I'm too old if my ultimate goal is to be a NP?

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I graduated from a medical university from a foreign country and worked as a medical doctor for several years before I went aboard and are now a permanent resident of USA. I'm considering to change career into nursing. One of the important reason I want to go into this field is that I don't want to stay at bedside for the rest time of my life and I wil go for Master's and become a NP after I get some bedside experiences (eg.1-2 years). My concern is I'm already 42 years old and plan to start accerelated BSN Fall next year (15months). If everything goes smoothly, I'll be around 47 years old when I become a NP. Recently I heard of that NPs without very strong clinical background are not easy to land a job, plus I'm a foreigner. Is it true the NPs with 2-3 years bedside experience have difficulty finding a job? So I'm worried about whether I should change career into nursing if I can only be a bedside nurse in the future. I do hope to work as a NP and function as a doctor, doing sth. related to diagnosis and treatment. My medical background and previous clinical experience abroad would be helpful in finding a NP job in the future? Is it too old for me to think stepping into nursing field if my ultimate goal is to become a NP?

Thanks for your sincere suggestions!

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I can't speak to the lack of experience, but as to age would have been very happy to have started as an NP at the age of only 47. I had no problem finding a job as an entry-level NP. I believe your skills will speak louder than any number of calendar years of experience.

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I can't speak to the lack of experience, but as to age would have been very happy to have started as an NP at the age of only 47. I had no problem finding a job as an entry-level NP. I believe your skills will speak louder than any number of calendar years of experience.

Hi, Joan:

Thanks a lot for your reply!

Do you have any bedside nurse experience before starting your entry-level MSN? Do you think at my age of 47, am I still able to land a job with just 2-3 years bedside nurse experience? With my background, if I go to an entey-level MSN program, is it possible for me to find job without any nurse experience? I know I'm not a native speaker. That might be a negative factor.

Thanks again!

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Any one else can give your advice?

Thank you!

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I'll be 58 in January and I'm a psych NP student...and I'm still standing.:smokin:

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I had more years of beside nursing (not as much as some on this forum, think there was a posting about this recently). I don't think it will matter.

Good luck.

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Specializes in PNP, CDE, Integrative Pain Management.

I graduated in May '08 at age 49. I had plenty of NP opportunities! I love being in my NP position. I turned 50 this weekend, and I'm at the beginning of a new career. I am accepted well by my colleagues, and age doesn't seem to be a factor whatsoever. Go for it!

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I work with a number of foreign medical doctors who are now PA, RNs. Given the uncertainty with the NP requiring a PhD, your background and age, I would hang on to your spot in the program (those are hard to come by!) and consider carefully several routes:

1. becoming a PA: this might be the fastest and best way for you to get a non-bedside role, programs often emphasize previous healthcare background and of course you've got it in spades

2. becoming a RN: there are plenty of jobs which are not bedside, such as in office settings, case work so that is an option to quickly gain employement and have job security

3. getting into a Direct Entry NP program: I think this would be a viable option for you to do the BSN-MSN in one breath and get your NP license, before PhD requirements become widespread, and you will be at your goal.

You did not state what type of doctor you were back at home, was it Family Practice or a specialty? For example if you were in Ortho or Surgery and want to be back in it PAs tend to dominate certain areas like those. CoreO who posts here is a PA who has tons of information.

Did you also look into doing a residency here to be licensed as a doctor here?

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Thanks a lot for your input, Westcoastgirl.

1.I know Physian Assistant is a good career I should consider secondary to my medical background. However, it is very competitive to get in. Some programs only take a few students per year. Still I'm not confident in if I can get into when I need to compete with those students who are much younger than me. Nursing is relatively easier to get in comparable to PA.

2. Entry-level MSN is what I'm considering. But the problem is I don't have any bedside experience when I graduate with MSN in 2-3 years. How can I successfully land a job without any nurse experience? My previous clinical experience will be helpful?

3. Perhaps the best way is to get BSN first ,then get my MSN part-time. Of course, it will take longer time for me to get MSN and become an NP comparable to direct-entry level MSN.

4.Taking medical board is a way to become a doctor in US. I was told it's hard to match residency if you are an old foreign medical graduate. I have been out of medical school for about 20 years. So it's hard and a long way to go.

As you said , PA might be the fastest way to go back to non-bedside medical field. I also prefer this best. But age is the only thing that I'm worried about. Is there any body there entrolled into PA program at your 40's ? I think I'm too old to be considered to apply for PA program. I know in nursing school many people are at their 40's. However, I'm really not clear how old the PA students are.

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Thanks a lot for your input, Westcoastgirl.

1.I know Physian Assistant is a good career I should consider secondary to my medical background. However, it is very competitive to get in. Some programs only take a few students per year. Still I'm not confident in if I can get into when I need to compete with those students who are much younger than me. Nursing is relatively easier to get in comparable to PA.

2. Entry-level MSN is what I'm considering. But the problem is I don't have any bedside experience when I graduate with MSN in 2-3 years. How can I successfully land a job without any nurse experience? My previous clinical experience will be helpful?

3. Perhaps the best way is to get BSN first ,then get my MSN part-time. Of course, it will take longer time for me to get MSN and become an NP comparable to direct-entry level MSN.

4.Taking medical board is a way to become a doctor in US. I was told it's hard to match residency if you are an old foreign medical graduate. I have been out of medical school for about 20 years. So it's hard and a long way to go.

As you said , PA might be the fastest way to go back to non-bedside medical field. I also prefer this best. But age is the only thing that I'm worried about. Is there any body there entrolled into PA program at your 40's ? I think I'm too old to be considered to apply for PA program. I know in nursing school many people are at their 40's. However, I'm really not clear how old the PA students are.

PA school has long been a second career option for many people. The average age of PA graduates is 30. The upper 10% is over 40. In my class the oldest student was in their early 60's. We had two FMGs in our class one in their 40's and another in their mid 50's. Both of them had no problem getting jobs. PA school is competitive but there are programs that look at FMGs favorably. Depending on the program you may have to re do some classwork if its not current. I would talk to the local PA programs. If you can move for a short period, certain programs in PA, NY and FL are known for taking FMGs.

David Carpenter, PA-C

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Core0, Thanks!

I'm in PA now. Which programs are taking FMG friendly in here? I sent email to a few programs about if I can transfer some pre-requisite courses I have taken back in medical school, I never got feedback. Also, they need you to shadow PA or physician to get clinical experience. That's not easy to find one.

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I graduated from a medical university from a foreign country and worked as a medical doctor for several years before I went aboard and are now a permanent resident of USA. I'm considering to change career into nursing. One of the important reason I want to go into this field is that I don't want to stay at bedside for the rest time of my life and I wil go for Master's and become a NP after I get some bedside experiences (eg.1-2 years). My concern is I'm already 42 years old and plan to start accerelated BSN Fall next year (15months). If everything goes smoothly, I'll be around 47 years old when I become a NP. Recently I heard of that NPs without very strong clinical background are not easy to land a job, plus I'm a foreigner. Is it true the NPs with 2-3 years bedside experience have difficulty finding a job? So I'm worried about whether I should change career into nursing if I can only be a bedside nurse in the future. I do hope to work as a NP and function as a doctor, doing sth. related to diagnosis and treatment. My medical background and previous clinical experience abroad would be helpful in finding a NP job in the future? Is it too old for me to think stepping into nursing field if my ultimate goal is to become a NP?

Thanks for your sincere suggestions!

I graduated from NP school when I was 45 years old. About half the class was OLDER THAN ME! Trust me, age is not a factor here!

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