Is it worth becoming an NP at 45 years of age?

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I'm curious to get some thoughts on this. Do you think it worth getting your NP at the age of 45. I've been a nurse for 20 years and would love to get my masters and become a NP. But would it be worth my time at this age? 

Hi, I highly encourage you to go for it.  I finished NP school at age 54.  I've had no problem getting jobs.  I plan to work until at least 67.  I love being an NP so much that even after 67 I will probably continue part time.  

I love this! I will be 54 when I finish too and definitely plan on working full time until 67-69 then part time until who knows how long? As long as I am still competent and a skilled provider I can see me still working in my 70's for sure. The surgeon who took my tonsils out when I was 45 was 75 at the time and he was amazing ? 

FullGlass said:

Thanks for your encouragement, we all will get aged sooner or later, positive attitude is the most important within this journal

Most RNs with more than 5 years experience as an RN will take a pay cut for their first NP job.

I was 56 when I finished NP school and 57 when I started my first NP job.  Had 4 offers and was paid very well.  After 1.5 years there, looked for work again, and again had multiple good offers as high as $160K per year.  I'm now 62 and making over $200K per year.  

Please stop blaming things on age discrimination.  That just isn't true.  Also, it's pretty easy to look a bit younger - good hair cut, dye hair if needed, good make up, and reasonably stylish nice clothing, along with a "young" attitude and good posture - easily take off 5 to 15 years or more.  

The only place I'm sure discriminates on age and appearance is some hospital in Huntington Beach, CA where evidently they only hire the young and beautiful for every role, including MDs.

Specializes in New Critical care NP, Critical care, Med-surg, LTC.

Another second career nurse here. RN at 38, NP at 48, well worth the investment for both. You're going to get old either way, may as well get old reaching your goals rather than wishing you had gone for it! Good luck

I was in ancillary care, then RN,  & then FNP age 49 yo. Worked in several states after decades of tertiary care, found interviews are varied and my husband is an MD. Here is what I learned from my interviews and speaking with medical administrators- CMO's off record

1- Try to keep a few skills intact. For instance CDCES ( DM educator), research coordinator- Sub Investigator, ACLS-PALS-ENPC, first Assist; & and keep abreast of top 5 EMRs.

2-You can work both as an RN and FNP.  So try to keep emphasizing  the 3 P's the ANCC emphasizes (Pathology, Physiology & Pharmacology--> **Consider the ApHA pharmacy review text. Also learn 150 most common RX & 30 common IV infusions. Once in practice, this emphasis will keep your practical with time constraints we face.

3- Others may disagree but if you find the leadership is very young, then don't be overly dismayed if you are a minority, Keep plugging away at the networks and keep consistent with good work. There is data that many patients like NPs with lived experience too.

4- If you get a DNP too, be careful regarding  titles. Please know that that I understand the rationale for changes but the administrative groups can be iffy. This is consistent either with DNPs or with new verbiage for "Physician Associates". What they have essentially told me is they need good clinical insights and less "visionaries". 

Sorry for a few typos in last posting and good luck !

I finished my NP in 2015 at age of 52. I am in the southeast TN northeast GA area. I recently turned 60 and I am finding that age discrimination does appear to be a real issue. There are plenty of NP's that are half my age and seem to be the ones getting the jobs. My advice is to check your geographic location for supply and demand. 

In all technical fields, including NP work, I believe that they might look at our age. This may not be due to individual strength but rather HR experience with mild fluid/crystalized intelligence changes that occur with age. This is also true in engineering and highlighted by a work called " The Death March" plus cited below

https://www.psychreg.org/ageism-engineering-technology/

Still there has been work on incorporating different work programs called the glass ceiling project. It is my understanding that several things help workers with limited minority voice, like those of us in the 6th decade>

1- Diversify work

2- Be ready to tackle other projects (RN and FNP)

3- Be consistent

4- Keep your project list in writing. So for instance, can you work as an educator, research associate, CDE or navigator.

5- When certain industry leaders are extremely young consider whether that work team will or will not create harmony.

 

Nursing is my second career, I am planning to take NP also, at my age >50, I am also worrying about age discrimination, just  inquiry, if NP can be self-employed as a family doctor ?  I can't afford retirement  as the inflation is so bad; 

That is a great question.  My husband is an MD and we have seven other MDs in the family. You may want to address this with both HR, the AANC and the AANP. 

There are challenges with running your own business, chiefly liability. In addition liability is different in different states. Still if you felt that you could modify that risk somewhat based on geography and job type, this may be useful. Please understand that I am sympathetic yet concerned about the following

1- Given certain lobby & research forces, we may need to work on different licensure for much of our working career. If you doubt this look at the AMA  or PPP agenda or the following--- > See the paragraph about us. It is not all positive 

https://clearhealthcosts.com/blog/2023/08/this-doctor-says-corporate-medicine-is-a-threat-to-public-health/

2- AI will be coming soon & will be able to evaluate local and global practice. So while our support our increased education and growth there will be competitors. Who for instance

Family Practitioners if they show better MLE scores, Cognitive Psychologists who prescribe. RPh team who with nine specialty board certifications are looking to prescribe, plus proponents of functional med.

To approach this with an even tempered goal, I might consider the following

a- Practice many jobs--- Most talented clinical nurses can do this

b- Be a life long learner

c- *** Adapt to market demands. So if that means doing telemed to help rural settings or working with MUSAs or SNIFs, the whole team benefits.

d- Never assume that other clinical partners won't have their PACs trying to reduce our autonomy but we can be good clinicians even when we work indirectly.

e- Be happy that you contribute because the 21st century of nursing is growing worldwide as evident by the ICN conference in Scotland this year. 

f- Innovate in both the public and the private sector.

I am proud of nursing and the work we do plus I look forward to other's insights.

Sorry for the errata in number 2

Meant to write

AI ...  So while I  support our increased education and growth there will be competitors. Who do I mean for instance  :

--Family Practitioners if they show better aggregate indices like enhanced MLE scores

 --Cognitive Psychologists who prescribe basic antidepressants

--RPh teams, who with nine specialty board certifications, are looking to prescribe, plus proponents of CAM- functional med.

I am noting that because head to head comparisons on cost and clinical utility are coming. So if any particular discipline is found lacking in outcomes with a comparator who is better, then legislation is likely to reduce the effect of that discipline. 

Nursing -either clinical or advanced practice will not have ability to rest on any historical significance. Rather it will be the individual professional who will need to see if they can impact better than average with less cost. It will also be harder to not be compared to larger data sets of other professionals, even if they are not in our own state. This is because groups like CMS, Medicaid, ACO's etc are there to benefit their clients, not one profession. So they have accountants and data base managers looking over comparator data within our society and  from others to enhance coverage and reduce outlay.

All the best

 

I'm 56 and starting my NP Program, Nursing is my second career completed my BSN, and am now heading for NP while working full-time as an RN on the Med-Surg floor.  

Specializes in Primary Care and Remote.

I would go for it! I'm applying for NP schools this year at age 37 so I'll be 40 when I graduate, if all goes well. It all comes down to quality of life and professional enjoyment. For me, I think it would absolutely be worth it even at 45. 

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