How old is too old to pursue an MSN?

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I am a 62-yr old psychiatric RN employed full-time. It has always been a dream of mine to pursue a psychiatric nurse practitioner degree (MSN, not DNP). I realize this may be wildly impractical, and that if I succeed in obtaining it, I might only be able to put it on my tombstone. I also must continue to work full-time. Any advice or comments, especially from older graduate students, would be most appreciated. Thanks so much.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, NICU.

Can you do it without putting yourself in major debt? That would be my only concern in regards to pursuing a MSN at your age. If yes, go for it!

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

I'm 56 and going back for a third (yes you read right) post-MSN certificate as an FNP.

62 isn't that old in today's market. The MSN will give you more options to work until you are older because as a rule, the APN is not as physical as being a staff nurse. There are exceptions to this rule - when I am on call, I'm rushing around just as much as I did as I staff nurse...lol

Best wishes.

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Specializes in ER, ICU, Education.

If you are so old that you are dead, it is too late. Otherwise, not too late. Even a year of truly following your dreams is better than always wishing you had tried.

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Specializes in ER.

My friend and her mom completed nursing school together. Mom was in her late 50's.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

So I'm sure some tomatoes with fly in my direction but although I would be certain with your experience that you would be a wonderful addition to the psych-NP world I would seriously consider how long you really want to work. It is definitely kinder on the body but the required mental acuity is more than I could have ever imagined. In my experience there are few clinicians who are still sharp past their mid 60s. My plan is to retire before my team is rolling their eyes and saying how sharp I was back in the day. I have seen a few nurses and several physicians who were asked to resign because they had become unsafe which of course went on for quite a while before the company was able to actually approach them with this suggestion. I don't want to be that person plus I also want to enjoy my retirement a while if possible.

Best of luck with whatever you decide.

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I am happy for you that you want to do this. Like Princess Bride says, if you have the money and the time, go for it.

I do agree with Jules a bit as well. We had an amazing nurse working with us in Employee Health that was in her 80s. We noticed she was slipping (trying to inject Hep B as a PPD, as well as a few other things) and she was told by the Director, who was trained by her, that she had to leave. Luckily the office was small enough that we were able to watch her and prevent her from hurting anyone. Really hard for the Director to do, btw, and a bitter pill for 80s nurse to swallow.

That being said, you are 62, not 82. This nurse was still amazing in her 60s.

Best of luck!

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

I finished my MSN at 57 and Monday I start my DNP. I will be 60 on St. Patrick's Day.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Academics.

Perfect responses!

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Specializes in Palliative, Onc, Med-Surg, Home Hospice.

My snarky response is when your dead.

My honest response is when YOU personally feel you are too old. My cousin went back to get her BSN in her late 50s. And she had to take a whole bunch of pre-reqs because she was a diploma nurse (went o a hospital based program in the 70's). She is now a DNP. She is in her 60's. If you can afford, go for it!

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Agree with the above. I'll complete my second MSN this December, and have started researching DNP programs for next fall.

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Depends on how you plan to pay for this and your current financial situation. If your employer offers tuition reimbursement and you want to take a class here and there, then why not? You can always borrow money for school, but you cannot borrow for a retirement.

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