Is 50 too old to start a career in nursing, and how difficult is it to find a job

deleern · Jun 4, 2010

Here is my story sorry it long.

I sold my insurance agency Dec of 03. After 4 months of settling the new owner in. I started looking at my options. If I didn’t have health insurance my profits would be eaten up to quickly. My Husband and I are older I was 45 and he was 50 it is really hard to find affordable Health insurance. I knew I wanted to go into nursing so I started at local nursing home in May of 2004 as a NA-R, I needed health benefits and they had a full time opening on the NOC shift with benefits. I do not sleep well at night so I thought it wouldn’t hurt to give it a try. NA-R is very hard work. I knew that my body would not tolerate this for long. I enjoyed the residents and liked this kind of work. Once I was on the health insurance we rolled the proceeds into a 401 K we cut back. To the bare bones and we sold the New Car, paid off all the credit cards and went to the Bare bones. My husband took a job as at a Groc store, and did every spare cash paying job he could.

I started the LPN program in Aug of 2004. My hubby was not happy about me wanting to go to college. He thought it was too much for me to handle. I had signed up and promised I wouldn’t go if he said no… I missed the 1st week of school because he couldn’t make up his mind, Monday morning I told him that he better tell me if I could go or not and he wouldn’t say anything so I took that as a yes and went to college…. I went to my 1st class and it was Nursing 1 the instructor took attendance and afterwards she asked me to pick up my books and step out into the hall she said that I couldn’t start a week late that they have already taken a test and I missed the lecture. So I didn’t say a word and went to the councilors’ office and asked if there ANY of the programs in this college that the student guide didn’t applied to. He said no, so I turned right around and went back to the class. Sat down asked if I could have the power point. And she handed it to me. After the lecture she said I would need to take the test tomorrow. I said fine. I took the 1st test and the second test on the same day… I failed the first test because they take 10% off for taking it late. I got an 80% (a C ) on the second one. So I just plugged away… continued on.

At Midterm my instructor pulled me aside and told me I was at a high D… I asked her if she was kicking me out. She said no because I had perfect attendance. I told her that it’s not over until the fat lady sings and this fat lady hasn’t sung yet!!! I paid for this and I was going to go to the end even if I failed it… I would just take it over if I had to.

Our school has open enrollment and I took 18- 21 credits a semester I graduated with a 3.5 GPA in three semesters partly because when I was a student there 27 years ago I was a straight A’s at that time. I believe during the LPN I had a 3.0

I continued taking my Co required pre- req. classed so that my work load would be lighter later in the RN program. I worked 5 nights a week as the Charge nurse on the night shift. And 3 day shifts. I was accepted into the part time program. So my RN program was 3 semesters long. I only had the core classes left…. Thank God. Those classes were the hardest classes I have ever had.

Organization was one of the keys to my success I bought a large day planner. Everything about school and personal life was in it. I knew when my tests were and when projects were due. If future papers were on the agenda I kept a list of ideas or things I would like to research. I always kept in mind what my future practice would entail. (geriatrics) It was the hardest thing I have ever done. I had many struggles though it

I worked for local nursing home full time. I work 10 shifts per 2 week period. And usually work 1 to 2 - 12 hour shifts if someone called in. I graduated with a 3.12 I didn’t get any time off. With school and work it was 12 days straight until my weekend off. I told the “kids” the other students that this is just a short Blip in my life and I will get through it. I graduated in May of 2007. Took the Nclex the same day my 1st granddaughter was born…(I knew she was in labor but she and my husband did not want me to postpone it) well I took the test and made it back to my daughters side to have my hand in on the delivery. (Another story some day.) I found I had passed the NCLEX the next day.

That’s my story.... Yes keep going don't stop... it is so easy to let life get in the way. And you know what… what other people think is unimportant. The rewards are great. I finally have job satisfaction!!

BlessedRNToBe · Jun 4, 2010

Thanks so much delee99 for sharing your journey :) It's very inspiring. Organization is one of my key problems I will try to use your organization approach to help me .

Marcia Loya · Jun 18, 2010

:confused:I am 48, and keep asking myself the same question.To bad you and i were not going to the same college,then I would not feel like the lone ranger.

down wind sail · Jun 18, 2010

wonderful to read all the positive encouragement...I'm about to graduate LPN program with a 4.0 average ...and in my late 50's! Little nervous about getting out there in the workforce though!

gibbbygibson, BSN, RN · Mar 5, 2015

Hi donsterRN. I cannot do pm yet, so am reaching out via this channel. I am 49 and have been accepted to an ABSN program in Nevada, but I don't really want to work in that state after graduation. Based on your experience, do you think someone at my age would be better off waiting a year to apply for a program in the state where I live and want to work? I had applied this time around, but my application was not reviewed due to some information on a transcript that said I attended a college I never went to. That is water under the bridge; what I really wonder about is how much wiser you feel it is to attend a program in a state where one wants/hopes to work. Based on your post, I get the impression that you were recruited by and ended up going to work for one of the employers in the same state as the school you attended.

Thanks very much in advance for your input.

feliciam · Jun 29, 2017

So glad I found this thread. I'm currently 42 and have been thinking of becoming a nurse for so long now. My current profession is Administrative Assistant which I am self-taught. Only got into this profession because it didn't require a degree and was able to quickly join the work-force. I plan on starting my CNA courses in 2019. Currently saving up to be able to quit my current job and still be able to afford living expenses until I earn my license and obtain employment. Also going to go to school full time for my RN while working as a CNA. Was extremely nervous about my age but after reading this thread I am more confident and more demanded to achieve my goal.

Catherine2183 · Oct 1, 2017

I just wanted to say that I think you're an absolute inspiration. You're an inspiration to me. I want to become an LPN but I got chewed up and spit out by this Facebook group that I was on. I think I really need to shadow an LPN and make sure that it's for me, but this going back to school twice idea made me understand that you really want this as a career. I think I want it that badly too. I just want to make sure that I will be able to actually do the job.