How old is too old to become a new RN?

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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😃

Technically no, in reality yes. You can finish and probably get a job. Even tho you have the advantage of not being in a physical profession for most of your work life, I still don't think you would make it ten years tho before breakdown (physical). The cost isn't worth it, IMO. If you haven't started prereqs it will take 2 years to get in probably. At 56 I would keep on keeping on in something else. Nursing is just going to force you to keep working longer, and its physically hard work that will just cause you pain in most specialties.

I have seen one nurse working the floor at 70 and it was a mess. She couldn't keep the pace (granted a med surg in the South is brutal on its own), and she made med errors every shift because she kept trying to take short cuts to make up for her pace (and she had 40 years in the profession). I am not ragging on her, but I know now (even tho I am in my 30's) that I do not want to be on the floor past my 50's. I wouldn't suggest it for anyone else either.

This person should be terminated if they can't handle it. As should people at any age who are not performing. Plenty of young people make Ned errors and can't keep the pace.

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Well I will say you really need to think about the disadvantages that it could have. You're not that far from retirement but it's all up to you. Good luck!

65 is 9 years away for her, but who says 65 is retirement?

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Best of luck to you in pursuing your dreams! I do have to mention this... Can you see yourself turning a 500 lb paralyzed patient and holding them up while getting new sheets under them? Even with help, that is serious physical back strain. What if there is only you and hopefully one other person to move this patient? When people mentioned back breaking work, they were serious. It is not uncommon to have a 500 lbs patient in a larger hospital, many of these patients are unable to move and are unable to get to the bathroom. That means it falls on you to help them.

I would do a lot of soul searching and a lot of shadowing before investing the time and money on school. Try shadowing in your area of potential interest at least 5 full days. Pay is another factor... It varies greatly from state to state. In some states new grads start out at $20.00 an hour before tax. After tax that's about $1200 or about $2400 per month. Without a BSN pay will probably be lower. Would you be taking a pay cut to do this? Can you work 12 hours straight with lifting and turning and cleaning patients up all day long? I see many older nurses who have been doing this for 30+ years. Some of them can barely walk! But they keep on nursing on. God love em. They are awesome.

If you do decide to take the plunge and work in a hospital, I would recommend a nurse friendly magnet hospital that offers lots of nursing support. No one can tell you what to do with your life, but do make sure you have all the facts so you can make the best informed decision for you. I went into nursing as a second career and it has been life changing for me. It is fulfilling and challenging in ways I never thought possible and in ways no other profession can offer. But now that I am a nurse I will never be anything else. On days when I do back breaking work, I realize if not me then who will help this person? Not the doctor, they don't tend to a patient's every need. That's the nurse's job, my job, and no one else is going to do it. That is a humbling place of privilege to care for a person in need. Best of luck to you in what ever you choose!!

l would seriously question patient safety and employee injury risk at a facility that expects any 2 people to lift a 500 lb person without a lift mechanism, or the appropriate number of people. Work comp would seriously rule in favor of the employee here, no matter what age.

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I went to nursing school with someone who was 70. So, to me, 58 isn't old. You have 10 years to retirement. And if you are in good shape, you should be ok. I say it's never too late...sort of.

Once you get to a certain age, you have to ask yourself not "can I?" but "should I?" Honestly, my 70 year old classmate was really nice, and it didn't bother me; they knew a lot of the meds, because they were taking them too. But a few folks were pissed because they felt this was wasting a slot in a competitive program on someone who will never actually practice.

Why will they never practice? Wow...well, it's not a requirement of any nursing program that people go in to practice, but this is such a judgmental thing for your classmates to say...maybe they were really more put off that a 70 year old beat their less brilliant buddies out of acceptance?

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I agree with luvscience, I think that it's great you want to try something you've always wanted to do, but realistically I don't know how marketable you would be post graduation and also the money, time and effort put towards the degree would probably be invested best towards retirement and/or your family, due to your age. Maybe you should ask yourself why? Why do you want to be a nurse or work in the field? Maybe you can fulfill this desire by volunteering at a hospital on different units, and you would be helping the medical staff but most importantly be helping the patients and they would greatly appreciate you in the moments that their nurse/cna is busy, you can increase patient satisfaction that way. It was hard for me in my late 20's landing an RN position, I can't imagine what it would be like in my late 50's. Good luck!

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I truly mean no disrespect but how do you plan on doing all of this in 4 years?

just guessing here...but a person with a 4 year degree can get an Accelerated BSN in 15 mos, or a person with an RN and. Bachelors in anything can get accelerated MSN in about 2 years. Doctorate can be done quickly also. She may already hold a degree or license.

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I think you should fulfill this goal. It sounds like it has always been in your heart and mind.

Nursing is a 2nd profession for me and I was in my 30s in nursing school but in my class there were 2 ladies older than you. I even worked with a nurse who was in her 70s and the best smartest most capable nurse I ever worked with!!

Best of luck to you !

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I agree with luvscience, I think that it's great you want to try something you've always wanted to do, but realistically I don't know how marketable you would be post graduation and also the money, time and effort put towards the degree would probably be invested best towards retirement and/or your family, due to your age. Maybe you should ask yourself why? Why do you want to be a nurse or work in the field? Maybe you can fulfill this desire by volunteering at a hospital on different units, and you would be helping the medical staff but most importantly be helping the patients and they would greatly appreciate you in the moments that their nurse/cna is busy, you can increase patient satisfaction that way. It was hard for me in my late 20's landing an RN position, I can't imagine what it would be like in my late 50's. Good luck!

Maybe this poster's trouble landing a job had nothing to do with age. Or, maybe she or he was too YOUNG. Wow, just wow, on the old age comments. Offensive. The volunteer comment is highly offensive.

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omg!!! it doesn't surprise me that some of these answers are SO NEGATIVE!!!! DO IT! I know DOCTORS IN THEIR 50'S Completing residency!!! And NURSES IN THEIR 60s DO IT!!! ugh the nursing community is so negative!!! Don't listen to all the na-sayers!! ugh these are the same people in the same nursing positions to scared to look for something new and so they become bitter and ugly and then they want to spread it around... They thought good stuff was going to happen to them and when it didn't they started hating good stuff.

I so agree. That is one of the big turn offs to nursing, the negativity. It's not everywhere but is common. I am stunned at the number of 20 ish posters who treat 50's like a deathbed. Someone barely in the workforce advising an experienced professional to focus on retirement....omg is all I can say.

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Hello Cathy! I just graduated from Nursing school at 53! I have been a MA for 12 years and I needed a change so I just went for it. It is extremely difficult, you think it'll be easy since you know a thing or two about medicine but let me tell you, you will cry, you will doubt, you will loose sleep BUT it's all worth it! You don't want to wake up at 70 years old thinking " I should have ..." GO FOR IT! 50 is the new 30 haven't you heard?.... I'm with you girl 100%!

Yes to this post! I'd like to add, I never thought the material was terribly hard, it's the volume and pace. Stay ahead of assignments, and get help early on with the whole "critical thinking" and "nclex style questions". The testing style was the hardest thing for me. I graduated with honors in HS and college, but struggled to maintain a B in this stuff. Granted, I also worked fulltime and had very limited study time.

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They weren't "new" nurses but the oldest nurses that I've worked with have been 67 and 70. The 67 year old worked full time in dialysis. The 70 year old worked part-time on the telemetry floor. I say go for it!

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Everyone seems to be either "its hard work, better think twice" or "just don't do it.." OR the "follow your dreams, etc." camps. I'd say, you're not too old if you realize your limitations. First: school's going to be harder. Despite your background, you'll need some refreshing b4 you start (unless your CNA required Microbio and AP 1/2, and some basic math/algebra, etc.). That will add to your 2 years. Also, you need to know that even with desire and strength of will: You really can't do what the kids do. At least not for any length of time. 4 or 5 (or sometimes even 6) 12 hour shifts a week will become very difficult after a while. BUT, there are aspects of the field you can absolutely work in if you're willing. Procedural medicine at an outpatient clinic (or inpatient at some hospitals) is typically set hours, going home on time and you usually get your lunch (and to go to the bathroom!). This involves surgery, oncology, etc. Working as a TCM (Telephonic case manager) or FCM (Field case mgr) is also fine work. You clearly have the skill set for that already so you may feel you want something much different. But believe it or not, TCM/FCM is more satisfying than people realize. You could do most of these jobs well into your 60's and 70's. And that's just a few positions that come to mind. It's a very big field. Experience is better and helps in all these jobs but oh well, you're not the only person to change fields later in their career.

Some folks have recommended a public community college. I agree w/ that recommendation. Your entire tuition may run only 10-12k. And you can typically work while going. Clinicals in school can be a challenge but not nearly as difficult as some folks are making out. PLUS, your CNA exposure will help you tremendously.

Jsuk, I went back to school in my 40's. It was hard but not terrible. AND, I was by no means the oldest person in the Nursing program. Nor the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, etc. oldest. The folks older than me also did just fine.

I think you should do what you want. If you're bored with your work and want to learn something new, I think you'll find it very refreshing. And exciting. And rejuvenating. And bursting into tears stressful. Also jsuk, the kids in the program accepted me pretty well. On the whole, it was fun. VERY stressful but still fun. But again, you should go back to school knowing that there could be some limitations on the work you'll want to choose when you graduate. Good luck with whatever you choose and let us know how things go!

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