Wondering if 50 is too old to go to RN school

[fancyme50]

I just gradurated in june of this yr as an LPN, Would love to go on to RN school, but not sure because of my age. Does any one know anything about this bridge program LPN to RN and how long it takes and if you can do this on line in one yr. I have my first job as a LPN in a Nursing care facility full time, Just wondering if I should take the time and money and move forward when I have maybe 15 yrs to work.

Debating on what to do!!

[Byaggha]

If 50 is too old, they need to tell a guy who started in the NP at my school. He's in his 70s. :3

[miatap]

Thank you fancyme50!

I am just taking the TEAS test on Dec 3, 2008 for the LPN program and I am 41! I am so excited for this new chapter in my life! Could you give me some pointers for the test and the course in general!!!

Congratulations to you!!

[mariyahsmommy]

Well I'm 47 and going for it! You can too! AND I have an 8 yr old!:heartbeat

[Mandylpn]

I am 53 and have been thinking that I would like to pursue a career in nursing, first as an LPN then.....well who knows.

Nursing was something I had thought about as a career but in the late 60's it was not really an option for men at the time.

I have made some inquiries into community colleges and State Univ in my area (upstate Ny).

I was wondering when you applied to Nursing school and and had graduated 20-30 years ago from High School, how did the school you applied too...did they ask for your High School transcripts? or did they use the entrance exam as a Barometer for admission? Or a combination of things?

The reason I ask is I was not the best student going at that time, but life is a pretty good teacher unto herself.:bowingpur

Your words of encouragement in this forum are great:yeah:!

I await any and all replies......

Thank you.

Needchange of pace

The school you apply to will have you take assessment tests, most likely reading, math, comprehension, etc. Then you go from there. If you need developmental courses you start there and then progress. My school only required my high school diploma (I'm 50). Hope this helps.

[CapNurse09]

53 ... been an LPN for 30 years .... will graduate RN bridge in May

[Debsikins]

Florida,

You can finish any general classes by taking CLEP tests (go to google and type in "CLEP") you obtain your study materials and take the test at a college near you, you pass or fail. If u choose to go through Excelsior College, they accept some CLEP classes, some not. You can take any classes for nursing up to and including Nursing 1 without enrolling. Enrollment is about $895. You have to find your schedule to study and stick to it while working, otherwise family, etc. gets in the way. You'll do fine. Also If you call admissions at Exc. they are helpful at answering questions. Reading thru these threads answers a lot also.

[LPN2RN2B, LPN]

Heres a poem to sum up what I feel about your age and learning...

You are never too old to learn

by

Francis Duggan

You are never too old to learn so they say

And from life we do learn something new every day

You may be in your nineties showing your years in gray

And you have not stopped learning if your memory's okay

But I must be the silliest man on the street

For I still make mistakes and my mistakes I repeat

Older but not wiser and 'twould be fair to say

That I do not learn from life every day

And that wisdom belongs to the aged only lies

I do know some old people and they are not wise

Yet the more we learn from life the more our realization does grow

That so very little about life we do know

And those who say they know it all to themselves only lie

As we learn from life till the moment we die.

GO FOR IT...!!!

Good Luck in School....!!!

[CheyRN]

53 ... been an LPN for 30 years .... will graduate RN bridge in May

And I thought I procrastinated! I was an LPN for 16 years when I finally got my RN. All I can say is that with what physical demands of nursing and that most LPN's are the facility workhorses, you would be much better off with your RN. They you could at least get into a management position (MDS coordinator, Staff Development, Unit Manager, etc). You can also have more opportunity to do what you WANT to do instead of what you CAN do.

[trauma4me4930]

If 50 is too old for nursing school PLEASE don't tell me now because I'm 50 and just finished my 1st semester of nursing school. Like you, I wanted to do this way back in the 70's but life i.e. marriage, husband, children....got in the way. Now they're all grown (except the husband) & I can finally do what I've ALWAYS wanted to do. I say GO FOR IT!!! I'm in a community college working on a 2 year associates degree but I will be an RN once I graduate and pass the NCLEX-RN. I hope to work in trauma. Getting in was no problem, I didn't need my highschool stuff (thank god) but I had some previous college from back in the 70's & early 80's so the school wanted that transcript. Don't try to test out of biology though, alot has changed since we were in school & you'll need the update. I've actually been in school since the Summer '07 semester, I finished all my "academic" classes first before applying for nursing school. I DO NOT REGRET A MINUTE OF IT!!! Go for it!!! Haven't you heard?...50 is the new 40! I do agree with another of the people that answered this in that you should just skip the LPN and go straight for the RN. Good luck in what ever you do!!! :rckn:

[jc3015]

I just earned my PN license in October and I turned 55 the month before. I've tested for, and expect to be accepted into the ADN program at the college where I earned my PN certificate. I can't speak to your particular situation, but certainly don't let your age be the deciding factor. j

[NeedchangeofPace]

Many thanks to all for your encouraging words and thoughts.

I have recieved info on different schools within my area, most are with-in 30 minutes from home. I also have appointments to visit 2 schools next week.

I am getting excited about this new challenge!!

Thanx again!!!

Mark

[Farza]

You never get old when you have a active brain,age is just a number.GO FOR IT.