60, is it worth going back to school

[sondon]

Had my LPN for 15 yrs, just used it in the last 2yrs at a Juvenile Detention Center. I have an opportunity to get my RN and it will be fully pd for. However, I'm at retirement age!! 
I'll be 62 when I graduate, I was thinking to use it with a part time position but I wouldn't have the med surg experience, so is it worth going back to school?

[LateBloomerRN15]

I feel you have to ask yourself a few more questions to help answer this. First- what is the commitment you have to make to get the education free? Is it a commitment to stay with your current employer for X number of years to 'pay back' their investment? Secondly, do you want to continue learning? Do you like to learn and therefore won't hate every minute of getting your BSN? Then I think you need to ask yourself whether you can realistically retire at 62. Do you have enough savings/income and way to get medical insurance coverage until you can sign up for Medicare at 65? I love the idea of getting more education and planning for part-time work in retirement. I don't think the lack of med sure experience is a negative but I think you have to be realistic about options and for part time work after getting your BSN. Do you have people in your network that can help find/make those opportunities happen easier?

[bluescoop, BSN, RN]

It's up to you. I didn't graduate nursing school until I was 24 and there was a 60 year old man in my program who died of cancer before he could even graduate. Do you want to work until you're in your 70s or 80s? Is it worth it for you to get your RN if you plan to retire in 10 or 20 years? It just depends how long you expect to live or be able to work. I would never discourage someone from pursuing a job they want because of their age if they weren't showing signs of cognitive issues that come with age. 

[LinCerd]

I will say it could be worth it depending on what you would like to do and have done. Nurses don't necessarily need to work 7a-7p or 7p-7a and you don't even have to work inpatient if you don't want. If youre building rappor at the place you are currently working and could collaborate to get a job position when you graduate I don't see why not. Unless of course it is not fully paid for then I would not recommend going into debt/seeking loans in order to pursue this degree at a more advanced age. 

[AnnieOaklyRN, BSN, RN, EMT-P]

YES, do it, never refuse free schooling, UNLESS there is a stipulation that you have to pay the money back if you do not stay at your current work place for xxx number of years.  

 

-Annie