been lvn too long

caliotter3 · Oct 8, 2011

Nobody says you have to work in a hospital, ever. I'm basically in the same boat with you. I might finish, then again, I might not. At this point, it is a matter of mixed feelings, but I am aware that there would be a great sense of relief if that goal were reached. Good luck.

taniayvonne · Oct 8, 2011

Thanks good to know someone understands. :up:

beckyboo1, BSN, RN · Oct 9, 2011

I'm 44, been an LPN for 24 years and I'm doing pre-reqs right now to get my RN. I struggled with the "i'm too old to go back now" for a long time to then finally decided for what I do, I'm worth more money! lol I've got 2 classes this semester and I'm loving being back in school. Plus, having waited this long, my kids are older and gone a lot so I have lots of quiet time to study.

I say go for it!

Nursey3 · Oct 9, 2011

Go for it!!! I am 39 and been a lpn for 20 years this dec. I went back to school 2 years ago and will graduate this dec14!! well my fingers are crossed :) i have my cardio final tomorrow and then my last class which is trends and that's it.. And i did all this going to school and work full-time with 3 kids 11,8,2... It can be done with a lot of sweat, hard work and plenty of tears...I wish you the best!! btw i was also very scared, since i spent most of my career in long term..everything worked out... Good luck:nurse: :nurse:

LadyinScrubs, ASN, RN · Oct 10, 2011

I am older than all who have posted here. I am at the age that working on an acute care floor is far too much for me. That is fine because there are so many other jobs for ADN or BSN nurses. If your lab classes are older than 5 years, then you must find a program that does set a time limit. Quite honestly, given the time it takes to get through prerequisites and the wait to get into a program, many students have labs that are older than 5 years. The next question for you is: public or private (aka $$$'s) and whether you will do an on campus or an on line program. Go for it'; the only thing holding you back is you; and, time will go by whether you attend school or not.....

GimiRN · Oct 11, 2011

I encourage all of you to go for it!

I was an LPN for 15 years. Over the years I would take a couple pre-requisites here and there, only to take long breaks from school in between.

Then one day (at age 37) I was contemplating going back to school after a two year break. But I was having doubts, because I would be almost 40 by the time I graduated. I felt it would take forever and I had already wasted so much time. I discussed my feelings with my best friend and she said, "Forty is going to come regardless. And you can either let it be WITH your RN license, or without it. The choice is yours."

For some reason those words stuck with me. And I made the decision that I was going to make it happen, once and for all. So I finished my last two classes and applied to an LPN-RN transition program. I graduated last year at the age of 39, and it was a very proud moment.

There were people of all ages in my class, even older than me. And we all had the same struggles, despite our age, because most of the younger LPNs were fresh out of school, and most of the older ones didn't have recent hospital experience. So no one had a huge advantage in clinicals over the other.

All I can say is that it is never too late. Don't give up on your dream. :up:

luvcountry9, ASN · Oct 25, 2011

I am 47 and have been an LPN for more than 25 years. I am going for my lpn-rn. Still working on pre-reqs and hope to start nursing classes fall of 2012. Your never to old! My sister will be done with her RN in december this year and she is four years older than me! And never been a nurse! [Please forgive me sis I gave up your age] I just take it day to day, I still dread the change of getting out of my comfort zone, but it will be worth it to say "I am an RN"! :nurse: :yeah:I put my hands together for all the wonderful healthcare workers, you never get enough kudos.

CT Pixie, BSN, RN · Oct 25, 2011

I'm 42, have been licensed as an LPN since June of 08. I am currently in the LPN to RN bridge program. I say go for it.

I always say, five, ten, fifteen years will pass no matter what..you will still age that amount of years..why not age those years AND have RN after your name?!

LadyinScrubs, ASN, RN · Oct 25, 2011

i am 41 yrs old and i have been an lvn for about 20 yrs. i feel like such a failure cause i never finished my rn.

let's reframe your statement: i have worked as an lpn/lvn for about 20 years and i have helped so many people who needed the professional services i provide.

i have finished most of my prerequisites which by the way are more then 5 yrs old and most schools have a window of 5 yrs or all need to be repeated. no, you are incorrect. there are many nursing schools who have a 5 year limit on lab classes--which is unrealistic given the time it takes to accomplish those lab classes and the time it takes to get through a waiting list.

however, there are many schools without a 5 year limit. your decision is to decide:

- if you want to go back to school,

- decide if you want an adn or a bsn degree,

- find an accredited nursing school without a 5 year limit that is accepted by your bon,

- decide if you will go to a brick and mortor school or a distant learning program (which must be authorized by your bon).

i guess my dilema is do i go on and get my rn now after so long? i have ben in home health so long i am terrified of the hospital my skils are soooo weak. being in home health is very helpful. you must have great assessment skills; must have the confidence to work alone and notify the provider if there is something that is not wnl; and you have dealt with many unusual situations that is not seen in the acute care facility. if you feel you need to get more experience, go to a work in a skilled nursing or rehab facility. you certainly would get experience there given the high ratio of nurse to pt.

i do want to go to schol and i found a rn program with no limit on prerequisites but would i struggle without having been in school for a while. anyone who returns to school after being away has self doubts. you may be better suited to an accredited (in your stated) distant learning program that has a clinical attached to the lecture class (some distant learning programs are only lecture and you must pass a weekend skills test). the didactic program with corresponding clinical type of program could be taken part time. this would allow you to continue to work and take as little as one class a semester. while this type of arrangement would take you more time to get your degree, but you would not be struggling with a full time program.

the only thing holding you back is your fear -- and the cost of the program :eek: .