Psychologist thinking of late in life career change....advice?

cyc0sys · Jul 13, 2017

I changed careers late in life myself and didn't become a nurse until my mid 40s so I understand your quandary. I'm working on finishing up my BSN now but it has been physically and mentally exhausting between the working the floor and school. It also can be frustrating starting out at the bottom rung, especially if you have ineffective management 'running' the show. However, sometimes its a relief not to be in charge and work as a minion.

If pay is not an issue and your in good health, I'd go for it. I don't know where you're located but where I'm at there will allows be work in LTC/Rehab for older-new nurses. Hospitals might be difficult for your age but some do offer entry level programs for new grads.

Personally I'd consider going the NP route or maybe considering PA. The people I know, in similar situations, have been most successful on those routes. The older-new nurses I've worked with, tend to burn out quicker, get less respect from the younger generations, and have more difficulty with management because of certain expectations. That doesn't mean they aren't good nurses. Most of them are stellar because of their life experience, focus, and ability to deal with people of all age groups. But some tend to be slower on tasks then management allows.

Best of luck with you're decision.

brandy1017, ASN, RN · Jul 13, 2017

I wouldn't recommend nursing. You've got a good gig with great federal benefits, why throw it away to be overworked and stressed to the max and end up with more student loans. Flexibility? Why because 12 hour shifts? I can't think of any good reason to give up what you have now.

I'm not interesting in rehashing all the negatives, read thru my many posts and those of others. If you are smart you'll stay where you are. You can always volunteer at a hospital or nursing home if you feel the need to make more of a difference.

brandy1017, ASN, RN · Jul 13, 2017

I'm a licensed psychologist working for a federal agency. I've been thinking about lack of job flexibility as I get older, with plans to work a long time because I'm in great health and have no reason to stop. I've also developed a great love for working with mind/body condtions (board certified in biofeedback and lots of experience now with chronic pain, insomnia, and all kinds of stress-related disorders), and I've begun to really thinking about a career change to nursing. If I got into school in the next couple of years (and truly left my other career behind), I'd have an Associates and be starting as a new nurse in my late 50s. It's a late start and a big pay cut. But I think I'd love the work (probably in a local hospital setting depending on what opportunities are there) and would be in it for the long haul. I've been a psychologist for 22 years. Any thoughts? Will a brand new baby nurse get hired at age 57 or 58? Can I keep up with this younger generation (whom, by the way, I deeply respect and find to be so very smart and resourceful)? Will I even get a chance to try?

I don't understand your situation, wouldn't you be eligible for retirement at 25 years with a pension from the govt and paid healthcare. I have family and friends in govt jobs and they have such incredible benefits. Working as a nurse in the private sector, that is not the case. Most places don't even offer pensions anymore, let alone retiree health insurance. They only offer a 403b with a modest match.

In another post you mentioned a long commute, couldn't you move closer. Another option is AirBnB to find low cost rentals near where you work.

While I find my job frustrating and stressful and have heard other options are less stressful such as home care or clinic, I would not voluntarily take a pay cut. But I see many women who don't seem to mind taking a paycut and I don't really understand why. You will still have the same bills and if you go back to college you'll have even more student loans to pay back. This is the time in your life when you should be paying off all your debts including your mortgage and saving for retirement, not going into debt for a job which you say yourself would be a big pay cut! It just doesn't make sense to me.

I've worked other jobs and can say nursing is the most stressful, difficult job out there. I wish I could afford to go back to being a secretary. I would never complain about being bored after what I've been through as a nurse. I would just be so grateful to have a pleasant job where you aren't overworked and where you can actually get a leisurely lunch. Nursing is like working on an assembly line.

llg, PhD, RN · Jul 13, 2017

When we get questions such as yours, my first thought is: Why not build on what you already have? If you are willing and able to go back to school, why not build on your psychology degree and experience and enhance your opportunities in that field?

Another possibility is to start a nursing degree at the Master's Degree level. With your background, you might be able to by-pass the need to work in a hospital as a staff nurse after graduation ... maybe become a Nurse Practitioner specializing in psych, etc. Or maybe some type of health education, wellness management, etc. Something along those lines might be a fit for you.

BirkieGirl · Jul 13, 2017

I was going to say the same thing as the PP!!! meld the two interests and do a direct entry NP program for psych NP. Offers you the work that you are familiar with along with nursing. At it's core though, I am told that most PMHNPs do mainly script renewals...

Just for what it's worth, in my area we have almost the same amount of graduates in nursing that are second career graduates, than we have fresh grads who went to uni straight out of primary school. In my nursing school class some 20+ years ago, we had 28 graduates and 12 were 'non-traditional' grads who were entering nursing as second careers. The trend has continued in this area and even grown.

Best of luck with your search and decision

esrun77 · Jul 13, 2017

If bedside nursing is your absolute dream, then go for it. Otherwise...

1. You will not have job flexibility because you will be a new grad and will have to take what you can get.

2. By the time you'll have enough experience to get the job you want, you will probably also want to retire.

You're right that there's a big demand for nursing compared to other careers, but it really depends on the area you live in. On the flip side, I know a nurse who just got her ADN and is in her fifties as well. We had a number of middle-aged adults in school. A lot of people choose nursing later in life, so it's not that it can't be done. It's just that a lot of the benefits of a nursing career are reaped later in life. I hope you choose what is right for you. Blessings!

JKL33 · Jul 13, 2017

live4ward,

One thing's for sure - - whatever you decide will be well thought out. And I get the feeling that whatever you decide will work out, too. I hope you are able to eventually come to a decision that you feel really good about. :)

shibaowner, MSN, RN, NP · Jul 14, 2017

Yes, you can do this! I did. I was a business executive and changed careers - started ABSN at age 53 and earned MSN at age 56, got psych NP job within 2 months of graduating. Suggest you do a master's entry program.

Boomer MS, RN · Jul 14, 2017

Yes, you can do this! I did. I was a business executive and changed careers - started ABSN at age 53 and earned MSN at age 56, got psych NP job within 2 months of graduating. Suggest you do a master's entry program.

This and some of the other responses are so encouraging to the OP. More than one way to skin a cat...

Maddy's Minion · Jul 14, 2017

I have 20 years of RN experience. My career ladder: CNA, LPN, RN, BSN, MSN. I just finished taking the LSAT and now preparing for law school. Would go into nursing if I had a chance to do it all over again? No way! I would have went into the military and became a veterinarian.

There are many options in the healthcare field other than nursing. I have an aunt who works as a certified MRI tech, she loves it.

chalie505 · Jul 15, 2017

It seems like you thought of this career change so well before you even posted on this site, carefully weighing the pros and cons. I feel your determination amidst the opposition. I also feel that money is less of an issue than flexibility and job security. Nursing is my 3rd career, started working in my 40's. I met a lot of older classmates and even met much older colleagues on the floor. Our hospital is always understaffed and hires new nurses all the time, at any age. I live in Florida where there are obviously more older people. I started working on the floor (keep networking; this is how I got ), stayed one year in telemetry, and moved to the ER which is crazier, but I found out I loved the action and independence. I am even faster than my younger colleagues. I am now in school for my DNP and probably will go to acute care or psych (this is monetarily friendly these days). I also want to teach at one point. I agree with getting a fast-track BSN program or Master's entry if available. There are a lot of entry level and new graduate programs around where I live. You do need an acute care experience for at least a year before you can move on to a specialty, but once you are there, doors will open up for you. I think hospice or psych is appropriate for your experience. And jump right in to an advanced degree. And when you're past retirement and still want to work, teaching nurses at colleges and universities will be awesome, too. My teachers right now are so old but still active and have brilliant minds. I am sure you are brilliant, too.

In other words, it is possible. If your heart is in it, I don't see any reason why you should not pursue it. Best of luck!

Everline · Jul 15, 2017

I went to nursing school in my mid-forties. I graduated with an ASN and with my age and degree, I was ready for a difficult road to getting a job. But as it turned out, I had no trouble whatsoever gaining employment. Having said that, nursing can be extremely stressful in ways that are hard to imagine or prepare for without actually doing it. I would not go in to bedside hospital nursing having a background and current situation like you have. Furthermore, your love of treating stress related conditions may not be fulfilled as you might envision. In my first year of nursing, when I worked on the floor, it was a harsh reality that I barely had time to talk to my patients, let alone help them out with their stress levels, outside of giving them medications.

However, nursing is a broad field and if you find your niche, it can be very rewarding. I moved on from the hospital and finally found my niche after trying out other specialties which were rewarding in their own rights and outside the hospital setting. I learned that patient education is one of the things I love and so I became a public health nurse and probably will be one until I retire. The pay is low, but the benefits both in terms of work/life balance and work satisfaction make it very worth it.

Let us know what you decide!