61yr old LPN, should I get RN?

[Grannyof6]

I have been an LPN since 1981 and just lost my job this month due to being on med leave longer than 12 weeks. I still have 3 more weeks till I can go back to work and will need to find a new job. That won't be easy at my age.

I'm wondering if it would make sense to get my RN at my age?

Thanks

[33762FL]

Not unless you're independently wealthy like Mitt Romney. You'll spend a few years and an unknown amount of money going to school for your RN, and you'll give up time that you can be working and earning. Ageism, while nobody condones it, is very real. It takes a lot of time and money to train a new nurse, and with the over-supply of new grads you will be hard pressed to find a facility willing to invest in a new grad who is 63, 64, 65 years old. If you can't pay your student loans they garnish your social security checks, which IMO is the biggest reason why you shouldn't go back to school. Look for another LPN job, don't go into debt so late in life and don't lose potential income.

[Grannyof6]

"if you can't pay your student loans they garnish your social security checks''

really? i didn't know they could do that. thank you so much. i think you might have helped me make up my mind

[llg, PhD, RN]

I doubt it would be worth it. You would spend a lot of time, energy, and money ... and maybe graduate in few years and be be "64 year old new grad." Your chances of getting a good RN job would be slim to none. You would be better off investing the time and effort (and maybe a little money) in further developing your current LPN career -- or coming up with something new that might involve a little (cheaper) training. I have one friend who has considered become a nanny or some other type of child-care provider. Get creative. What are your interests outside of "staff nursing?" Is there anything else you might like to do? Perhaps something for which the LPN would not be required, but would be a benefit that other applicants for that job wouldn't have ...

Another thing to consider: You say you plan to work until you are 70 -- and that's what you are using to figure out the finances. What if you can't work until you are 70? What does that do to the equation? A lot of people develop health problems in their 60's that change their retirement plans. You can't be sure that nothing will happen to you and your ability to work. Whatever you do, don't take on any debt to go back to school. You can't be sure that you will be able to work to pay it back. Similarly, don't drain your savings.

I wish you the best of luck with whatever you decide.

llg (age 56)

[33762FL]

Yes, they can absolutely garnish your social security checks! Buyer beware! Here's a link:

Pay Student Loans or Lose Social Security Pay