Over 40 and Becoming a Nurse....Any Thoughts?...

Nurses General Nursing

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Hello Everyone...I am a mere three months from becoming a LPN, very excited and proud of my accomplishment....Nursing is my "second career" that I started at 42....a little older than most students to be sure, but still young enough to do the job and do it well....after my June graduation and passing the NCLEX-PN, I plan on working in LTC while going after my BSN at the same time (LPN to BSN at UOP)....sounds great but then a reality hit me, after I complete that BSN I will be pushing 48, and for the first time I felt old....I dont know, is that pushing the limits for a new BSN as far as the age gap?....maybe I just need to get over it but honestly it makes me think twice about it....any advice, comments or sage words of wisdom for me ?.....

Specializes in Mental Health, Hospice Care.
i'm a picture of health right now -- not!

my point was, you'll be 47 or 48 whether or not you get your bsn. do you want to spend that time working on a bsn or not? if you work until you're 65, will you get your money's worth out of that bsn? it depends on what you want to do and how you want to spend your time. my husband is nearing retirement age, has always wanted his bsn and never wanted to go to school for it. right now he's really frustrated that he doesn't have his bsn -- but nothing that i can think of would make him want to spend the time and energy working on one.

well. the way i figure it is that i will be working well into my 60's and beyond....my nursing career would look something like this....lpn to bsn, work as a nurse for 4-5 years then look into becoming an np....ambitious goals for sure, but i think i will want to keep moving on in my career.....who knows what may happen, right now this plan looks good on paper.... i will need to wait and see what the real world of nursing brings me.....

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

There is zero reason not to do it if you want to do it. Take care of your health, organize your life to allow for the appropriate amount of study time and enjoy all the rewards and admiration that comes from pursuing your dreams and achieving them.

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Specializes in Mental Health, Hospice Care.
There is zero reason not to do it if you want to do it. Take care of your health, organize your life to allow for the appropriate amount of study time and enjoy all the rewards and admiration that comes from pursuing your dreams and achieving them.

you touched on the most important factor in my nursing journey; personally rewarding, and I want to show my two teen-aged boys that anything is possible....the whole "age" thing is something I never wanted to get sucked into when I was in my twenties, I never thought I would be one of those guys that stressed about getting older....but guess what, I am...turning forty made me re-evaluate where I was in my life not only career wise, but more importantly-spiritually...making this change was the single best decision of my life, I just wish I would have made it sooner....

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Specializes in Oncology/hematology.

I just turned 42 yesterday and am starting NS this fall. I will be 44 when I get my AN, 46 when I get my BSN, and I'm not sure yet if I'm going for my masters or not. But, what would I be doing if I didn't go to school? The same old thing that I hate, so I'm going for it. So far, in every prerequisite class I've taken, I've been the oldest student. I'm even older than most of my professors. Every one of my professors has enjoyed my age because of my life experiences. Will I be too old to be a nurse? No way. I just hope that I can make it through NS with a bunch of entitled 20 year olds because that's where I feel the age gap. My generation (and yours) don't have the "all about me" syndrome. It should help us when we become nurses, because we "get it"! Go for it and good luck!

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Specializes in Mental Health, Hospice Care.
I just turned 42 yesterday and am starting NS this fall. I will be 44 when I get my AN, 46 when I get my BSN, and I'm not sure yet if I'm going for my masters or not. But, what would I be doing if I didn't go to school? The same old thing that I hate, so I'm going for it. So far, in every prerequisite class I've taken, I've been the oldest student. I'm even older than most of my professors. Every one of my professors has enjoyed my age because of my life experiences. Will I be too old to be a nurse? No way. I just hope that I can make it through NS with a bunch of entitled 20 year olds because that's where I feel the age gap. My generation (and yours) don't have the "all about me" syndrome. It should help us when we become nurses, because we "get it"! Go for it and good luck!

Happy Birthday to you!....it is funny, in my current LPN Program I am not the oldest student, in fact there are a few gals with 7-10 years on me....what is cool is that we are all the top students in academics and in clinical reviews...right now I am leading my program with a 3.9 GPA and came up with the idea of striving for the NP due to a review from my clinical instructor...she is an NP herself and has been incredibly supportive to me....I feel a little overwhelmed at times, particularily right now....I am so close to graduating the LPN program but am consumed with other programs and avenues to take following this....time is ticking for me in terms of financial aid help and getting placed in a fall program, and I cannot for get the most important to-do list item....Passing the NCLEX-PN in June, this is all a moot point if I can't get that done.....so stress is definately playing a part in this....as far as the "younger generation", they do seem a bit entitled, but we were that way at that age too....I doubt I would have been able to take this road when I was in college my first time around....age and life experience has certainly mellowed me and created a focus on the goal at hand-becoming a nurse....

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Go for it, you'll be great!! There are many students in my prereqs classes in their 40's, one being 48 and just starting nursing school in the fall.

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I am turning 42 in July and start BSN program in September. So happy to get into nursing school, since the competition is really high (about 1400 applications and only 65 seats). It is my second career and a second degree to obtain. Oh, forgot to mention, it is a new country as well (I am a newcomer). Am I scared? You bet. Am I thrilled? Sure. Am I gonna do it? ABSOLUTELY YES! It is not about age. It is about readiness to run over hurdles. Good luck and chin up, you already know how to do it.

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You are in the same position that I am. I am 45 years old and completed my LPN last August. I did amazingly well in the program and I am currently completing the course work toward my RN. I don't think you are too old or you are wasting your time. I also did this to set an example for my teenage son who didn't believe educations was important. Please don't ever doubt yourself--and continue regardless of what other people say. You will be thankful you did it in the end.

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Specializes in Mental Health, Hospice Care.

It is funny how much our kids motivate us....my boys are thrilled for me, but it has been an adjustment for them....we scaled back our entertainment and vacation budgets to help the cause, they were less than thrilled....they do respect my work ethic though, full days at school and then 3 hours of homework made them re-evaluate how they study....it has been a fun/challenging ride so far.....

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We have a 44-year-old guy in my BSN program: he's not QUITE young enough to be my son. Both of us have garnered a fair amount of the available awards, internships, and job opportunities along the way, though we'll see what kind of actual nursing job that translates to this fall, after graduation & NCLEX.

Not interested in an NP, but I am going for my masters, too.

One of the best decisions I ever made, and I made it with CONSIDERABLE fear and trembling. I think your career path makes all kinds of sense, so good luck to you. And congratulations to your teen-aged boys for having a hardworking, thoughtful dad.

Dina

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Specializes in LTAC, ICU, ER, Informatics.

I'm 42, will be 43 when I graduate with ASN. There are lots of older students in class with me. I also have a goal of becoming a NP, and I want to work in a rural underserved area, so I'm hoping there will be a place for me somewhere to work until I drop dead. I'm not much for the "retiree" life. :)

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Specializes in Mental Health, Hospice Care.
I'm 42, will be 43 when I graduate with ASN. There are lots of older students in class with me. I also have a goal of becoming a NP, and I want to work in a rural underserved area, so I'm hoping there will be a place for me somewhere to work until I drop dead. I'm not much for the "retiree" life. :)

love the fact that I am not alone in this age demographic!....my NP seems to be so far away, and untouchable at this point....but it is my ultimate goal....would like to stay working as an NP with the Geriatric population, they need great nurses in LTC and hopefully I can be one of them....

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