am I to old to start?

Hi I am wondering if I am to old to start a nursing career? I am 40. I was a CNA in 1988 for 3 months but thats it. I was always a stay at home mom and now im wanting to work and nursing is what my intrest is but I want to be a LPN not a CNA. I also want to know on average as I know it differs from one school to the other how long it will take and how much money will it cost me to go to school.

I was not the only person in my 40s when in nursing school the second time around. I really don't know the age of our oldest, but one of us wasn't keeping up with coloring her hair! Our older students, for the most part, were not having trouble with nursing school. That should tell you something. You might want to try to contact some people who are currently attending the programs that you are considering to get some realistic figures about costs. Hope you decide that this is doable for you and find ns and nursing to be rewarding.

[racing-mom4, BSN, RN]

I regretted not becoming a nurse in my 20s. I turned 30 and again felt like I wish I would have become a nurse. I did not want to have that same feeling when I turned 40. I started nursing school 3 weeks before my 32nd birthday. I had 4 little ones at home. I was surly not the oldest student in my graduating class, I graduated with Grandmothers and one Mother/Daughter combo.

It was one of the hardest things I did as well as the most rewarding.

I not only feel proud to be a nurse, I feel lucky. It was a hard road and one that I could have easily turned off of.

My only suggestion to you, is go for your RN. If your going to do it, do it big right!!!

Best of luck on your exciting future.

[StrwbryblndRN]

I just read your first sentence in your post. And did not bother seeing how old you are.

You are never too old! Simple as that.

Good luck. Enjoy the ride.

[MikeyJ, RN]

40? Puleeze! :) You are still young -- 40 is the new 30 right?

There is no one in my class that is 40 (I think 34 is the oldest) but there are plenty of 40+ nursing students in the other classes.

Even if it takes you 4 years to complete all of your pre-req's and nursing school, you still have another 20 years to practice as a nurse.

I say go for it!

Hi I just have to say that no way are you too old! I am currently in a two-year RN program. There are 60 people in my class and I would have to say that at least half the class is in their 40's and 50's. We even have someone who is 65. Which is so awesome. It really is never too late. Good luck!

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

Take a look at this. Good luck! https://allnurses.com/forums/f200/anyone-start-their-career-late-life-125963.html

Hi I am wondering if I am to old to start a nursing career? I am 40. I was a CNA in 1988 for 3 months but thats it. I was always a stay at home mom and now im wanting to work and nursing is what my intrest is but I want to be a LPN not a CNA. I also want to know on average as I know it differs from one school to the other how long it will take and how much money will it cost me to go to school.

Go for it......The only way to sort out costs etc is to look at the schools and start the applications process.

If you can find a school that has an LPN then RN option I would check it out. In MN the LPN programs through the state technical colleges now have a 2 phase school system. Phase 1 is LPN training with licensure. Phase 2 takes you on to the RN and licensure.

(Check out Ridgewater CC in Willmar MN for an example) at http://www.ridgewater.mnscu.edu/Future-Students/Academics/Technical-Education.cfm?ProgramName=Nursing .

[P_RN, ADN, RN]

Never too old.

There was a lady who was in the year ahead of me at school, who was 65 when she started.

And there are lots of other "mature" students in my school.

Go for it.

[MisMatch, LPN]

I am 51 y/o, attending a community college, currently in my LPN clinicals, will finish LPN in December (at 52 y/0), then bridge to RN. You're never too old!

I stayed home full time for 20+ years raising a family; my youngest will graduate HS next month.

Go for it!

[meownsmile, BSN, RN]

I did LPN school in my early 30's with 3 little kids. I then went back for the Rn and finished the year the oldest graduated from high school which was about 42 for me. Go for it, you wont be sorry.

Check out your local community college. Most have online course outlines or information that you can look up pre-requisites and may also provide some information on the costs.

I'm jumping on the band wagon and agreeing with the rest - I'm going to be 44 this summer and will be starting a 2 year ADN program in August for my RN! I'll be 46 by the time I'm done and looking forward to a good 20+ years as a nurse! :[anb]:

[chihuahuaman]

I'm getting close to 43 and I just finished my first term of nursing school. There was tons of work to do, but it was very easy to comprehend. I got good grades. As others have written, I too wish I had started earlier, but better late than never :-) I've always been a late bloomer. One of the best parts of nursing school is that I was so busy with assignments 'n stuff that I had to quit my job (which I've disliked for about 20 years now!! lol!).

[Lorie P.]

never to old to go back to school! depending on what state you live in could depend on how soon you can get into an adn school.

here in south ga the wait for rn is up to 2 years, but for lpn is only about 6 months, plus with lpn school one gets 95% of it paid for through the ga hope grant and pell grants that do not have to be repaid!

i say go for it, if this is what you want to do, also you will find out us mature students tend to study more and have excellent time management skills!!

[forrester]

GO FOR IT!

Just watch your back, literally.

[DebanamRN, MSN, RN]

I graduated LPN school at 40 and will graduate with my RN at 43. I feel that I wouldn't have made a good nurse any younger. I'll be 43 no matter what I do, so I might as well attend school!

[TeresaB930, BSN, RN]

I love this question! I started back to school when I was 40. I did 2 years of pre-reqs then 2 years of the nursing program, graduating a month ago at the age of 44.

I did this as a single mom of 3 children. It was the hardest most rewarding accomplishment, next to my children of course, of my life!

I say, NO WAY are you too old to go back. How badly do you want it? I think that's the question you need to be asking.......age has nothing to do with it. You bring life experience to the table which, I have found to be priceless.

Best of luck!

Teresa