58 years old - Am I too old to start nursing school??

[jaggy123]

Love your attitude ConnieCanada! I'm a 48yo who will sit for the NCLEX in a week. I have so much to offer, experience, insight, maturity, discipline, and compassion. I will remember your comments when I interview. Thank you, and best wishes :).

[Emergent, RN]

I'm 58. I personally wouldn't waste one minute in school at the exorbitant price they charge, on a degree that I'd only use a few years. I have too many other interesting ways to spend my time.

But, if it's a grand goal of yours, go for it!

For me, I have no academic goals. I'm happy with my lowly ASN. Thankfully, in my time, it was enough. If I were 10 years younger, I'd get my BSN.

[edmia, BSN, RN]

I do think that is too old to start nursing school, unless you have a clear goal in mind. For example, you have a job lined up before even starting (as in, a friend with a family practice wants to hire you at their office). I had a classmate who was about 60 during school, but she wanted to do the psych NP right after as this was her passion and she was already a therapist. She wanted to prescribe.

I cannot see a new grad in their 60s getting hired in today's job market.

The homebirth midwife is another thing altogether. They already have a practice and will probably go on to a CNM. So again, they have a clear purpose for that degree.

It's not ageism, it's reality. Nursing, bedside in particular, is a draining job.

[quiltynurse56, LPN, LVN]

Are you looking at earning your LPN or your RN? I just graduated in Feb. and am an LPN and I am 59. I work in a nursing home and am loving my job. I choose to work evening shift as it works best for me. I don't think I could handle day shift and my mental health can not handle night shift. I also went to the school to be a nurse to volunteer on mission trips. I don't know if you have taken any prereqs or Gen Eds, but if decide to move forward, get as many of those out of the way before you start your nursing classes.

I also choose to work part time and to fill in PRN. That way, I am able to maintain physical stamina as well as mental stamina. So assess what you are doing this for and what your goals are. Maybe take an extra semester to finish too. Just some things to think about.

[Julius Seizure]

Can a 58 year old succeed in nursing school? Yes.

But knowing what I know after doing it myself, would I do it at age 58? No freaking way.

[13grad71]

Age does not matter in nursing school. But when you are ready to work, you will have a stiff hill to climb. Employers won't see much return on investment for an older employee candidate, unfortunately in this climate. But most importantly, floor nursing is a physically and mentally demanding job. You will be on your feet for 12 hours constantly juggling priorities. Just way too hard on the body. It will wear you out or burn you out in a couple of years.

[feelix, RN]

I would not discourage her, just because nursing iIs full of ageists.

I would tell her what I tell everyone. Go for it if you have nerves of steel and knees of a leopard, and the brain of a rocket scientist.

She could still get plastic surgery and look 20 years younger.

[akulahawkRN, ASN, RN, EMT-P]

If you're younger than dead and you want to do it and are willing to deal with the hardships associated with finding your first nursing job at that age, then you're not too old.

If you truly believe that you're too old, then you are.

Is it tough to get your first job? Yes. Is working on your feet for 12 hours every day tough? Yes. You have to decide if it's worth it to you to pursue nursing and work through all those hardships and the ageism that does happen. Unfortunately ageism is something that is present in every field when dealing with people new to the field. When I hit about 60, I'll have about 20 years in nursing. At least I'll have some experience by then. I also hope that I'm still able to do bedside nursing by then!

[RNrhythm, BSN, RN]

What are your goals? Do you want to provide bedside care? Home health? You might make an awesome case manager, or a school nurse, or a health educator. It all depends upon your background, skills, and interests. Are you bilingual? Can you write procedures? Monitor compliance? Supervise at an adult daycare? I know a nurse who supervises research studies and another who teaches nurses how to use infomatics. Neither was interested in bedside care. There are RN jobs that no one has even heard of yet that are away from the bedside.

Are you a solid and reliable worker now?

I encourage you to assess your strengths and weaknesses and take a pragmatic look at your career goals. If you are interested in bedside care, where I live, you could probably find a job in a SNF or subacute. Acute care might be out of your reach.

[RNrhythm, BSN, RN]

quiltynurse56 said:

I don't know if you have taken any prereqs or Gen Eds, but if decide to move forward, get as many of those out of the way before you start your nursing classes.

Yes! Do your pre-reqs before your start your program, ESPECIALLY if your program is accelerated. Make sure they are transferable into your program. Many people do not survive microbiology or physiology and the decision to become an RN (or not) will be made for you.

[NursesRmofun, ASN, RN]

Nurse Beth is right. I feel your pain. I went back to school LPN to RN in the early 2000's in my early 40's. That was hard enough for me. If I had to think about going to school now, while it would be fun....the stress would get to me right hand in hand with the toll on my body. As it is, working fulltime at this age (with a couple heath concerns) is a real challenge, IMO.

[NursesRmofun, ASN, RN]

CatHair said:

As someone who is 57 and completed RN Licensure last year I can tell you that age is INDEED a factor in the workforce.

When people meet me and hear I am an RN, they think I have 20+ years of experience.

When they find out I am a new grad with no work experience they start questioning why I became an RN at my age. That is what comes up in the few interviews I have been able to get.

As already mentioned, do you think a hospital is going to invest $50-$100K in training for you?

They would not for me.

There always seems to be a "hiring freeze" in effect but they will hire "from within", in other words if you are already working there in another capacity. (as PCT/CNA etc).

I couldn't even get a LTC facility to interview me.

Perhaps they are waiting for me to qualify as a Resident so I can pay THEM for being there?

I feel for you. I hope that after you went through the schooling that you do find something. That stinks.