Is 61 too old to start Pre-Nursing?

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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  1. Is 61 too old to start Nursing School?

    • 19
      Yes, sit back and enjoy knitting.
    • 22
      No, go for it. We need grandmas in the field.
    • 3
      Don't know.

44 members have participated

Hi, everyone!

I am interested in changing careers. I just finished the CNA courses this summer. I really liked it and thinking I might want to do more.

BUT, I am 61 years old. You that have been through Nursing school, please be honest with me. I am a good student, but I don't want to spend time and money if it is unrealistic.

I have registered for A&P I and II in the Fall. Good/bad? Please submit your comments and do not be afraid to be brutally honest. I only need these classes to be able to apply, as I already have a BS

Thank you.

Lil,

I like you post but I am not fully agree with you. My suggestion is to take at least 2 (3 are even better) prerequisites simultaneously so you know if you can handle the curriculums in nursing school. The tuition of nursing is high so think twice before you start.

The answer is probably EVERYONE!... you are right about the amount of study but I don't know if it is memory lapses... I don't mean to make judgements but sometimes "old gals" like us who are paying for their coursework take their studies more seriously... I certainly am a much better student now than in my 20s...

I know everyone wants to follow their dreams and you can accomplish anything if you put your mind to it, etc., and I get that. But not everything is sunshine and butterflies. My standpoint is practical. Look at the cost. And even if you do get the highest GPA in your class...age discrimination is everywhere. You may be hard-pressed to find an employer to hire a 64 year old even with experience, let alone a new grad. People want to hire someone who is a long term investment. You can say oh well I'm in great health and I plan on working x number of years... but employers see age as a number. How long do you want to be paying off student loans, not to mention thousands in books and other materials? If you don't mind all the expenses and possibly not finding a job, then okay. If you have a CNA job, ask your unit director about hiring a 64 year old new nurse, which can give you an idea about hiring practices in your area.

Specializes in Critical Care.

I worked with a 65yo new grad. I thought she was great. Few things to consider, not to detract, just to think about:

1: cost (of education) vs. value. Nursing school isnt cheap - i'm sure you know. Will taking on this program cause you financial distress? How many years do you plan to work as a nurse? Financially I have loans. I just paid my Assoc in nsg off and am finishing my masters (with the bsn along the way). I estimate another 25 years of working so while i spent the money i hope to see the value outweigh the cost.

2: often new grads are hired for off shifts. My former new grad friend was on straight nights for about a year or so.

3: Depending on facilities & specialities many areas of nursing can be physically demanding. Can you perform job duties while maintaining your, and your patients' safety.

i'm not looking for answers but these questions may help you.

Do you all think 47 is too old? I'll graduate at 49.

Specializes in Nephrology Home Therapies, Wound Care, Foot Care..

Just read all of the above posts.

Have you thought about doing an LPN course instead? In my area you can finish that degree in 1 year full time, or two years part time. The money isn't as good as for RN, but you are still a nurse. If you were able to be a nurse in a year and work for the next 14, that might be better than going to school for the next 4 and then working the next 11? Just a thought. Even though theoretically with a bachelor's degree it doesn't take that long to finish an ADN, in reality it often does if you don't want to pay $54k for an accelerated program.

Hi! Take the prerequisites and see how you feel studying again! ThTs what I am in the process of doing. I have all of the sciences from my previous college work but they were taken too long ago. The nursing schools here wont accept anything over 10 years old- which I agree with. So, I'm taking AP1 this fall( I took it MANY years ago!), and Lifespan Development. If all goes well and I enjoy studying I'll move onto the next courses I need. Take it one semester at a time and see how you do and feel. Good luck! Keep us posted.

Please go for it. I don't care how old you are you can still go to nursing school and work as a nurse at your age. There are plenty of nurses your age working. Also, there are plenty of nursing students your age as well. Do not get discouraged from some of the things that ppl are posting. In nursing there are so many areas that doesn't require lots physical work. Go for your nursing degree. :)

Specializes in Nephrology Home Therapies, Wound Care, Foot Care..

DO it- go for it- ignore the naysayers! No one knows your abilities like YOU! I started orienting on my new job today- was treated with so much respect, and welcomed with open arms- no I didn't "get stuck in a SNF", I got the job I wanted, and am making great money! Here's another thread you might want to check out-

RealityRN.com | New Nurses, Real Conversations | student nurses preceptors continuing education nursing jobs RealityRN Too Old For Nursing? - RealityRN

and demographics on nursing-

http://www.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/ThePracticeofProfessionalNursing/workforce/Fast-Facts-2014-Nursing-Workforce.pdf

OP, there are several factors that play into this. Why are you looking for a new career at your age? Why nursing? How long do you realistically plan on working? Would you be paying for this education out if pocket, or will it be through loans? Where do you want to work in nursing? How is your general health? Have you researched your job market?

Healthcare is a business, period. It costs somewhere around $135k to train a new grad nurse. Employers look at that when hiring new grads. Say everything goes perfect and you graduate at 64, can an employer get a good return on you being an investment? If you plan on working until 70, maybe it will be. But these are questions you need to explore before spending money and time on a degree that may end up being worthless to you.

There is nothing wrong with wanting to accomplish some of your dreams in life. But this may not be a realistic one. You may have to go for others. My mom is 63 right now and while I like to think she is still young, she could never handle the physical part of nursing at this time in her life. And she is an active, fit person. In better shape now in her retirement than when she worked. Most new grads start on nights. Be prepared for that.

PACU is where I often see our older nurses working. In the hospital setting anyway. That's why I ask what your end game is. But it's hard to get into PACU without experience. That's why I ask about how well you think you could do. There are a plethora of areas outside the hospital setting you could probably do, but not without experience. LTC is where you would need to go outside the hospital setting to get experience. Could you handle that? It's also very physical.

Just ask yourself these questions and research how easily new grads are hired in your area. People on here can be all yes go for your dreams!! But A, they don't live your life, and B they are not your age. Those in their 50s and are saying it's possible are around 10 years younger and 10 years makes a huge difference.

Specializes in Cardicac Neuro Telemetry.

I'm shocked your college allowed you to register for both A&P1 and 2 in the same semester. Whatever you do, DO NOT TAKE THEM AT THE SAME TIME! You are setting yourself up to fail.

I am all for people going for their dreams and all that pretty glitter, but I'm also a realist. Going back for a nursing degree at this point in your life is unrealistic. It'll take you at least two years to do prerequisites and then another two years to complete nursing school. You'll be 65 years old by the time you finish. That is the average age of retirement if I'm not mistaken.

Nursing is also a physically and mentally exhausting job. Will you really have the stamina at 65 to take this on? Another important thing to consider is ageism. While it is illegal to not hire someone due to their age, it happens all the time. When filling new grad positions, a hospital is probably more keen on hiring a 20 something who is going to stick around for a while and isn't going to retire any time soon.

Ask yourself what your end goal is at this point. Maybe you could volunteer at a hospital and see how you like that? Ultimately, the choice is yours. If you know that you REALLY want to be a nurse, take the prerequisites and make it happen. Just know that there will be a lot more obstacles to overcome.

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