32 years old and ready to switch my career to become a nurse! Am I too old?

[Kaytee12]

I've thought and thought and thought again about switching my career. I've chosen to pursue a career in nursing. I am 32 years old, is this too old to switch???? Please comment.

[Goldenfox]

32 is young. Go for it.

[Cwoods]

A guy I went to school with got his AARP card in the mail the day before we graduated. He has about 30 years on you. If you want it, do it!!!

[Nurse326]

I had a classmate who's mom (55 yo) decided to go back to school to become a nurse once all her kids graduated from college.

A nurse at the hospital I precepted at said she precepted a nursing student who was 60 years old.

It is never too late! :)

[JellyDonut]

"Poor is the man whose pleasure depends on the permission of another." Madonna

I have always thought that line was spot on! Do what makes you happy!!

[MindfulMSWRN]

Nursing was my 2nd career, and when I went back to school my program was almost all late 20's through mid 40's students. It seems like career switches are fairly common in your 30s, and if you're feeling the need for a change- now seems like as good a time as any :)

[MindfulMSWRN]

Curious, if you're willing to share, what career are you moving on from?

[simpsm1]

You are never too old I wish I had started back in my early 30's. I worked with a lady who just retired, for the 2nd time, from nursing. I hope to retire once. LOL! I finally finished nursing school at early 40's. Make sure you know what area of nursing you would like to focus. Medsurg is a good place to start but it is physically draining but you still have lots of energy. I say if you have the time shadow a nurse. One the other hand, nursing has lots of options I wish I had known that 25 yrs ago. Do your research... Good luck! I hope this helps.

[MurseJJ]

There were a good number of 30+ people in my nursing class (I just finished a week after I turned 30). My preceptor for my last semester finished school at 35. You can do it, you/we're still young :)

[aprnKate]

When I went to nursing school back in 2006, I had classmates that were in their 50's and 60's... now they are nurse practitioners. I don't think you are too old. Never too old or too late to learn

[Fairygm4u]

I taught nursing, both pre licensure and at the graduate level, for ten years and have always loved this comment from one of my students who returned to school at age 37 for a second career. She said, "I'll be 40 when I graduate. I can graduate with a degree or without one. Either way, I will still be 40." I just always thought it was a very eye opening answer to the question of whether one is ever really too old to return to school.

[ahmon]

been a nurse 5 years. Now 50 years young. I regret not doing it early, not because of my age but because I love it