Am I too old to start a nursing career?

lamazeteacher · Jul 23, 2007

Only begin in the United States, if your training and the amount of time you want to spend in the Nursing profession will occur before you are 55 years old. There is general age discrimination practised regarding "seniors" in large organizations, due to extra premiums $900/month+) insurance carriers charge employers!

I had a wonderful 40+ year career until I reached that age, advancing to management and heading education and infection control departments - until I reached 55. Since I don't look that age, I was hired, only to be fired when the company put my name in for healthcare benefits. This has been humiliating and traumatic.

dani_girl · Oct 26, 2008

I graduated with a woman who was 62!!! And she was near top of the class.. if you can handle the physical demands on your body, go for it!! And good luck!!

cretana · Oct 30, 2008

Ok, so at 34 I may not have the age issue to worry about, my question

cretana · Oct 30, 2008

Ok, so at 34 I may not have the age issue to worry about, my question is where do I start? I have been in business for 15 years. My mom, a nurse recruiter for a local hospital has told me for years to get in to nursing. I think I have the demeanor, patience, and stamina for it, but all my college courses (from 15 years ago) are Liberal Arts/ Business.

I am looking at moving to Chicago in the next 6-12 mos and would love to start work on my Associates (and then bridge to BSN) Thoughts?

AtomicWoman · Oct 30, 2008

Ok, so at 34 I may not have the age issue to worry about, my question is where do I start? I have been in business for 15 years. My mom, a nurse recruiter for a local hospital has told me for years to get in to nursing. I think I have the demeanor, patience, and stamina for it, but all my college courses (from 15 years ago) are Liberal Arts/ Business.
I am looking at moving to Chicago in the next 6-12 mos and would love to start work on my Associates (and then bridge to BSN) Thoughts?

Every school's prerequisites may not be the same. So you might want to start looking at specific schools and what they require. However, you can't go wrong by starting to get your anatomy and physiology out of the way. Ditto for microbiology. Most schools require chemistry (at least one course) and nutrition, too. No matter where you do those courses, they are likely to transfer. But again, some schools are different. So if you start looking at schools' information online and emailing/meeting with admissions counselors, you will get a feel for what your target schools are looking for.

bfisher5560 · Dec 9, 2008

This is my first post and I am so grateful for all the positive answers to this question. I have worried a lot about age and career. This is wonderful to have this support group.

lamazeteacher · Dec 9, 2008

I graduated with a woman who was 62!!! And she was near top of the class.. if you can handle the physical demands on your body, go for it!! And good luck!!

Do you know if she obtained and retained jobs?

Roxy0628 · Jan 15, 2009

Wow thank you for posting this. I am 26 and scheduled to start my pre-reqs next week for the BSN. The thought of not finishing until I am 30 scares me. I have a daughter that is 4 years old and she will be 8 by the time I'm done. After reading everyones post it really encourages me to go forward with it. I have been in corporate, real estate, restaurants, retail but have been so unsatisfied with them all. I just feel so confused.

lamazeteacher · Jan 15, 2009

Wow thank you for posting this. I am 26 and scheduled to start my pre-reqs next week for the BSN. The thought of not finishing until I am 30 scares me. I have a daughter that is 4 years old and she will be 8 by the time I'm done. After reading everyones post it really encourages me to go forward with it. I have been in corporate, real estate, restaurants, retail but have been so unsatisfied with them all. I just feel so confused.

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It would be good to spend a few hours with a career counselor who uses aptitude tests, so the field will open up and you will see what your interests really are. Then you can proceed with certainty, in a direction that suits/appeals to you. You're still young and have time for education and a career that will satisfy you and provide sufficient income.

You haven't mentioned the child care arrangements you have, and whether you live with your daughter's father or have some supportive individual who will make it easier to take the necessary courses without undo stress. Is it possible to take fewer subjects the first year? I ask that, as the first five "formative" years are critical for any child's "normal" psychosocial development.

Certainly you will have a full career, starting at 30 years of age. Nurses have so many options in the work they choose, that often the directions they take change several times throughout their lives. When/if you decide to get your Master's degree, there's plenty of time for that, too. It's good to work as a nurse for a few years at least, between degrees, to get the practical skills and knowledge you need for credibility.

Congratulations on launching a very meaningful career.

mkey333 · Jan 16, 2009

No, you are not too old at all!!!! Go for it!!! Live your dream.

Really...I did. At 39 I went back to school and got my BSN and now I am 41 and love the decision I made to follow my dream of being a nurse.

As an experience nurse, you will bring life experiences that the patients will appreciate. I see it all the time. Patients will ask me how long I have been a nurse and when I tell them one year, they can't believe it. They say "you are very good" or "you love what you do, don't you?" and say that I truly listen to them and take care of things that other nurses don't. I think I just know how to communicate with them well and keep them up to date on what's going on.

The only thing I have noticed, is being a med-surg nurse with 7 patients at a time I am running all the time. So physically it is very demanding. Luckily I have always worked out and exercised in my life so I am able to keep up ok...but I don't think I could do this at this pace forever. Just something to think about.

So...get going!! You will love it.

mmrush1 · Feb 19, 2009

Well, I may very well be the oldest nursing student when I start this fall. I'll be 64 when I start and 66 when I graduate. I plan on working another 10 years after that. This is something that I've always wanted to do but never was in the situation to do it. I'd be doing this if I had Warren Buffet's money.

CNA/Student Nurse · May 17, 2009

Thanks to everyone who answered. I am an older student and will be graduating in the Spring of 2011 at 50. I've worked many years as a CNA and have learned alot of the pit falls and Have decided to "Just Do It". It's not easy being a mom of 4, a wife, a grandma of 2 and a care watcher of older parents and in-laws who are not in perfect health. Is there any more out there, who are crazy enough to do this? I sure hope so.