41 yr. old business executive going to Nursing School

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I'm a 41 year old single mom (joint custody) who will be an empty nester in 4 years. I'm not sure if I'm going through a midlife crisis but lately my corporate insurance job no longer lights my fire and I am yearning for a career that gives me a strong sense of purpose and the feeling that I'm doing something meaningful.

I have family members who are nurses and they've been encouraging me to consider Nursing.

I'm looking into getting in the GEPN at University of Hawaii- Manoa on the DNP path.

I know that once I start, there's no turning back because I'll be using part of my IRA money for living expenses while I do the 1 year intensive prelicensure before taking the NCLEX.

Do you think Nursing school is a good return of investment at my age (41)?

Thank you in advance. I appreciate the feedback.

Specializes in Pedi.

I like being a nurse but in no way do I feel like it "lights my fire." If I won PowerBall or Mega Millions, I'd quit nursing tomorrow. I think people who expect their jobs to do all that for them are looking for fulfillment in the wrong places. It's a job, not your life.

In no way would I advise cashing in your IRA early to finance a nursing education. Since you mention being an empty nester, perhaps consider being a foster parent as a way to do something meaningful. I work with medically complex children in foster care and I can tell you good foster parents are always needed.

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Specializes in Pediatric Critical Care.
In no way would I advise cashing in your IRA early to finance a nursing education.

Yes! If you DO choose to pursue nursing, find the least expensive route to an RN degree, seek out scholarships, and pay as you go. Don't touch that retirement savings...especially not in your 40s when you won't have as much time to put it back.

Since you mention being an empty nester, perhaps consider being a foster parent as a way to do something meaningful. I work with medically complex children in foster care and I can tell you good foster parents are always needed.

Fostering is a wonderful way to give back and do something meaningful. If you can't take on that commitment though, consider volunteering as a child advocate for the court system. So many places are in desperate need for more volunteers to be an advocate for kids that are caught up in court proceedings (abuse cases, foster placements, etc.) If you live in Hawaii, this may be a helpful link for more info.

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Thank you everyone for the very eye opening information about the reality of working as a nurse.

I am still considering my options though. Initially I was looking into an executive MBA program (cohort group & the degree is completed in 2 years of evening and weekend classes designed for working adults) which I know will expand my network and will open more doors for me should I choose to switch to a different field in business. Also we live in a very competitive job market I think where there's a surplus of educated people but not a lot of suitable job openings and not a lot of opportunities to move up. I've been with my firm for 10 years but I feel with office politics there's no path for me to move up. I may just need to consider different employers.

I've always thrived in an academic environment and have always wanted to go back to graduate school. So it's really just a question of which graduate level education will give me the mental stimulation & the best return on my investment.

The Graduate Entry Program in Nursing here at UH accepts bachelors degree graduates from any other field and with the completion of the prerequisites starts you off in 1 year - 3 trimesters intensive prelicensure studies that allow you to take the NCLEX after the 1st year. It is in that 1st year that they recommend the students to not be employed.

After the NCLEX it is 3 more years of studies leading to a PhD or DNP degree, depending on the path the student takes. During the 3 years part time employment is possible.

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New grads don't work days. Unless you're prepared to spend time away from your children at length including holidays and bedtime, AND you have money for childcare for that time, I wouldn't recommend it. I'm a single mom, and nursing has been hard for me for those reasons. Also, yes, nursing is rewarding, but it's not like volunteering. It truly is work, and extremely stressful work at that.

What does make nursing worth it for me is the pay (not rich lol, but making better money than jobs with comparable education) and knowing I have a career ahead of me, and I don't have to stay where I am if I don't want to. Also, I'm extroverted and enjoy the energy I get from my coworkers and patients.

Hope this helps!

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Thank you everyone for the very eye opening information about the reality of working as a nurse.

I am still considering my options though. Initially I was looking into an executive MBA program (cohort group & the degree is completed in 2 years of evening and weekend classes designed for working adults) which I know will expand my network and will open more doors for me should I choose to switch to a different field in business. Also we live in a very competitive job market I think where there's a surplus of educated people but not a lot of suitable job openings and not a lot of opportunities to move up. I've been with my firm for 10 years but I feel with office politics there's no path for me to move up. I may just need to consider different employers.

I've always thrived in an academic environment and have always wanted to go back to graduate school. So it's really just a question of which graduate level education will give me the mental stimulation & the best return on my investment.

The Graduate Entry Program in Nursing here at UH accepts bachelors degree graduates from any other field and with the completion of the prerequisites starts you off in 1 year - 3 trimesters intensive prelicensure studies that allow you to take the NCLEX after the 1st year. It is in that 1st year that they recommend the students to not be employed.

After the NCLEX it is 3 more years of studies leading to a PhD or DNP degree, depending on the path the student takes. During the 3 years part time employment is possible.

I'm all about pep talks & believing in yourself, but completing an RN program in even four semesters after prerequisites is a grueling ordeal that'll wash-out probably at least 30% and perhaps 50% of the population, and GPA before entering nursing school would be irrelevant.

To have any chance of passing the NCLEX-RN in three semesters, I'd substitute the school's use of "intensive" with "superhuman".

As for the reward at the end of the superhuman journey - if you think "office politics" are bad, nursing politics are often exponentially worse. If you're smart and motivated enough to go from neophyte to Dr Nurse in four years, you're smart and motivated enough to find a better outlet for your energy and time (and retirement money).

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I am 38 and will take my last nursing school final tomorrow. You can do this. My suggestion is to start with a basic nursing degree (RN) at a community college. Zero to low student loans and no 401k/IRA withdrawal to pay for school. Get through that and start working. Make sure you love the field before spending the time and money on a DNP. Then the re-evaluate.

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I wouldn't do it. I am so sorry to be negative but I agree with everyone else. Volunteer, help friends, anything...but nursing school is a gamble at this point. Good luck to you!

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Specializes in ICU, LTACH, Internal Medicine.

If you think office politics is bad, then you shouldn't even bypass any health care facility while driving by.

What current White House administration is doing pales in comparison with what is going on in average nursing home. And it is so at every level.

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Specializes in Dialysis.

What current White House administration is doing pales in comparison with what is going on in average nursing home. And it is so at every level.

And hospital politics aren't much better. In some cases, it's even worse

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Went to nursing school at 50 years old! Started my first Med-Surg job at a small hospital 5 months ago. You got this. Just bring your running shoes to work because it can get busy but options are endless for different types of nursing.

PS I also have a bachelors of business degree and ran a successful company for 9 years before selling it to my largest client.

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Specializes in Peri-op.

Hi there! I can relate to your post. I am 39 and just got accepted to a direct entry MSN-CNL program. Currently I work as an administrative assistant and volunteer at ED of a local hospital. I dont have kids though so I guess it makes it easier. But it is still a big decision.

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Before you take this leap, before you gamble your future retirement by taking funds out of your IRA be sure you do it with eyes wide open. Go volunteer at a local hospital or nursing home to get a feel for what the job truly entails. Begin to look at the "want ads"where you live to determine what the market is like. If there is a pay differential between your current wage and the RN wage-and I bet there is- can you live with that pay cut? Read through any number of the threads here on the somewhat unrealistic expectation of what nursing should be as opposed to the reality.

If you really just want to do "something meaningful", go volunteering in a nursing home. Become a sub teacher. Or join religious mission to Haiti.

I agree with the poster above who encouraged you to add some meaningful activities (volunteering, etc.) to your life without endangering your financial, mental and physical health. If helping others is what you want to do, there are plenty of other ways you can do that without taking such a huge risk. If volunteering doesn't appeal to you ... is there any way you can use your current job skills at different job working for a non-profit organization that serves the community. Non-profit service corporations need business people, too.

If you were working at Taco Bell for minimum wage, I'd say go for it. If you're over 40, reasonably financially secure, and just looking for change, I'd say ...reconsider. Healthcare is big business, not the Kumbaya crap we see on TV.

Your reasons for being a nurse will not align with the reality of being a nurse.

One thing you mentioned in your post is you wanted to do something meaningful. It's gotten very hard to feel like you've made a difference, when everything is either mandated by a check off list, mandated by core measures, or accomplished by a huge team of which you are a just one player. Long gone are days where you sit by the bedside holding someone's hand getting them through a rough time. There are way too many tasks to perform and paperwork to do.

Most of us are finding that hospitals and practices want younger (early 20s-early 30s) that are cheaper on the bottom line (both at the bedside and for APRN roles) and don't have enough experience to know that they are being run to death and being treated not so great.

I wouldn't recommend it either if you are used to working as a corporate executive you will not like the way nurses and even NP's are treated by hospital management.

Feel free to read thru the many posts on here to get an idea of what the working conditions are like for both bedside nurses and NP's before you take money out of your IRA.

In no way would I advise cashing in your IRA early to finance a nursing education. Since you mention being an empty nester, perhaps consider being a foster parent as a way to do something meaningful. I work with medically complex children in foster care and I can tell you good foster parents are always needed.

As for the reward at the end of the superhuman journey - if you think "office politics" are bad, nursing politics are often exponentially worse. If you're smart and motivated enough to go from neophyte to Dr Nurse in four years, you're smart and motivated enough to find a better outlet for your energy and time (and retirement money).

I may just need to consider different employers.

I've always thrived in an academic environment and have always wanted to go back to graduate school. So it's really just a question of which graduate level education will give me the mental stimulation & the best return on my investment.

Considering different employers most definitely comes before jumping into nursing.

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Not sure but I feel like one of (what I would call) the mistakes in thinking here is this idea that only people in certain professions (can) perform meaningful work or contribute meaningful things to society. In reality, almost anyone can do these things. But when you choose a profession mainly because it appears to involve more of that, you're bound to be disappointed, and nursing is, IMHO, the prime example. Presently we have lost our way and are answering to too many others whose interests are compromised.

If you currently hold an executive postion, it will drive you nuts.

If you fancy yourself any sort of intellectual it will drive you nuts.

If you're used to professional interactions with peers and others with whom you collaborate, it will drive you nuts.

If you're used to any degree of autonomy or actual collaboration with others, it will drive you nuts.

If you want to do meaningful work in a meaningful way, it will be death by 1,000 cuts.

You're talking about a profession which people historically have worked very hard to make into a valuable profession by serving needs and proving the benefits of doing so - and then others came along and worked very hard to destroy it merely because they can't think of any other way to make money and deliver healthcare than to subjugate nurses and make a mockery of good patient care.

OP, it sounds like you need to save the money you already have, get serious about searching for a position outside of your company (+/- additional education if that is stimulating to you or could improve your prospects), and find meaningful volunteer work to do where you know you are helping humanity and the people alongside whom you're working have goals that don't directly oppose tenets important to you.

Best wishes ~

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