Too old to become an LNA?

U.S.A. New Hampshire

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I am seriously considering taking the LNA training but am a little worried because of my age - I am 57. Do you think I am too old for a career change? I am already volunteering at a hospital and love it. Any input would be really appreciated.

I went to nursing school 35 years ago with a woman who would be 65 when we graduated. We all teased her and told her she could apply for social security when she graduated. She was so happy at graduation she brought tears to our eyes. She did go on to work.

I am now 61 and work on the floor of a hospital, and I am not the oldest nurse on the floor-go for it.

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You are going to be the same age either way. I started nursing school at 60, have been working for 2 years, love it. good luck to you:)

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I am seriously considering taking the LNA training but am a little worried because of my age - I am 57. Do you think I am too old for a career change? I am already volunteering at a hospital and love it. Any input would be really appreciated.

You are never too old! Age is not always chronological, but attitude as well. My mother is the same age as you, and if she is still nursing and plans to continue, why shouldn't you start now??

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Seriously? You are worried if you are too old? Don't think that you are too old for even a second! I am 50, and have 1 more year to go til I graduate as an RN. My plans are to get a job and then continue my education. I can tell you that being a "mature" student is often a benefit! I know things that some of the younger students haven't experienced, and just by being a little older, sometimes I am able to "study smart, not hard" in a way that the younger students haven't figured out.

Here is the other thing... most of us will be working far longer than maybe we had planned 25 years ago... I know that I figure I will work until at least 70, if not 75. If that is the case, why not spend that time doing something you enjoy?

Go for it, and have a blast!!

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Specializes in Women's Surgical Oncology, MIU,MBU.

Of course not...I have a friend that is now 64 and she was a LPN and became an RN at 60. She is one of my greatest inspirations!

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I'll add my voice to the chorus... I'm 53 and am two months into my RN program. I absolutely love the training and currently hold a 98% in the coursework. (My clinical group is just as driven to succeed as myself, and yet they are so fun to be with that we spend about 8 hours of our 9-hour day laughing our fool heads off!)

If a cynical, grizzled, old retired cop can have this much fun, anyone can...

Go be all that you can be!!!

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It is never too late! I got my RN license in December 2010 - two months before my 56th birthday. I have job and have received only support and congratulations from the other RNs Go for it!

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Specializes in onc, critical care.

I think you can do it if you want to, or else it will guide you into something else. I became an RN @ 49 and pts usually assume I have been doing this for 30 yrs :))))

Good luck to you, and there is something waiting that you are being drawn to , I promise

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Specializes in home care.

I became a nurse at 51. By the way I was not the oldest student in the class.

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Specializes in cadiology/telemetry.

It's never too late to do something. In the end people regret NOT doing something, not DOING something. If you are healthy, intelligent, caring and "alert and oriented x 3," you can do it! OK your career won't be 40 years long, but that's not a problem. I went back to school after 30 years in IT and got an MSN at Yale!! I am happy getting up every morning - that's such a gift.

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Go for it, Girl. I just finished LPN school in December and I am 57 1/2. It was all new to me never having worked in the medical field. Just needed a job and God put me on the path to LPN. Actually, mine was a journey that turned into a dream. The hardest part to me was dealing with some of the younger ones. Now my best buddy turned out to be 19 so I'm not putting all the younger ones down by any means, but I did have to adjust myself to some of their ways. I think I intimidated some b/c it took until the third semester for some of them to even talk to me. I taught myself patience and tolerance in order to try to "fit in." I loved the studying and learning. I finished first in my class and graduated with high honors, so I proved my mind was still good!!!! Starting my first LPN job in a couple of weeks and I am so excited and so glad I persevered. NO ONE was ever anything but supportive and encouraging. Now everyone is really proud and I have spent the last couple of months writing tons of people thank yous. Bottom line, do it. It will make you feel 23 again - well, maybe 43???

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Too old??? I just got my license at 52 for CNA... and I am NOT old!!!! You go girl!!!

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