When are you too old to start nursing school?

[2soon2beOTC]

Nursing is a physical job: is there a point where you are simply too old to take on the rigors of being a brand new RN? I left my soul killing career to go for a long held dream of being a RN. I did prerequisites (take it from me: nurses are the smartest people in the world. The hardest course in my supposedly fancy grad program was nothing compared to A and P). and to my amazement got accepted into a program. At 50, I think I am definitely the oldest person in the entering class. NAs summer approached I learned that a nagging back pain stemmed from a congenital defect that requires major back surgery to avoid nerve damage. Sooooo: daaaamn. Good news is that the program, rather than have someone in clinicals who had recent back surgery, will hold my place and I can begin next year. So why am I feeling by waiting a year, recovering and getting strong, I'll be too ridiculously ancient? I feel like a freak, age-wise. So after fter all this work and luck, I feel like it's ridiculous to begin something that will now be a three year process. Should I just be happy that I have a spot and take the year to get square physically? Or should is it getting to the point where I am just in general too old to begin a physical new career and should I slink back into the drudgery of what I did before?

[mrphil79]

50/51 is not too old.

To your point about A&P... I have a bachelor's degree - I put more work into those two classes to get an A than I did most of my bachelor's degree combined. There DEFINITELY wasn't a single class that compared to the workload to get through both A&P classes with a solid understanding of the material. And I say this with having earned my degree with a 3.7 GPA... I didn't coast through my first degree.

As far as slinking back into the drudgery...

Look at it this way - Do you really want to spend the next (possibly last...) 10-25 years of your life going to a job that you HATE, are bored with, and will constantly be sitting there saying 'dang it, why didn't I go to nursing school...?'?

Plus, you've put in the time and work so far. Is another year really that far away?

[akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P]

When are you too old? When you're dead. That's too old. The real question that remains is whether or not you think you'll be able to get through school clinicals when you're going to be just about 1 year post surgery. Quite honestly, you'll have to attack this problem like any competitive athlete would. The reason I say competitive athlete is because if you don't adopt the mental toughness of this kind of athlete and the drive this kind of athlete has in going for a goal, you'll have a tougher time getting to that point where you will be easily able to perform than you otherwise would. I have seen athletes that were approaching world-class status get taken out of their sport for a year, have to undergo major surgery and return to their prior level of ability in just one year. It is possible.

What I generally suggest people do is work with their surgeon and physical therapist to prepare for surgery by doing appropriate physical therapy to give the surgeon the absolute best conditions possible during surgery while teaching you how to perform all the things that the PT will have you do after surgery. To get the most out of your PT, you'll have to learn to do PT "homework" because not all the work you'll have to do can happen during those PT sessions.

You've done the academic work to get into school, but now you're faced with a physical challenge that you'll have to correct anyway. It's up to you do determine if you're going to be able to have the mental toughness necessary to give your dream a fighting chance to take flight. It's a very intensely personal thing and only YOU can truly decide if you can do it.

Just something to consider: most competitive athletes are physiologically no different than anyone else. What sets them apart is what's above the neck...

[MyAimIsTrue, BSN]

I'll be starting nursing school in the fall, days after I turn 48. I feel like I am on the cusp of being too old, but on the other hand, if I were to graduate today, the job market here is tough. But it's expected to open up in the next few years, so I'm hoping my timing is good. I know two fairly recent grads, one who finished a little younger than 50 and one who finished a little older than 50 (who went through my program) and both love their nursing jobs. One is on her feet for most of her shift, the other, not so much--she does phone triage at a women's clinic. How old is too old is not a simple question and there's not one answer.

[IEDave, ASN, CNA, LVN]

Really, it's not about the "ticks on the odometer" so much as being able to deal with the physical & intellectual rigors of the profession. In my case, I'm 53 and headed into 3rd semester of a VN program. At the moment I'm working full-time as a CNA in an LTC - physically demanding, but the big thing for me is that I'm constantly getting called in to work due to poor staffing ratios. So...looking for a part time home health gig to tide me over for the last semester.

Academically...yep, challenging. Not overly so (I'm pulling A's & A-'s) but the instructors are throwing data at you pretty fast so you can't really afford to procrastinate. Doable? Yep - I'm still planning on standing up in front of 300+ people in mid-December to have my VN pin applied to my lapel, at which time I will be 54 years old.

Again, it's not about your age, so much as can you pull the sucker off. And that really is something you're going to have to ask yourself, 'cause I can't give you a stock answer. Given your back issues I'd look really, really hard at that aspect 'cause that could bite you, and hard. Best of luck to you.

----- Dave

[applesxoranges, BSN, RN]

When you develop dementia? Seriously. I know very healthy 50 year olds and I know very sick 30 year olds. One patient was 59 and no one (plus me) could believe it. People asked if it was the right patient. As long as your body and mind is up to the challenge, it should be fine.

[jd2nurse]

You're definitely not too old! I graduated at 44. Remember that there are many ways to be a nurse. Not everyone has to work in the hospital slinging patients around all day. You can do home health or public health nursing or work in a clinic where lifting is not really an element. It's good to become an RN when you've got a little gray. That life experience will serve you well!

[FLORIDA LPN 7]

Hi, I know exactly how you feel. I have been an LPN since 2002. I graduated with a BS in Healthcare Management in 2015 and I graduated with a MBA with a concentration in Healthcare Administration in March of this year. I march next weekend. I will be 54 in July and for some reason as a kid growing up I hated school and did the bare minimum to get by, but now it seems like the older I get the more education I want. Get your health and strength back on track and you will have a different outlook. We can uplift and encourage each other. I think for me it is more of a personal accomplishment. I have been happy as an LPN and never wanted to be an RN until the last 6 months or less it has been on my mind for what reason I don't know why. You are blessed to have a school that will hold your spot for a whole year. One of my close friends had a passing of her father in 3 or 4 years ago and the RN program she was in held her spot for two years and she procrastinated for so long that she lost her spot in one of the hardest schools in my hometown to get into. I have received two degrees in that time and she is still lost and undecided. I told her I am starting my third degree and time waits for no one. Keep me posted. You are never too old to learn and don't give up on your dream.

[ABSN_STTI]

Good for you! You follow your heart and your dreams. If you can't imagine the 12 hour shifts on your feet, there's always alternatives to bedside nursing. I personally think that you may want to get your masters and become a nurse manager. That way, you have 8 hour days, 5 times a week, and it's usually 4 hours sitting in meetings and 4 hours on foot managing. Nursing is SO much fun and if you have the passion for it, move forward. I have 2 classmates in my cohort who are currently older than you, so don't feel discouraged. They are healthy, as these classes can be taxing.

[justgonnagoforit]

Ok, so 53 (awesome years of experience) old right here! I have worked at my hospital for 6 years. I work on the IV Team now, pushing a computer around about 7-8 miles a day.

Before this position I was a regular CNA on the Neuro-science unit. We have lots of heavy, flaccid, stroke patients that needed to be walked to the bathrooms or bathed while changing out beds, fed, briefs changed, turned, lugged into wheelchairs, etc. I worked pretty hard, much harder physically, than the majority of the RN's during my 12 hour shifts. But I loved it most of the time .

Yes I was tired, that is for sure. But there is something about the atmosphere at a hospital. We help people that need it. I was meant to do this and it feels pretty good - plus I work with many like-minded people. For the most part, we are a team. You will have the exceptions, but that's anywhere you go. And then there's the 3 day work week, or week-enders that make pretty great money.

I will hopefully be in MY nursing program spring 2017. This has always been a dream of mine and I don't care what anyone thinks...I'm gonna do it. I hope you do too!!

[pmabraham, BSN, RN]

Woot another 53 year young one. Nice to read a reply from someone my age.

[AngelKissed857, BSN, RN]

When are you too old? When you give up on your dreams or have no pulse. I went at 58- the "kid" are all whining long before I am. Go for it! Otherwise you'll always wonder "what if?".