Need some help here, please!

Hello to all..just need some input from people that might be going thru something similar. I am a 40 year old divorced mother of three. I want to be a nurse. I have wanted to be one for a very long time. Thru my miserable marriage I accumulated over $50,000 in loans with no degree..I went part time for years with breaks inbetween but maxed my loans each quarter to live. My husband at the time was disabled and I worked but didn't make much, so we had to survive. We were younger and did things we wish we hadn't now. Since I am now divorced and at a good point to go back to school and get this done I am discouraged for many reasons. I know I can't get very much in loans now and there is no way with just grant money I can pay for an RN program. I have been approved for some grants and small loans for this school year but nothing near what some of these schools want for tuition. I live in Cincinnati, Ohio by the way. I have appointments with a few schools this week to see what options there are if any. I am thinking that going the LPN route first might be best and then going back for my RN or BSN. Just would like to know what people think or if anyone has gone thru this? Am I too old to start nursing? Is going the LPN route the wrong way to go? I am terrified I will go thru it and then there will be no jobs for LPN's. Any input is appreciated!!! Thanks so much!!!

Sarah