If I wasn't past 60, I would consider something different, maybe OT. I am now too old. Not too old to learn, that's never the case, but too old to take on more debt, too old to be willing to work odd hours. When I got the BSN I was 59 and ready to work whatever crazy hours were available; not now. I don't recommend anyone go into nursing.
It's funny, the other old student in my class, closest to me in age, has been fired or under close supervision for her entire (short) career. She's had several hospital jobs, but they all turn sour eventually. She has experienced lateral bullying. I think she's smart, thorough, and conscientious, and would love to work with her, but others seem to experience her as a royal pain. On the other hand, I've been hired into jobs with working conditions that are so bad or so dead-end that they require me to quit and don't add to the resume.
The last job I had, in a one-physician private office was low paid, and I wasn't used to my capacity. It was a specialty care office, the doctor was generous with their knowledge, has a pleasant and sometimes amusing personality, great with patients, skilled in diagnostics and treatment, but a lousy business person, so that several times in my 1.75 year employment, found myself the solo employee doing all the front office and back office tasks. My pay sometimes lagged behind because there were money management/flow problems. On the plus side, I learned some things, I'm able to list a job on my resume that lasted more than a year, it was a 15 minute commute, and the hours were weekday only (unless I had to play catch up). Overall, it's not been fun.
I'm currently on hiatus d/t a pressing personal issue, and will take some time between now and the new year to decide my next direction. I don't want to give up nursing but I don't know if I'll be able to find anything acceptable and enjoyable as a nurse.
