lila29629

I posted this a few minutes ago under the wrong heading, so I'm putting it here where it the OP originated. Thought this topic is a good one to update as many older BSN's are looking into NP school and worrying about age being a factor - hopefully this update helps that specific audience! The UPDATE is: I have been accepted to a Family PMHNP program, to start Fall 2016! I just wanted to thank you all for your encouragement to follow my dreams - this is a great start! Anyone who has any additional or personal experience with age being a factor in getting a job as a PMHNP after graduation and certification - please feel free to comment. It is the one thing I am still nervous about - hopefully there will still be plenty of PMHNP jobs out there and age will not be a huge issue. (?) Comments on that subject are very welcome - and again thanks to all of you for encouraging me to go for it!

OOOPS - I was wrong about Western Governors - they are a NON-PROFIT school, and an excellent one at that. Forgive the misprint in one of my earlier posts in this thread; I tried to edit my comment but can only reply to it. -lila926292

Ok...not too encouraging so far from Dranger ...but I have seen many experienced NP posters here who have said they have seen and worked with outstanding NP grads from for-profits -Walden, etc. Depends on the PERSON as well as their education and background. Even so, I do totally understand that the traditional, brick-and-mortar programs are very well established and include the required program rigor to turn out excellent NP grads. However, I honestly believe that THE INDIVIDUAL makes every bit of difference in whether or not he/she will become an excellent NP. A lot of people had a LOT of hardship going through undergrad - for example several single moms on these boards who left an abusive marriage with nothing but their kids in tow and entered a BSN program out of need rather than calling. These women never ceased to amaze me. They got through school with young kids, barely hanging on to their homes, no child support and often no family support. So their undergrad GPA's were often not as stellar as it could have been had they had a perfect world...a 2.9, or a 3.0 instead of a 3.5-8, for example. Let's face it...what would your priority be if you were in their shoes? The kids. NOT your undergrad GPA. I just think that before we discourage posters here who are asking reasonable questions on this board, we need to think before we just flat-out discourage them. We don't know them and we have not walked in anyone's shoes but our own. There are a lot of stellar, super-smart students from all walks of life out there who had a rough undergrad experience (like the example or for whatever legit reason) and have landed on their feet to become amazing RN's, despite their undergrad GPA's. If they can't get into the "best" NP schools now because of their lower GPA's, why should that stop them from reaching their dreams post BSN? Glad those schools do exist for people just like the example...some simply cannot get in to the better, established programs, and NOT because they are below average...on the contrary. I can't imagine being shut out for life from achieving your dreams, because of a rough undergrad start, or because you're a few 10th's of a point away from acceptance. I realize a lot of these for-profit schools have issues, but I believe if you go into it with eyes wide open, you can do with it what YOU make of it...

Thanks so much for that, lhflanurseNP! That's how I feel about it...I think I'll have no problem recouping the investment once the boards are passed and I'm working as a PMHNP. Did you have any trouble finding a job as an NP afterward? If you don't mind sharing that experience, I'd sure appreciate it!

Thankfully I am pretty much a computer whiz. That's no problem at all.

Thank you all so much for such diverse, thoughtful comments. We all need a little feedback when in doubt and your input has helped me immensely!

I would love to, and am actively pursuing that route; however, it's a very tough market where I live and almost all facilities that have openings are requiring 2+ years of psych experience. I am trying anyway though and am networking my tail off! My big concern is my age as well. I need to do this the quickest route possible - don't have that luxury of youth and time to build..but I'm trying for that anyway as it is a passion. :) If anyone has any input on my question of attending one of the FOR-profit schools, vs. the super-competitive schools (I'm worried aboout my 3.2 undergrad GPA being too low) and whether or not that is a huge factor for hiring, please feel free to comment. Thanks so much again everyone :)

Thanks so much again for the very helpful input. One more question and I think I will have this all down in my head to make a better decision: The for-profit online grad schools - like U Phoenix, Western Governors ( I'm just naming the schools as examples for ease - have no idea which ones do have PMHNP programs) - do those PMHNP grads have any obstacle to being hired...in other words, are those programs kind of a waste of money - and in no way do I intent to be rude if any out there have attended them). I just see so much on these boards about how "questionable" some of them are. I have a 3.2 undergrad and it was a long time ago...

Thank you so much for your thoughtful answers everyone! I don't have ANY PsychRN experience...but certainly have decades of personal experience with a lot of it with BP1, BP2 and Schizophrenia with loved ones - and helped them get help - would the lack of RN psych experience be a big factor in hiring after graduating and does the personal passion help?

Yes...I'm getting up there, but really want and really NEED to pursue my dream. RN/BSN for 20 years, various specialties and also education - some of that spent at home with the 3 kids at the time. I have an enormous interest in and huge passion for the psych population. Some of it is personal - an ex-husband dx'd BP1 way too late, and a lot of fallout there personally for me, all in my 40's/early 50's. Nephew - same deal. Good friend, same thing. You get the gist, it all became personal...and therefore a passion. So the deal is I HAVE to work well into my late 60's -70's. Hope my health holds up to do so and I believe it will. Other than the some past trauma issues from of dealing with aftermaths of my ex's untreated BP and losing everything and more, my body and mind are in good shape. Schooling will be financed by loans. Hoping to get hired in an underserved facility that meets federal loan repayment program requirements. Anyone out there who has done this later in life who can comment on their experience? Is employment in a qualified facility hard to secure (I would think others would be beating the doors down for those jobs even if they are not the most desirable). Am I too OLD to be hired after graduation? Is ageism a problem out there? I know I can get through the schooling, no problem, but will age be an obstacle (yes I know that's illegal but it happens all the time anyway, LOL) for employability? Thanks - anything is appreciated :)