realistic grasp of the fact that even if in the best case scenario, you are able to do all those things, there are multiple reasons that you might not achieve the best case scenario, and are at peace with the possibility of starting this path and NOT ending in a profitable and satisfying career as a nurse- which is in fact the outcome for a large number of people who attempt to become nurses at any age.

Dreams are all very well but there are a lot of ways to achieve the dream of helping people that are lower financial risk than embarking on a new career less than a decade from the age most people retire. If this is a financially sound choice for you and you really want to do it, go for it. If it's not financially sound, and I think for most people who are already making a good income it is not financially sound, I would strongly encourage you to seek ways to rediscover the satisfaction in your current career and work with people in ways that don't involve thousands of dollars in debt and lost income in what should be the period where you reap the rewards of experience and expertise in your field, not begin again as a high-risk newbie.

Emmy27 details the information very well. Her reasoning is actually why I got into the RN program. My 1st choice was getting a Doctorate in Phy.Ther. But I had to complete the prerequisites (working somewhat reduced hours while getting this done), pay for the DPT program (about 125k at that time), lose 3+ years of income while in the DPT program, PLUS the costs of living during the program with little or no money coming in. Then, hopefully, I could start working but at a lower salary then my current income. When I calculated these expenditures over a reduced number of working years, it made no sense what-so-ever.

The RN program was my 2nd choice but required only 1 year of prerequisites (which I had already been getting for the DPT program) and then 2 years of education. The community college tuition was a paltry 10-12k for the entire program. AND I could work full time throughout the program. Again, I would come out initially making less then my current salary but, I hoped I would enjoy the work. I did & I still do.

But be aware that because of my age I had decided to move into procedural work pretty quickly. I was in my early to mid 40's when I went back and in my 50's now. I work hands on part-time for pleasure and to keep my skills up and then ride a desk 4 days a week for my main job. Young people do not seem to want to do either of these types of jobs. Most of my co-workers and employees are over 40. If you have fantasies about working the ER for the rest of your life, I'm uncertain if that's realistic. Fyi, I worked 70-80+ hours/wk of focused, often difficult work for years previous to entering the program. Long hours was not something I had to adjust too.

THE most difficult part of this whole thing? Going to school, studying & working full time. Once I adjusted to that, it really wasn't so bad. It was just a matter of surviving semester by semester and then catching up on my sleep during the breaks. Fyi, during the breaks while the kids were vacationing & partying, I was practicing my skills and studying ahead. This is no small feat you're undertaking.

Also, my children were grown, gone and independent when I went back to school. I did not have any real family issues. Just my wife and myself. We had a good, strong relationship. Doing this was still a strain on my family. If you have ANY additional responsibilities in your life other than work & school, just know that everything will be even harder.

I have recently returned to nursing at the age of 58, after 3 years as a fitness instructor. I must say it has been a challenge. Walking concrete floors for 10 hours and learning a new computer charting system is not fun.

Also at 58 and working with people in their 20's kinda gets on my nerves sometimes as my bs tolerance isn't what it was at 25. I'm sure it can be done, but just starting pt care at 56, ugh.

How about volunteering for medical mission work? With your dental assisting background I am sure there are ample opportunities.

I do not want to be a debbie downer but it sounds that you would be close to 60 by the time you are done. It is not easy to find a job for new grads and your age will be a disadvantage. Also, think about the money - will you have to take out a loan? What is your expectation for working as a nurse?

I know somebody who went to get a masters in nursing when she was in her 50s but she was already a nurse for decades. You would be a brand new nurse.

What is it that draws you back to school?

My honest feedback is that I have a hard time to imagine you being successful but perhaps I am wrong.

Please don't let "Debbie Downer" discourage you! I started nursing school at 55! I'm a working nurse now who just graduated with my RN ASN degree in May of this year! I was one of the first in my class to be hired (and by far the oldest) I was offered a job the week before I graduated at the hospital where I wanted to work on the floor that I wanted to be on! I passed my NCLEX on my first try in 75 questions and I'm Loving every day on the job!! I just started volunteering as "Camp Nurse" at Camp Twin Lakes for children with disabilities this past weekend after working three 12 hour shifts in a row Mon, Tues and Wed, then packed and headed right off to camp MDA Walk n' Roll on Thurs staying in the med lodge 24/7 where the kids were amazing!! You can do all this and then some at any age if you take care of yourself and refuse to let a number define you! I plan to have a nice long career! LIVING MY DREAMS!! #liveunlimited

I am 56, and have been a dental assistant for the last 21 years. At my age, am I too old to pursue earning an ADN? I am concerned about employment opportunities at the age of 58 when I graduate. I would appreciate any honest feedback from experienced nurses. Thanks������

Go for it!! I did (starting nursing school pre reqs at age 55) and I'm so happy I didn't let anyone persuade me not to!! I was one of the first in my class to be hired (a week BEFORE I graduated : ) and at the job I wanted in the hospital where I wanted to work and doing exactly what I wanted to do my entire life, be a nurse!! You are welcome to contact me anytime. I read an article my third semester of nursing school that convinced me I would NEVER get a job at my age. I hate I ever read that because my age in school or getting a job has never been an issue. If you know in your heart you were meant to be nurse, don't let anything get in your way, especially a "number". I worked hard, graduated with honors and had scholarships along the way. Yes, there are scholarships especially designed for women over 35! I graduated debt free with no student loans from my community college. You CAN do this!! Please don't let the naysayers convince you otherwise!! I'm so proud of you for taking this on, even the idea of it. I hope to follow your journey through nursing school and on to working nurse!!

Specializes in Developmentally Disabled.

I feel compelled to give my two cents worth, if for no other reason than I didn't even consider nursing school until I was in my 40's. When I first went back to school at the age of 40, I realized I pretty much only had a high school education, and a substandard one at that. Biology was the first class I took and it was like I was hearing a foreign language every time the professor opened his mouth. It took me three years to complete the prerequisites before I could enter nursing school.

That being said, I've done a lot of things to earn a living, from horse training to selling real estate, the latter of which I DETESTED and literally felt like I was selling my soul every day. Going to nursing school was a HUGE sacrifice, for me and my son, as I am a single parent. But it was the best thing I did for both of us. Here's why:

When I started school, my son was an at risk middle schooler, beginning to dabble with drugs and failing almost all of his classes. I quite literally did not know what else to do for him, and if I'm honest, in some sense I gave up and proceeded with following my own dreams. Seeing me go back to school successfully lit a fire under his ass the likes of which I don't think anything else could compare. It almost became a competition. By his own accord, and his own hard work, my failing student graduated high school one year early, and because he dual enrolled himself at the JR college, was complete with his transfer requirements as a Physics major when his peers graduated HS.

For me, nursing school tapped into and unlocked almost a cellular knowledge base I did not know I had. I love my job, hard though it is, and every day I am aware it is a job I would do for free. Besides all of that, I graduated nursing school with high honors, was awarded more merit based scholarships than any other student, was accepted into a LEGIT RN to MSN program at a State university, and will have my MSN in administration with NP option in six months. I have been promoted from my floor nurse position into a facility wide "health specialist" code team, based 100% on my ability to do my job and lead other people. I found out so much about myself. I found out I am a great nurse, a great student and can lead people.

If you want to do it, then you absolutely can. The hardest part for me was re learning how my old lady middle age brain worked.

When I was younger, I memorized everything. At this age, I'm lucky if I remember where I placed my glasses. But I understand the mechanics of physiology and pathophysiology better than I ever would have been able to before. I just GET it now. No joke, it's hard. Hard on the body and your own brain feels like your enemy sometime. But look at me! I'm 46, and I've got a BRAND NEW career ahead of me.

Best thing I ever did...

I just graduated from an ADN program at 43. Go ahead and do it. You would 58 finishing an ADN program. You can do travel at 60. You don't have to have a BSN to do travel.

I was an LPN for 23 years and I just graduated with my RN in May. It took me a year as I had my prerequisites done ahead of time. I went to a community college, paid my way and received a little financial aid and i have no school debt. I had a job waiting on me when I graduated (I had my choice of four jobs actually). I work in a cardiac stepdown unit in a large hospital. Its only been a month, and i will honestly say I love the job but yes its harder as i'm older. I can't run down the hall as fast as the nurses in their 20s and 30's when a bed alarm goes off. But I also don't get stressed or unduly upset over a busy day as I've seen busy days as an LPN for many years. I've worked in nursing homes, hospitals, a jail and a doctor's office over the years so there isn't much I haven't seen. So being older and more mature may help you in some instances yet may hinder you in others. I dont think I can do 12 hour shifts indefinitely, I can see it maybe five years? Some of the younger nurses dont take breaks, lunches etc. I plan my day to the best of my ability to get my lunch at least. Its very demanding but its what I wanted, what I worked for and its invaluable experience. I say, go for it, the time will go by either way and at least you are following your dreams!

I feel compelled to give my two cents worth, if for no other reason than I didn't even consider nursing school until I was in my 40's. When I first went back to school at the age of 40, I realized I pretty much only had a high school education, and a substandard one at that. Biology was the first class I took and it was like I was hearing a foreign language every time the professor opened his mouth. It took me three years to complete the prerequisites before I could enter nursing school.

That being said, I've done a lot of things to earn a living, from horse training to selling real estate, the latter of which I DETESTED and literally felt like I was selling my soul every day. Going to nursing school was a HUGE sacrifice, for me and my son, as I am a single parent. But it was the best thing I did for both of us. Here's why:

When I started school, my son was an at risk middle schooler, beginning to dabble with drugs and failing almost all of his classes. I quite literally did not know what else to do for him, and if I'm honest, in some sense I gave up and proceeded with following my own dreams. Seeing me go back to school successfully lit a fire under his ass the likes of which I don't think anything else could compare. It almost became a competition. By his own accord, and his own hard work, my failing student graduated high school one year early, and because he dual enrolled himself at the JR college, was complete with his transfer requirements as a Physics major when his peers graduated HS.

For me, nursing school tapped into and unlocked almost a cellular knowledge base I did not know I had. I love my job, hard though it is, and every day I am aware it is a job I would do for free. Besides all of that, I graduated nursing school with high honors, was awarded more merit based scholarships than any other student, was accepted into a LEGIT RN to MSN program at a State university, and will have my MSN in administration with NP option in six months. I have been promoted from my floor nurse position into a facility wide "health specialist" code team, based 100% on my ability to do my job and lead other people. I found out so much about myself. I found out I am a great nurse, a great student and can lead people.

If you want to do it, then you absolutely can. The hardest part for me was re learning how my old lady middle age brain worked.

When I was younger, I memorized everything. At this age, I'm lucky if I remember where I placed my glasses. But I understand the mechanics of physiology and pathophysiology better than I ever would have been able to before. I just GET it now. No joke, it's hard. Hard on the body and your own brain feels like your enemy sometime. But look at me! I'm 46, and I've got a BRAND NEW career ahead of me.

Best thing I ever did...

What an amazing journey! I am so, so happy for you and you are such an inspiration to me. OP, I hope you also follow your heart and I truly wish you the best!

I graduated from nursing school with no prior nursing nor aide experience at the age of 45. My age has not been an issue. I think attitude and health can make you or break you. I had a classmate graduate around the age of 50. She had the highest grades in the class. I believe she met some prejudice from instructors but has found employment in her desired specialty - hospice. I have observed that my mind doesn't work as well as it used to, but I bring much life experience to the table and can relate well to all patients and respond with maturity to challenging situations with patients, their families and co-workers. I am now 51 and doing very well in a position I love and could not have imagined for myself and feel valued by management/administration.

CathH, I graduated from my nursing degree just before I turned 50. I got a 12 month Grad program & now a new contract in the same hospital. It's truely the best job I have ever had, and I never feel too old to perform my duties efficiently. I say just go for it!! There are lots of advantages to being a 'mature' nurse...best of luck ✌️

Nursing is hard physical labor .... I feel like I've been aging at an accelerated rate, lately.

OMG, me too! I think I need Pilates or something.

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