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

[Wild Irish LPN]

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 ?.....

[Music in My Heart]

I was 44 when I graduated nursing school (with a ton of vocational and professional experience behind me).

As was alluded to earlier, your age will be a distinct advantage as you launch. Patients will simply assume that you're experienced and, therefore, will be more at ease in your interactions. The older ladies also seem more comfortable with an older male nurse than they do with the younger ones.

The truth is, age discrimination does seem to exist in nursing just as in all other fields and you may face some obstacles because of it. However, age and experience also communicates things about you insofar as your reliability is concerned. You'll also find it easier to communicate with the over-50 crowd because you have a lot of the same life experiences. Just as a "for example," I was speaking with a patient and said, "Do you know from where we got the technology for this nifty cardiac telemetry unit I've got you on? The Apollo program." A lot of the younger folks give me the "huh?" look (given a lot of them weren't even around when Challenger went kerblooie) while with the older folks, it often leads into interesting conversations - which help take their minds off of what's actually happening to them.

If you're into it, go for it.

[mmc51264, BSN, MSN, RN]

I am 47 (almost 48) and I feel pretty good other than the fact that the program I am in is imploding and there is a real chance that I won't make it. The thought of needing another year to finish my ADN and then another year (at least) to get my BSN is daunting.

I love when we are in clinical and they think I am the instructor LOL

I say go for it!!!!!!

[deleern]

i started the lpn program in aug of 2004. i was 45. my hubby was not happy about me wanting to go to college. he thought it was too much for me to handle. i had signed up and promised i wouldn’t go if he said no… i missed the 1st week ofschool because he couldn’t make up his mind. monday morning i told him that he better tell me if i could go or not and he wouldn’t say anything so i took that as a yes and went to college…. i went to my 1st class and it was nursing 1 the instructor took attendance and afterwards she asked me to pick up my books and step out into the hall she said that i couldn’t start a week late that they have already taken a test and i missed the lecture. so i didn’t say a word and went to the councilors’ office and asked if there any of the programs in this college that the student guide didn’t applied to. he said no, so i turned rightaround and went back to the class. sat down asked if i could have the power point. and she handed it to me. after the lecture she said i would need to take the test tomorrow. i said fine. i took the 1st test and the second test on the same day… i failed the first test because they take 10% off for taking it late.i got an 80% (a c) on the second one. so i just plugged away… continued on.

at midterm my instructor pulled me aside and told me i was at a high d… i asked her if she was kicking me out. she said no because i had perfect attendance. i told her that it’s not over until the fat lady sings and this fat lady hasn’t sung yet!!! i paid for this and i was going to go to the end even if i failed it… i would just take it over if i had to. i passed with a b!!! i only had one wrong on the final!

the second semester i took 3 classes online a&p ii, psycho social & med terminology that helped with the sleep issue. i could do them on my own time.

our school has open enrollment and i took 18- 21 credits a semester i graduated with a 3.5 gpa in three semesters.

i continued taking my co required pre- req. classes so that my work load wouldbe lighter later in the rn program. i worked 5 nights a week as the charge nurse on the night shift, and 3 day shifts. i was accepted into the part time program. so my rn program was 3 semesters long. i only had the core classes left…. thank god. those classes were the hardest classes i have ever had.

organization was one of the keys to my success i bought a large day planner .everything about school and personal life was in it. i knew when my tests were and when projects were due. if future papers were on the agenda i kept a list of ideas or things i would like to research. i always kept in mind what my future practice would entail. (geriatrics) it was the hardest thing i have everdone. i had many struggles though it

i worked for local nursing home full time. i work 10 shifts per 2 week period.and usually work 1 to 2 - 12 hour shifts if someone called in. i graduated witha 3.12 i didn’t get any time off. with school and work it was 12 days straight until my weekend off. i told the “kids” the other students that this is just a short blip in my life and i will get through it. i graduated in may of 2007.

took the nclex the same day my 1stgranddaughter was born…(i knew my daughter was in labor but she and my husband did not want me to postpone it) well i took the test and made it back to my daughters side to have my hand in on the delivery. (another story some day.) i found i had passed the nclex the next day. i worked in geriatrics for 4 years the last 2 as a unit manager for a alzheimer's unit. in december i accepted a job in the mental health unit at our local hospital. so far this has been great! a new chapter in my story.

that’s my story.... yes keep going don't stop...i do toy with the idea continuing with my education. i was told by a np that is going on for her her doctorate, that my experience in geriatrics is golden making me more marketable in todays market. it is so easy to let life get in the way. and you know what… what other people think is unimportthe rewards are wards are great. i finally have job satisfaction!!

[juzme]

Check this out...I know an RN who went back to school in her late 40s and still in her 70s working home care and she still loves working..she has a different case now(we use to work on the same case)she makes fantastic money and loves still pulling in the good money at her age she said and it must keep her young(she looks amazing!!!!) I say go for it!!!!

[mama.RN]

Since it sounds like you already have a bachelors in something else, have you considered a direct entry master's in nursing?

[theVaway]

I agree with what everyone else has said. Why not? You are going to get older, life is what you make with the time you have got. Will you regret not doing it? Then do it!

[Wild Irish LPN, LPN]

Since it sounds like you already have a bachelors in something else, have you considered a direct entry master's in nursing?

not quite actually, I stated in an earlier post that I couldn't have done this program my first time through college....that is a fact, another fact was that I couldn't cut it in my original major of Radiology Tech either....hey, I was 19 years old and girls, beer and fun were my major....unfortunately my University didn't have a BA in Partying, so I was asked to leave....Mom and Dad were thrilled! lol....It was the best thing that could have happened though, it forced me (along with my Dad's anger) to grow up and get a job....no more living at home, I was cut off....found my first job at a little bottled water company in Colorado delivering water....when I say small company I was one of four employees....it was a brand new venture and timing was everything.....we grew that company from 400 customrs to over 5000 customers within 5 years, they made me a partner and the rest was good times....when the economy hit bottom in 2008 I sold my stake in the company and retired from bottled water for good....now was the time to follow my heart, and that was nursing.....at 42, with a wife and kids I was finally mature enough to go to school....

[Wild Irish LPN, LPN]

that’s my story.... yes keep going don't stop...i do toy with the idea continuing with my education. i was told by a np that is going on for her her doctorate, that my experience in geriatrics is golden making me more marketable in todays market. it is so easy to let life get in the way. and you know what… what other people think is unimportthe rewards are wards are great. i finally have job satisfaction!!

great story....very inspirational, thank you!

[WildOne]

Don't worry about what anyone thinks. Go for it and love what you do!!!!!!!!

[noahsmama]

That is great to hear!....any challenges along the way?....I think my biggest challenge will be balancing a new nursing career in LTC and getting the BSN....I think the experience I will get working as a LPN will be valuable while advancing my education....

I left out that I got my BSN through a one year accelerated program (already had a bachelor's in another field). I didn't have to balance school with work because I didn't work during the one year program. My biggest challenge has been paying off my loans -- accelerated BSN programs tend to be expensive! Actually, traditional BSN programs aren't cheap either!

[Lpn Lisa]

I was 54 when I got my LPN license back in November and I was the only one with no plan to continue. Everyone else had college nursing pre req's and was counting on the transition program. From us 15 students, 7 graduated. My teachers encouraged me to go on ( I finished top of my class). Our local college decided to cancel the transition program. I just got accepted in the AS program, one of 25 of 400 applicants based on nothing but grades. I will be 57 by the time I finish. I will work full time (because I have to) while attending college. But I run the numbers, it will be worth it with the extra pay even for the few years I have left to work.