Hi Carmen - I have similar concerns as you regarding going to nursing school except that I wish I had started when I was your age ! I am now 48, my youngest of 3 children is in High School and I am very interested in furthering my education. I have worked in the medical field off and on for the last 15 years as a Unit Secretary on a Labor&Delivery/Maternity unit and also as a Medical Assistant in private MD office. I have thought about the LPN program for a long time, wish I had pursued it years ago, now I am having a hard time making the decision between LPN or RN. Also looking into Lactation Consultant as a career, does anyone out there have any advice as to whether you need to be a licensed nurse to become a lactation consultant ? I just heard about a 4 yr. bachelors degree program in Maternal Health/Lactation consulting. Any comments or suggestions will be most appreciated ... thanks to all ! Carmen - you go girl, while you are still a young 30 something !!!