I'm 39 and want to become a nurse.

quinnsite · Jul 15, 2009

Well, I became a nurse at 50 and it hasn't killed me ... yet.
You're not too old.. in fact, you're in an age bracket where people will not consider you worn out and incapable. Bluntly, there is age discrimination, especially from the 27 year old nurse managers that would prefer you to be cute, female, and clueless. On the other hand, there are a lot of nurse managers that are thrilled to get nurses that are people savvy, experienced, emotionally stable, and comfortable in their own skin.
Related to the age issue is the gender issue. Yes there is a desire to get more men in nursing. Ironically the US has half the men in nursing -- as a percent of the workforce -- than Australia. Keep in mind that the nursing culture has been shaped by primarily female role models for the last hundred or so years. Expect to find differences in communications styles and decision making processes. Also, the concept of multi-tasking is stretched to the limit. The ability to fragment your attention is rewarded.
Your fitness is a disadvantage if you don't find a delicate way to make sure you don't become a human Hoyer lift. You can't get your work done, and you facilitate unsafe nursing habits if you come whenever anyone needs to be lifted, repositioned, or restrained. I'd recommend developing a slight limp. Excellent physical fitness is only part of the equation for preventing the kind of back injuries that take nurses out of the profession. Another part is taking advantage of safe techniques and equipment. Part of my pre-nursing life was as a warehouseman; the skills used in protecting one's back in the warehouse serve me well to this day in rehab nursing!
Dark little secrets. Hmm.. I don't think that there are many systemic issues other than the ones I've covered. You know that you'll be cleaning poop and you'll probably become an expert in care of the foreskin.
Some patients will love you because you're more mature. You'll be called DOC a lot. There will always be one nurse that doesn't think you belong there. There will always be two nurses that can't imagine life without you on their floor. Some female patients will not want you around; don't take it personally. Some of them will come to trust you. Others will think you're wonderful and insist on you for their care.
I suggest not bringing up your prior career to either staff or the patients. If it comes up tell them you used to do taxes. That would explain why you know law without making you a target. It's not a lie; you do your own taxes, right? I have found that my prior experiences do help me bond with some patients, but an excess of self-disclosure has been shown in research to cloud the focus on the patient's condition.
I wish you well in your career transition. It was the most important thing I've done in my life.
And if it doesn't work out, you can go back to doing taxes.

Great stuff all around! I sure hope I get a nurse manager that appreciates what I have to offer. At 6'2 and 195lbs and a face that has seen better days, I definitely don't fall into the cute and female category! Hopefully I won't fall into the clueless category when I finally hit the floor!

I also appreciate the comments about self disclosure, including my years as a lawyer. Not that I ever intended make much note of it, but it may be best to actually be proactive in keeping it "in the past". Which at this point I AM HAPPY TO DO!! (Oh, I can't move on fast enough!!)

Thanks again!

benr98 · Jul 15, 2009

First let me say congratulations on your choice of a career change, I have just recently done the same. Of course we come from different backgrounds but I think the most important thing you can do is meet with and adviser from the school you plan on getting your MSN from. I found that when I visited my adviser she gave me a lot of information. At the time of my meeting I still wasn't sure which route to take LPN vs. ASN vs. BSN etc. She gave me information that helped me with making my decision. I actually found that if I went the ASN route and then decided to go for my BSN through an accelerated course it will have had taken me 6 months longer and actually cost me more so that I could obtain my MSN later on. The university that I will be studying at also has the lowest tuition for local residents that I have ever heard of for a university. You can also get scholarships to pay for part or all of your schooling from different areas private and public to help with the costs of classes which in the long run will aid in your financials during schooling. Check with the financial aid department in this area. And one point that I am surprised no one else has brought up is (other threads about this) there may be a time when you may have to give a statment to an attourney who is fishing for informetion trying to get a lawsuit out of the hospital. With your background as an attourny and in conjunction with working with the hospital attourney YOU will have a leg up on everybody. Let us all know what you decide to do.

Myron

barbnicu · Jul 16, 2009

you are actually fortunate to have had a preview of some of the care that nurses give. As for political issues: there are, and always will be those managers who make things difficult (who have no clue); administration that dictates pt. care issues, and generally some "bad eggs". You are going to have to learn to distance yourself from staff with issues, and try to not pay them much attention. As for my own experiences: I have worked for not for profit hospitals, and for profit hospitals. I much prefer the not for profit. Why? I have had much better experiences in these hospitals- the focus is not so much on how much money the facility can make, but on the quality of care given.Keeping in mind that although the hosp. doesn't make a profit; supplies, salaries and other stuff costs money and if materials (and time) are wasted, that can impact on the bottom line also. In my own experience, my current (and I hope the last) hospital where I work, has nurtured me, and the other staff. We are encouraged to grow professionally. In the last 5 years at this hosp. many of the staff have achieved certification in their field, I have been allowed to get education certs, and now, I teach childbirth, infant care, and sibling clases. I have been enc. by my manager and the admin. to grow as much as I can, and I am SO grateful for the support I, and the rest of the staff, are given. Mind you, I know that not every hosp., or managers are like mine, but, change is always a given, and what does not work well now, can be changed by the staff nurses. It takes commitment, and perseverance, and the will to follow your instincts.

allthemadmen · Jul 17, 2009

You most certainly can do it and probably won't even be alone- there are guys in my class who've lived whole lives before coming to this program, and some are quite a bit older than you- I'm 36 and just halfway through an ADN program, and I am not at all unusual (though I'm a mother!). You will see many things that disgust you and make you angrier than you thought possible. You will disagree with your instructors and there are times when you *will* know better than the profs, the nurses, and the docs, but you have to keep your mouth shut and toe the line and find a way to improve the patient's experience even if you are tangibly "not doing anything." You will be treated like crap, like an idiot, a lot of the time, and you will be frustrated beyond belief. Treat the nurses you meet in clinical with impeccable respect and deference, and you will be richly rewarded by their demonstrations and help. I recommend asking, literally, "what would you like me to do [for your patient]?" Remember you are probably seeing patients at their very worst, and that this is definitely a "check your ego at the door" profession. Good luck!

Ihoplover · Jul 17, 2009

Dear 39 year old - You're a youngster! I'm a female who's popped in to post a reply to your note because I'm older and a new RN grad and just couldn't resist the opportunity to say GO FOR IT - you're never too old! I also have young children that went through the part time schooling 3 yr process with me and a supportive spouse too. NOW that said I also have a law background - paralegal and I can tell you I have NOT been happy with some things I've seen done in the hospital setting where I now work - BE PREPARED it's not all a bed of roses out there and it's NOT in our control just because we're the NURSE and the advocate for the patient. FOR INSTANCE a doc wrote an order for nitro iv JUST to keep the pt in the hospital so they could have an early morning cath lab procedure (otherwise insurance would not pay the hospital for the stay) then the pt's bp starting going south and nitro had to be stopped (pt did NOT need the nitro as they had been pain FREE for 2 days). Scenarios like this get under my skin. PROBABLY I just haven't figured out WHERE I should practice my nursing skills yet where I will actually ENJOY what I do. I LOVE the patients - as you have said too in so many words - this is the heart of the matter that draws us to the profession. Pray hard about your decision and explore ALL avenues before you make a final decision.

God bless

quinnsite · Jul 18, 2009

Dear 39 year old - You're a youngster! I'm a female who's popped in to post a reply to your note because I'm older and a new RN grad and just couldn't resist the opportunity to say GO FOR IT - you're never too old! I also have young children that went through the part time schooling 3 yr process with me and a supportive spouse too. NOW that said I also have a law background - paralegal and I can tell you I have NOT been happy with some things I've seen done in the hospital setting where I now work - BE PREPARED it's not all a bed of roses out there and it's NOT in our control just because we're the NURSE and the advocate for the patient. FOR INSTANCE a doc wrote an order for nitro iv JUST to keep the pt in the hospital so they could have an early morning cath lab procedure (otherwise insurance would not pay the hospital for the stay) then the pt's bp starting going south and nitro had to be stopped (pt did NOT need the nitro as they had been pain FREE for 2 days). Scenarios like this get under my skin. PROBABLY I just haven't figured out WHERE I should practice my nursing skills yet where I will actually ENJOY what I do. I LOVE the patients - as you have said too in so many words - this is the heart of the matter that draws us to the profession. Pray hard about your decision and explore ALL avenues before you make a final decision.
God bless

Darimom,

Thank you for the encouragement and the additional comments. I assume, from your messsage, that you are relatively new to nursing(?) My only question is: Even with issues you mention, do you have any regrests about your decision to become a nurse? Would you do it again, knowing nursing (like life in general) is no "bed of roses" and that things/people will "get under your skin"? I get the impression that your answer is "yes", but I just wanted to be sure. Thanks!

Chris

Ihoplover · Jul 19, 2009

Hi Chris - Yes I'm brand spanking new to nursing - May 09 grad and yes again very intuitive of you to notice that I still do not regret my decision. I absolutely love taking care of people. It's emotion and heartbreaking sometimes but I know God ordered my steps and placed me just exactly where He wanted me. This knowledge gets me through the tough daysand with God in control every day is an adventure! You can private messenger me about anything you'd like to know in particular anytime!

BartC_RN · Jul 19, 2009

Do it. If you know there are sacrifices to be made and you're comfortable with that, then don't let that hold you back.

I can't really comment on how facilities may or may not discriminate with regard to age, but I can say probably half of my peers in the program I was in were over 30. We even had 2 that were over 50.

I'm 37 and started this when I was 33. I had to go BSN because I couldn't get financial assistance to go to my local community college. Luckily there was a university nearby. I came out of the property and casualty insurance industry which I hated. My family and I had to make tremendous sacrifices but it's been worth it because I feel really at home in this, even though I haven't found my first job yet. I took a job as a nursing assistant a year before I graduated and that helped me get really comfortable in the hospital environment. It's humbling work and I love it. I would recommend it to anybody that's looking for something more than a paycheck.

Good luck!

Tozz · Jul 22, 2009

I'm 52 and am just entering an accelerated Bachelors program. My program is 16 months; most others seem to be near that give or take a couple of months. The direct-entry Masters programs generally take about three years.

I chose the accelerated program because the class demographics more closely matched my own. It seemed crafted for people like me. I sat through an information session for a direct-entry Masters program I was accepted into and was easily twice the mean age and the only male. I don't have a huge problem with that, but of course would prefer a wider range of ages and gender distribution. The accelerated program seemed to attract more career changers--in fact, I'm not even the oldest student!

After pre-reqs, how long does the accelerated BSN take? Would I be looking at 3-4 years?
Again, I think your suggestions are right on. I will definitely look into figuring a way to getting a BSN or Masters level degree--for the reasons you suggest. Thanks!

Tozz · Jul 22, 2009

Oops. Thought I was answering an unanswered question and didn't realize there were three more pages of posts! Anyhow, good luck.

spikesez · Jul 22, 2009

Hi

I was 38 when I went back...got the RN at 43. 16 years later, still loving it. Got my dream job (tht the LVN I had wouldn't do) as nurse for Deaf/Blind kids..

You are YOUNG and won't need to woryy about employment, I gather.

Good Luck!!

JoMark06 · Jul 22, 2009

Definitely do it! I went back in 2007 at the age of 34 and graduated in 2008 at 35. And I would do it again! I have my BSN through an accelerated program. I can't imagine being anything else. I love being a nurse. I work at a veteran's hospital and love taking care of our guys, most of whom have given so much!