I know it's not too late to go to LPN school but I am very concerned about my age and it being a factor in getting a job when thru with school. I've given most of my life to kids, home, marriage and now that my responsibilities are minimal, I think it's time for me. Please be honest with your opinions. We will not qualify for any financial aid and I don't want to start something that will not produce a job when thru. Not counting a year of studying.
Yes, hindsight is most definitely 20/20. If I had the last 20 years to relive I would have thought of myself some, but can't go back and undo mistakes.
Nowadays many of us plan to work until we are 70 because of the social security debacle. So...to start a career at 52 or even 60 isn't outrageious at all. Good luck.
Specializes in ER/SICU/Med-Surg/Ortho/Trauma/Flight.
I had a 74 year old in my adn program to be an rn and were best friends she works in my level 1 er and sicu with me all the time. But also alot of physicians offices hire lpns and medical assistants thats another option to the med assistant program if you can type thats how I was going to start out except I cant seem to type more then 25 words per minute so I flunked out of the med transcription and office part thats when I went to LPN school then onto Rn school, you could become an LPN and work at a pediatricians office or alot of clinics and urgent cares hire LPN's to so do small town hospitals we still do at our huge hospital but thats because are units still use team nursing and functional nursing. But when I became an LPN first the small country hospitals were I started at in Med-Surg as the staff LPN on nights then I became the team leader then I moved to ER. So if an LPN is what you want which is a good way to start because they get more clinical exp. check out the rural hospitals and docs offices.
Good Luck and :welcome: to the profession:balloons:
As long as you're in good health and can walk, stand, lift, and learn, you should do fine.
I agree, get your RN, too. Better pay. Do the LPN first, though, then get your employer to pay for the RN. Before you know it, you'll be a supervisor. Psychiatry is probably the physically easiest area, or home health, telephonic case management, insurance nursing, or other desk work.
Best of luck to you. Let no one discourage you and don't worry that you raised your family first. That's how we oldsters were taught to do. God bless you and I wish you well.
I wish my college would have had a softball team and a choir for us older students. Wouldn't that be awesome?
Now that's a thought I hadn't seen posted before....awesome, and probably hilarious, too!! But yeah, most of us aren't DEAD yet, so we should have some options like this available to blow off steam!!! Great idea!!
I hope it's not too late! I'm in school now at 55. Will be almost 57 when I finish. I don't think I'm the oldest in my class, though it would be rude to ask others their age. There's a bunch of us over 45. (Not 2/3 though).
All of us seem to be doing well. Personally I'm having a lot of fun.
I'm 55 and starting my first semester in nursing school next week. My pre req's went well, I was one of 400 students that applied for 48 seats. I know this is going to be very difficult, but I CAN do it and so can you. As for employment, I have the same concerns that you do. I have taken student loans to get me through school, so I really will need to find a job quickly when I graduate. I want to do hospice or home health care but it seems I will need the med surg stuff first.
I graduated from an ADN program 2 weeks ago. We had three students in my class in their 50's, and one graduated at the age of 65. If you really want to do it, you most certainly can. Good luck!
I just finished my first semester and turned 51 during finals week. My best friend (and lab partner) was 1/2 my age and I never felt it was an issue. There are at least 2 other people in my class who are slightly older than me.
There is a second or third semester class that follows us in our lecture hall one day a week and I swear that 3 or 4 of them look to be in their 60's!! Age really does not seem to be an issue at all!!
My mother Graduated RN school at 52.. so no.. its never too late. Depending on your physical fitness, where you work could be an issue depending on how busy the unit it. (Ive seen an 82 year old ER nurse.. so its possible)
Just be cautious where you work and what you expect.. so many get disgruntled because you are "thrown to the wolves" so to speak. Start out Smart.. and work your way to where you want to be!
If I had the last 20 years to relive I would have thought of myself some, but can't go back and undo mistakes.
Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN
2 Articles; 3,563 Posts
I wish my college would have had a softball team and a choir for us older students.
Wouldn't that be awesome?