How Old is "to old" to START a nursing education?

Nurses LPN/LVN

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Specializes in Addictions,.

Hi all, my name is Maggie and I am new to this forum with today being my first day.

I will be 54 years old in July, and I am seriously considering entering a Pre Nursing Degree Education Program in the Fall of 2014 here in San Diego, CA.

My most recent experience in Health Care is that of a Certified Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselor, AKA CADC II. (Though, our licensure/certification is changing soon to reflect Licensed Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Counselors - LAADAC/LADC) I have worked in the field from 1992 - 2005.

In my early/mid 20's I was a Certified Nurses Aid, working in the County Nursing Homes (Yellowstone County-Billings, MT), and as a Home Health Care Aid to young adults with spinal cord injuries, primarily Quadriplegics, and in Respit Care with older teens with MS and their parents here in San Diego.

I am now interested in returning to work, though my "work" dream now is to work with Hospice, Cancer Patients, and in Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Treatment as a Nurse!!

My age could be a drawback in a hospital setting, or even a Doctor's Office, though I feel it would fit right in in Hospice, Cancer Treatment, etc..

I have no idea where to start!!!

I would LOVE to hear from folks.

Thank you,

Maggie

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Specializes in Ortho.

If its your dream, go for it. There is a great need for compassionate hospice nurses. As for your age, your life experiences and maturity in your communication would be an asset.

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You're never too old to follow your dreams! Life is short! If you want it, go get it! I remember we had a 47 year old lady in my LPN nursing class in 2007. She worked at Walmart for 20 years, then decided to become a nurse. We also had a 45 year old man (who was also a lawyer) who wanted a second degree. Good luck!

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Specializes in Addictions,.

Thank you. I feel the same way,..as far as my age and choice of 'venue' to 'practice'. I now need to find a program!!!

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I don't think your age is a drawback at all. We had a couple of people in their late 40s and 50s in our program and made it through and succeeded with the rest of us. If nursing is your dream, I say you should go for it. :up:

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Specializes in Emergency Department.

I've said it before many times... if you're younger than dead, you're young enough! I have a couple classmates that are in their late 50's and early 60's and we're almost done with Nursing School. They're doing just fine. Whether or not they get a job soon is another issue, but as far as getting through the program, they did just fine.

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Education is possible at any age.

Having said that are you physically able to do the job? Are you planning on doing a BScN or an LPN diploma?

You have to be fit enough to make it through course placements. Hospice, Palliative Care, and Cancer Institutes can be physically demanding. Lifts, turns and total care with your aides.

I know what I'm talking about because I graduated at 42 and am still on the floor now. It gets physically harder with each year.

Only you know what shape you are in

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Specializes in Addictions,.

Thank you all!!

I am "pretty sure" I can do the physical work, though it is something I have to be 100% aware of, as I start to search for LVN program near me. I live in a rural area of San Diego. I am inland from downtown approximately 40 miles, and north of the Mexican border about 15 miles.

--Physical-- I am beginning Yoga, "Hatha" Yoga, to address my personal health, and to strengthen my body to do the physical tasks an LVN in those settings needs to be able to do.

I believe that "more will be revealed" as I participate in living my dream!! ..

I would LOVE to hear from Nurses who began their education in their mid 50's!!

I have NO COLLEGE DEGREE, so, I would have pre med requirements,..right? Even though I graduated at the very top of my class in Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Counseling, it was a Vocational School, and I entered the school in the Fall of 1993, graduating in the Winter of 1994. I had an amazing Practicum, and through a staff member there, I was directed to a position as the Mental Health Case Worker in a Residential Facility. From there I worked "overnights" as a "counselor" in a (combination of 3) Detox, Parolee Residential, and a Perinatal Residential Treatment Facility for a few months and then I was hired as a full time Counselor in the Perinatal Program. The Perinatal Program was a long term residential program for women with children, and we had a lot of pregnant women on methadone, with whom we worked with postpartum also..with the client and her newborn. The NURSES that worked with the clients were LVN's with the County.

I have worked many different recovery models in my 14 years active in Substance Abuse/Addiction Treatment, and I have always admired the Medical staff that worked with the clients/patients. It was my admiration for the counselors I met when I was in treatment, that encouraged me to get an education and work in the field myself. Now, after not working full time for 10 years, I am excited, nervous, I question my motives,....yet...my motivation is to give back what has been so freely given to me, AND to provide services to a client/patient base whom NEED social interaction, as well as medical intervention(s).

Financially, I am scared...Re: Paying for School and Licensure , though, I am hoping that "You" all can give me some suggestions in that area too!!!

~Maggie

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Thank you. I feel the same way,..as far as my age and choice of 'venue' to 'practice'. I now need to find a program!!!

Great! I hope you find a program you are interested in soon! My only advice is that nursing is stressful sometimes. Be prepared to study many, many hours each week in school. Be prepared to be yelled at by nurse management, and grouchy doctors on some occasions as well. Not all nursing jobs are stressful, but just be prepared to face stressful situations some days... It is also physically demanding on your back & feet...

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Great! I hope you find a program you are interested in soon! My only advice is that nursing is stressful sometimes. Be prepared to study many, many hours each week in school. Be prepared to be yelled at by nurse management, and grouchy doctors on some occasions as well. Not all nursing jobs are stressful, but just be prepared to face stressful situations some days... It is also physically demanding on your back & feet...

Don't forget shoulder injuries. On my unit, we've got one off with a torn rotator cuff due to a patient deciding to tug on the nurse, one from a shoulder injury due to an assault, and a third with carpal tunnel in wrist!

All are over 55. Our bodies just wear out and it seems more an more each year.

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Specializes in Addictions,.

Oh wow!! I have a right shoulder injury (a compound fracture that broke my clavicle into a piece about 3/4" long, it's even visable) that can bother me at times. I am able to lift up to #100 when needed. It. I did home health care fore my husband's grand mother for over a year and found that my lifting skills were far more convenient than using the Hoyer Lift.

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Specializes in CCM, PHN.

I strongly encourage you to search this forum for similar posts, this exact question is asked frequently here and you might find the many threads devoted to it inspiring.

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