i'm new this site as i am trying to garner information on either becoming a cna first to see if i really would be suitable material for nursing school (possibly an lpn or rn) at this late point in my life.
i'm 44yrs old, live in nj, i work f/t at an ivy league university and have a son who will be 19 in 3 weeks! i've always thought about nursing, but never did it. i make a 'good' wage as an office administrator , but i do enjoy helping people. when my mil died 5yrs ago, i helped the hospice nurse clean and take care of her. it didn't bother me in the least.
the other motivator is that i need to make some extra income , as i will be paying for a loan i took out for my child's college. i can't make overtime at my f/t job as i have a low-level management position.
my question is:
1) should i at least try a cna program and get certified to see if it is for me and to help make extra money part-time? (and help others, of course!)
2) if i do indeed enjoy it, should i go to school for nursing at this late stage?? i'm 44....is it just a stupid idea to try and earn a degree now (i don't have one..i never finished college) (i should have stayed in college when i had the chance, but oh well...)
3) should i not do a cna program and just jump to an lpn program??? but perhaps being a cna will help me decide if its for me??
4) is it possible to work f/t (37hrs a week), go to cna training (or rn school) and work p/t?? i know some people have done it.. i'm just wondering if i'm just too old to do all of this.
4) is it more advantageous to do an lpn training or just shoot for rn (after cna training) if i indeed do the cna training and like it??
any and all help/suggestions would be great. i really need to do something -- and i figure if i want to help people, i should learn a new trade and be able to work p/t in that trade, instead of me working at target (not that there is anything wrong with that!! :)
thank you!! sorry for all of the questions, i am in real need of input. i look forward to hearing your responses.
I became an LPN at the age of 48. I am now getting ready to go back to get my ADN and then BSN. It's never too late unless you are dead. What have you got to lose. Go for it! I am so happy that I fulfilled my dreams. I have no regrets! I love my job. Good luck to you! My husband always says to follow your heart!
i am still having problems finding a night lpn program. since it's done mostly at technical schools, my employer won't pay for it unless it's a degree. my community college has an rn degree program (adn)- however, i have to take tons of pre-reqs before i could even apply.
also, i was horrible in high school. just hated schooling altogether. i have math learining issues and left college my first semester in 1983 due to partying and just not wanting to be in school. so, long story short -- i'm not a great student at all.
i would hate to pay all this money for classes when i may not be able to pass the math, chem/bio and psych. classes. i just took a placement test at my community college and did not pass the math portion (that's how poor my elementry math skills are). i have to take remedial algebra (thank god i took remedial math 6 years ago there and they still have my records). i did pass the english portion and can go straight to english 101.
it still seems after my original post, there have been so many road blocks, that my head is spinning. i'm getting the feeling this is not for me at all. i don't have the money and 4-5 years just seems so long to have to go for something. you have to have the passion to do anything in life and i feel this is a long, intensive journey that i may not be ready to put the time and effort in to.
thanks all for your input and kind suggestions. :)
Never too late! Just passed my NCLEX and now an official LPN! I'm only 57 years and it never even crossed my mind about this age thing. And I WILL BE AN RN SOMEDAY! You'll find everyone in the health care field (beyond school) is very receptive and encouraging so don't have a second thought. If it's your desire go for it! I started out with very little prerequisites so I went the full route. For my school, before you could even think of going nurse, NA was a must. If you can bypass do it, just puts you a little further closer to accomplishing your goal, but it's good to know the role cause as the nurse you need to know their capabilities and being a NA you'll learn a little respect for them. It's crap pay for getting down and dirty job for someone who you'll rely a lot upon. While your passing meds don't forget who's wiping booty.
You will find working and school as you get further into a program don't mix real good especially during clinicals, you'll spend several days in the hospital a week and the rest of the time lectures and study and writing the: for some the all night long dreaded care plan and concept map. By the end the word zombie is in your vocabulary. It's all worth the mental screwing the instructors will give:cry: and the back stabbing of fellow students :chuckle and sleepless nights:yawn:. The real world of nursing is nothing like school. First you learn to be a student then when your done, you'll then learn to be the nurse:nurse:. This is really cool, I'm a nurse! Never too late for a whole lot of respect you"ll feel. Good Luck!!
You Go Girl! I turned 50 while taking my pre req's this past summer. I start LVN program in October and I am so excited. I will be 53 when I get my RN license, but guess what? I will be 53 whether I do this or not. Like you I did'nt go to college. I have a daughter also starting college. In California, the RN programs are really tough to get into, so I will become an LVN and then bridge to RN. Take a chance, I bet you will be great!
I think you are ready for the next step, since you have already helped Hospice nurse with CNA duties. You are never too old to go back to school. I just turned 48 years old and graduated from LVN/LPN back in December 2007 and got my license in early 2008. Currently, I work in the home health area, but it is not always stable work. I should have kept going to school for RN. By next year sometime, I plan to go back to school for RN. I am not sure how many hours you will be capable of working. This would depend on school and clinical hours required, but if you want it bad enough there is always a way to do it. My hubby and I had to make many sacrifices while I was in school. We had to watch our spending, because I wasn't able to work much. Also, we didn't get to see each other much. We were like two ships crossing paths. lol I have a friend currently attending an LVN/LPN school that is strictly on the weekends and she attends 8-10 hours each day, but it will take her 2 year to finish the LVN program. Maybe there is a school in you area that does the same. Also, many hospitals will hire you after you receive LVN/LPN and pay for your tuition if you work for them a certain length of time. A friend of mine is working in a clinic for Kaiser and he will start attending the RN program soon. He will work part time, but he will be able to keep is benefits and they are paying for school. After he gets his RN the only requirement is to work for them for at least 2 years. I hope this information is of help to you. Good Luck with your decision.
I remember a Dear Abby article where a man was wanting to become a doctor. He was in his 50's I believe. He stated that he would be late 50's when he was finished with med school, etc. Abby replied, well how old will you be if you DON'T go to med school? Best advice I have ever seen. I am 40 and trying to get into nursing school myself. Competition is fierce out here, about 70 spots with over 300 applications. But I am going to try. At first when I turned 40, I said OMG I am 40....then a few minutes later it dawned on me, I still have 27 years before I can even considered retirement. I say if it is something you want to do.....GO FOR IT!!!! Good luck!
Hi, I'm 43 went back to school for nursing when my kid graduated from high school. I'm in my second year of nursing school right now. No you're not too old and you will find when you start classes that their are more students then you might think that around your same age. Second, that is what I did. I took CNA training with the Red Cross and got a job as a CNA in the hospital. I didn't want to go through all that schooling and find out that I didn't want to do it. It's great experiance and you will find out quick if this is what you want to do.
I'm only 19 years old and im a CNA. I think you'll love it. I love it! I don't think it's "to late" because CNA's are a great part of the "health care team" and if you like helping people, its probably going to work out for ya!!
I am going to get my RN this fall =] I am kind of having the same issue with "am I too young to start a career?" My parents think I am, I am the same age as your son. What do you think?
Well, I am just finishing up CNA training, am 49, left the corporate world in a state of burn-out, and love this new training. I just received first job offer as patient care tech for very well regarded local hospital. No, it is definitely not too late! My particular training course was 9 weeks long, part time, so you could actually work while in training. The money is not as great as corporate, but the gratification is! My opinion - go for it!
(i should have stayed in college when i had the chance, but oh well...) 
I'm only 57 years and it never even crossed my mind about this age thing. And I WILL BE AN RN SOMEDAY! You'll find everyone in the health care field (beyond school) is very receptive and encouraging so don't have a second thought. If it's your desire go for it! I started out with very little prerequisites so I went the full route. For my school, before you could even think of going nurse, NA was a must. If you can bypass do it, just puts you a little further closer to accomplishing your goal, but it's good to know the role cause as the nurse you need to know their capabilities and being a NA you'll learn a little respect for them. It's crap pay for getting down and dirty job for someone who you'll rely a lot upon. While your passing meds don't forget who's wiping booty. 
:chuckle and sleepless nights:yawn:. The real world of nursing is nothing like school. First you learn to be a student then when your done, you'll then learn to be the nurse:nurse:. This is really cool, I'm a nurse! Never too late for a whole lot of respect you"ll feel. Good Luck!!
fayejum48
11 Posts
I became an LPN at the age of 48. I am now getting ready to go back to get my ADN and then BSN. It's never too late unless you are dead. What have you got to lose. Go for it! I am so happy that I fulfilled my dreams. I have no regrets! I love my job. Good luck to you! My husband always says to follow your heart!