RN-FNP for Old Nurse

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I am an RN with no BSN thinking of going back to school for FNP. I have aprox 20 yrs as an RN and am 49 yrs old. I'm looking at this as a " second" career after my kids are done with school. ( my youngest is just entering 7th grade).

Questions:

1. Is this something I should even consider at my age?

2. What's the fastest/cheapest track?

3. What's your recommendation for online school?

Thanks in advance!

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Sure, why not? I became an APRN at 48

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Questions:

1. Is this something I should even consider at my age?

2. What's the fastest/cheapest track?

3. What's your recommendation for online school?

Thanks in advance!

1. Is this something I should even consider at my age? - Yes! I teach college-level classes and I have wonderful students in their 40s and 50s. They are often fantastic students as they are more determined and resilient than 19 or 22 year olds. It will prepare you for a career from now until you retire - and give you more options as you get close to retirement such as non-patient care and careers that may be easier on an aging body. Plus you can show your children that learning is a lifetime pastime and that you value education and achievement. When I was working on my masters, my kids and I did homework together.

2. What's the fastest/cheapest track? The cheapest track is to keep working and first get your BSN online. The fastest may be to find a program that offers RN to MSN but it will probably not be cheap and may not be compatible with working full-time. In a lot of cases, it depends on how much college you have already completed. A college may need you to repeat classes to actually get a BSN, which would take longer whereas an RN-MSN program will have targeted classes and may allow you to skip actually getting a BSN. Getting a BSN is not always required to get an MSN but if you go the BSN direction and decide at some point to take a break from the MSN, you'd have the BSN credential which may open up some jobs for you before you finish the MSN.

3. What's your recommendation for online school?

I think the answer to this depends on the answers to the questions above and where you live.

For example, if you live in Alabama, you might want to get your online degree from University of Alabama or University of South Alabama. If you live in Ohio, you'd want to consider Ohio State. Local schools have name recognition and allow you to get some benefit from being local and reduce some of the bias against online schools. And some schools would have in-state tuition to make it cheaper (though some schools give in-state tuition to all online students so be sure to check). But sometimes local schools don't have programs that fit, so you'll have to look at other states/regions.

So, this is where you have to research and weigh your options. Do some research here and on the schools' websites.

I'm one who believes that education is never wasted. Good luck on your journey!

P.S. You may be an old nurse but you're not old!!

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Specializes in ICU, Triage, Home Health, primary care FNP.

Thank you for this. I am a 40 year old RN with 15 years of bedside experience. I also have two young children, 3&5. I got accepted to a DPN Fnp program here I Washington but decided to defer due my inability to find adequate childcare. I'm hoping to go fall 2018 and I'm afraid that my studies will prevent me

From being a good mother. I'm scared for not being able to be there for them in the future. Thanks for the encouragement.

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Why let someone tell you that you are too old to do something. The cheapest-fastest route is the concern. I would lean towards the best education available to best prepare you for the new role. Avoid the for-profit online NP factories and find a reputable school with some actual qualifiers. One where you are not supplying your own preceptors..

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Thank you for this. I am a 40 year old RN with 15 years of bedside experience. I also have two young children, 3&5. I got accepted to a DPN Fnp program here I Washington but decided to defer due my inability to find adequate childcare. I'm hoping to go fall 2018 and I'm afraid that my studies will prevent me

From being a good mother. I'm scared for not being able to be there for them in the future. Thanks for the encouragement.

I'm in Washington too (outside Seattle). Speaking as a mom who worked and got her masters when her kids were little, I understand the fear of not being there for them but your time in the DNP program will be short and you can make it work. Completing the DNP program will increase your ability to take care of them and their futures.

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Specializes in ICU, Triage, Home Health, primary care FNP.

Thanks Mierkat for words of encouragement. can I send you a pm to ask you a few questions?

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I am 59 years old and am about one year from getting my FNP, and about 2 years from my DNP. Age should never be an issue for doing what you want to do...

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Of course, happy to get PMs.

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Specializes in ED, ICU, PSYCH, PP, CEN.

I didn't even become a nurse until I was 45. Still loving it 15 years later. Do it!!!!!!!

Oh....and I plan on working for a long time.

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Specializes in Cardiac, ER.

I became an NP at 49, after a similar story. 20 yrs as an RN, kids left for college, I did it. If it's what you want, do it!!

BTW,..be careful who you're calling old!! :)

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Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.
I am an RN with no BSN thinking of going back to school for FNP. I have aprox 20 yrs as an RN and am 49 yrs old. I'm looking at this as a " second" career after my kids are done with school. ( my youngest is just entering 7th grade).

Questions:

1. Is this something I should even consider at my age?

2. What's the fastest/cheapest track?

3. What's your recommendation for online school?

Thanks in advance!

1. Sure! You could easily work into your 70s in the APN role, should you choose to do that. One thing you'd have to consider is if you could reduce your current hours while in school, or even stop altogether/go per diem.

2 and 3. You are making an investment of your time and your money so invest wisely. Do your research and find the best possible program. The fast, cheap, and easy path is often not the best path for a good investment. Talk to local NPs and local employers and see what they prefer to hire. Choosing the quick/easy/cheap path could really come back to hurt you in the end.

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