Trying to select a program as an older male

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. I was career military and retired a few years ago. Now that we have all the children out of the house I'm ready for my final career change. I was going to enter a 2nd degree BSN program when I first retired but needed to continue working with 3 children still at home. I'm currently an engineering manager research facility but am completing my PreReqs (nobody at work knows I'm doing this) and applying for the ADN night-school program next spring. As my schedule now looks, I'll be graduating getting my RN at 55 years old.

I have reviewed the advantages of a BSN and have looked at that but there aren't any available in my area. Would I really be at such a disadvantage with the ADN versus the BSN? Is it possible to earn an ADN, get the RN, and pursue a MSN based upon a previous BS degree? Obviously I'm full of questions with few answers.

I could also really use some information to know that I'm not being stupid by pursuing this dream (that's what I'm hearing a lot). Because I have wanted to do this for so long I find it easy to present the reasons why this is the right thing to do. Unfortunately, I also hear a lot of "valid" reasons it may be silly to change careers at this age, mostly financial. I will be about 7 years from retirement when I start a new career path. Advice and assistance from experienced folks would be greatly appreciated.

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Hi OldNavySS! I retired and entered nursing school for my ADN at age 55! I graduated at age 57, am now working on my BSN and may possibly continue to my MSN. I actually had no plans to get BSN at first, thinking it would be a waste of money and time for someone my age. What I realized by the time of graduation was that it was worth doing just for me. I have learned so much and don't regret a single minute or dollar I am spending at this.

If I had had a Bachelors degree in ANYTHING I would have been eligible to pursue 4 year nursing degree in my area which is called "accelerated." It is actually done in less time than the 2 year Community college ADN program. There is also a school in my area that is a private nursing school that will get your BSN in about 2 years. These programs do not have the time offs for summer, holidays and are intense. Is there some sort of program like that in your area? It sure would be valuable to get your BSN right off the bat. Here in this town no one gets a hospital job without a BSN.

I decided in my last semester of school that I probably did not want to work in hospital. I decided it was just too stressful to do at my age. I feel incomplete that I did not get to do this but I am enjoying nursing very much. I don't work full time and I really like that I am retired from one job and don't have to kill myself at this to earn a living. Ha Ha - I saw nursing described as "Trying to save others without killing yourself."

Best wishes to you! I heartily support you doing this. I could have stayed in my job and rode the train right to SS years. I kind of looked at it like this ... I don't think I will be laying in my death bed saying, "I should have stayed at the _______ company."

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OldNavySS - this is definitely not a bad idea, just make sure you have a good support system in place while you are in school. I did an accelerated BSN program for people who already had a previous Bachelors degree. The diversity in my class was amazing, we had a former commercial airline pilot, a retired police officer, an Army medic, Social Workers, and everything in between. Being career military I am sure you are disciplined and will have no trouble managing your time or the workload. I also heard that in one of the later cohorts that there was a woman in her 60's that did the accelerated program. So the moral of the story is that it's never too late.

You can't pursue the MSN without first having the BSN, despite the fact that you have an existing Bachelors degree. Every MSN program I have ever seen requires a BSN as a pre-requisite. But once you get the ADN, try and get a job which offers tuition benefits. There are a multitude of online RN-BSN programs, and your employer may very well pay for the entire thing.

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Specializes in Psych/Mental Health.

OldNavySS- I don't think you'll be at a huge disadvantage if you can keep your job while you're getting an ADN at night. You'll get your RN without any debt and you have the option to keep your job if you can't find an RN job right away. From what I've read here, hospitals in some areas are still hiring ADNs. Even in competitive areas where hospitals don't hire ADNs, ADNs might still find jobs in other settings (LTC or Home Health).

There are RN-to-MSN programs out there for those who have a BS in another field and the RN licence. You go directly from ADN to MSN and bypass BSN. Check this link out:

RN to MSN Degree Programs by State

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Whether or not you need a BSN depends largely on where you are located. In some parts of the country, ADNs can readily find hospital jobs. Elsewhere, a BSN is the minimum standard for entry to work in the acute care environment. Where I live, hospitals won't even consider new graduates with ADNs.

As far as getting into nursing late in life, I starting taking pre-reqs at 55, got into a second bachelor's program at 58, and got my RN at 59. It was a huge amount of work, but was easily the best decision I ever made.

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Thank you for the support and insight.

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

What is the job market like in your area? You are aware, I hope, of the difficulties of finding jobs for new grads in many, many areas of the country?

NOT trying to be a Debbie Downer, just a reality check.

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I would like to encouage you and at the same time warn you - a career in nursing might not be all youve been hoping for or imagining. And on the other hand, if you wont/cant find fulfillment until successfully completing a nursing program, then who am I to dissuade you?? I am a 30- something new grad of a ADN program (btw there were a few 40 & 50 somethings in my cohort). While its harder for an ADN RN to get a hospital job in my region, its possible. Especially if you network throughout school. Oh. And the schooling and the actual job is generally stressful. I think you really need to consider just how important this is to you before you invest the exorbitant amount of energy/effort that nursing school (and the profession itself) will require. Good luck.

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