I'm 60 yrs old. Is it too late for me to become a RN?

[Nurse Beth, MSN]

It depends. While nursing school is unrealistic for many people at age 60, every 60-year-old is different. 

These are a few of factors I would look at :

• Is it practical? How long will earning prerequisites, applying to programs, attending a nursing program and landing a job take? What research have you done into the timeline?
• Your projected retirement date. According to a 2020 report by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, many nurses plan to retire in their mid-60s. When do you see yourself reitiring, and how many years do you need to practice as a nurse to make it worthwhile? Ten years? Five years?
• Are you realistic about your emotional and physical stamina and projected health?
• What financial resources do you have? Will you have to take out loans, and will you work long enough to come out ahead?
• Are you a strong student?
• Your motivation. Do you want this more than anything?

What type of emotional support do you have? You will need the support of your loved ones during the nursing program.

There's a lot to consider. Either way, it won't be an easy decision, and I trust you'll choose wisely. 

Best wishes,

Nurse Beth

[paujos]

I graduated from nursing school at 63. Going on 8 years of med surg. Had many naysayers and those who were positive. I plan to retire at 73. Med surg changed a lot since I started—patients ungrateful and higher acuity. Many aspects of nursing you can do. Go for it!

[Erika Dorati]

NEVER TOO LATE FOR AN EDUCATION 

[sleepwalker, MSN, NP]

I consider the physical aspects and your financial situation as the two major factors/considerations. Otherwise....my question is "how old will you be if you don't become an RN?"

[Cycling101]

Age is just a number... I started as an LPN at 54 and soon realized that I'm doing the same job as many RNs and there many job restrictions from my LPN license . I received my RN at 59 and my BSN at 60

[Dion H]

I have been a RN for 18 years I have about 17 years before retirement is it worth getting my NP at this point.  

What is keeping me back is the time and money, I need some advise or anyone who is dealing with the same thing.

 

[subee, MSN, CRNA]

Ahhh. But she had the money to pay for it.  Going into debt at 63 is another matter.  I worked with a nurse once who was 80.  We helped her out with physical chores because she was a wonderful person.  She did meds a lot.

[delrionurse]

I say go for it. If it is in your heart, then do it. I would just be careful about debt. See if you can get in to a community college program. 

[akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P]

Are you dead? If the answer to that question is no, then the answer to the nursing question is no. Beyond that, whether you feel like you should become a nurse is entirely up to you and whether you think you can deal with all the rigors of nursing. It's not an easy field, but there are many, many ways to be a nurse once you've become a nurse. Some of these ways are more or less demanding physically than others. 

[Hannahbanana, BSN, MSN]

I have told this story here many times. I had a student who was 63 years old. She had always wanted to be a nurse but her husband always told her she was too stupid, nobody would hire her, etc., etc. So when the old SOB (and that's not "short of breath”) died she took the insurance money and went to nursing school. 
She wasn't an outstanding student academically, but she had something so very valuable that her younger classmates didn't: life experience. She had had parents die, had birthed and raised children, experienced a crappy marriage, and had just lived more of life. Her grey-white hair calmed people. 
She went on to a job at the same hospital and stayed for several years and did well.

[ChristinaFNP, ASN, BSN, MSN, DNP, APRN]

Why not? Age is just a number and there is a nursing shortage in case you have not noticed. Most nursing students are what we call "non traditional" meaning they are older, with families, and this is often a second career. They are also better students and make better nurses!

[subee, MSN, CRNA]

Getting into nursing school can be a tough proposition and age will play against you (unless you live somewhere with an oversupply ot instructors:)  I would consider a two year program to become a med tech and get a lab job where you could have a longer career.  Seriously, by the time you graduate as an RN, you would be 62 or 63 at the very least without any experience behind you.