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Honest opinions please - sm

Posted: Feb 12, 2015

Is 50 too old to start nursing school (RN)? I know it is not supposed to happen, but will my age prevent me from getting a job besides in a nursing home? I keep going back and forth between RN and MA because of this. Or maybe just CNA at this point. Does anyone have any experience or know anyone who went through this? Thanks!

Good question - me

[ In Reply To ..]
I'm older & have wondered the same thing. Since I no longer think of MT as "the rest of my life" career, I have to consider options. I'll be interested in what answers you get. I hope you can do it. I've been told by ICU nurses (when I was a constant visitor for awhile) that they always need more nurses & they'd love new nurses even at our age! That was such a lift. Due to current circumstances, I can't actually finish the process of nursing, but maybe you can. I hope you do it. Maybe check with hospitals in your area & talk to the nurses. Perhaps the specialty nurses would be more open to it, like the ICU team I spoke to.

You can do it! - yh

[ In Reply To ..]
My fiance will be 50 next year, and he graduated in 2013 from an RN program and has been working in the ICU for almost 2 years. He has been welcomed with open arms at the hospital he is at, even worked there as a tech during school so they would work with his class schedule. He absolutely loves it, and makes great money, working three 12 hours shifts per week, so he gets 4 days off!

nursing - Effie

[ In Reply To ..]
Nursing jobs are becoming hard to get... just be aware of that. I think you are still young at 50..I am betting you will get a job.

You could probably find a - job fairly easily, but...

[ In Reply To ..]
when I looked into it a couple years ago there was a long wait to get into the nursing school (fairly large city in NC) and it was competitive as well with lots of prerequisites before you even started nursing. I might go for CNA first and try to work into RN. Good luck!

Not too old - Backwoods Typist

[ In Reply To ..]
My grandmother, after she and my grandfather retired from the dairy business (owned a dairy farm for years), and she near her 50s, found herself bored around the house. So, she went to nursing school. At that time, one of the local hospitals offered nursing classes, so that's where she went. She graduated from that and some years later, got her RN. She works at the local mental health hospital now a couple days a week, even after going through a hip replacement. At this point, though, she is considering retiring for good as she is now approaching 80.

If you look at your local job ads, Im sure there are a ton of ads in there for CMA, MA, RN, LPN, etc. Some places cannot find enough nursing help, so I am sure that you can find work beyond just a nursing home. RN will give you a wider range of choices, though.

Best of luck to you. In this day and age, do NOT be afraid to pursue what you dream of. Life is too short to just settle for second best. ;)

I would say go for it , you are not too old - anon

[ In Reply To ..]
and if you have the means to pay and have the energy for it, what a wonderful thing to do. Nurses are in demand, always have been. Good luck in whatever you decide to do

Some Things To Consider - see msg

[ In Reply To ..]
My sister did it in her late 40s and it worked out well. It was quite some time ago, but I'm pretty sure age is not a deterrent. Hard working people are always welcomed in that field.

Do consider that it is physically laborious, so you have to judge your own possible physical limitations, and consider the years to come. They do have CNAs in recent years for a lot of the heavy work, but you would likely be on your feet for very long periods of time. I personally had arthritis of the knees in my 50s, so it wouldn't have worked for me.

Another thing to consider (and I don't want to get political) is that even though healthcare will always be around, it likely won't be as lucrative. Doctors are getting out of the field, hospitals are cutting costs (enter hospitals outsourcing MT work to MTSOs), etc. I am concerned that nursing will go the way of MT (slave labor wages). That would be very bad, considering the amount of education you need to be a nurse.

If you really are in great physical shape, you just might be better off doing CNA. It obviously doesn't pay as well, but the level of training is truly not as intensive as nursing.

Just throwing some things out there.

And another thing - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
Consider your mental stamina. There are times when you'll encounter some pretty interesting family members. We RNs would joke that they'd seen too many episodes of "ER."

Something else to consider - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
I don't think you are too old, necessarily, but nursing is physically very stressful work, particularly for entry-level jobs. Many entry-level jobs don't pay well, either. Keep that in mind.

Also keep in mind that it will probably take a year to complete the prerequisites just to get into the program. It may then take two more years to complete the nursing program, and that is if you are going full-time. If you are part-time, it will take much longer.

To me, the biggest thing to consider is the very high unemployment rate for RNs. It is so high that it is almost a national scandal. National nursing organizations are very concerned about it. Please google and read some of the articles about new RNs who can't ever get jobs or who take 6 months or a year to find even an undesirable job. Some estimates run as high as 40%. The cost of nursing school is not inconsiderable, either, so you really do need to weigh that with the potential unemployment rate.

Everyone things nurses are shoo-ins for jobs, but they aren't any more. Facilities are employing more nurse-extenders and fewer RNs to cut costs.

If you do decide to do this, keep in mind that the prerequisites for nursing are mostly the same as for health information management. If you decide that you don't like nursing or can't even get accepted, you might be able to salvage what you've already completed by moving into a health information technology program.

Consider this - My opinion

[ In Reply To ..]
You do not necessarily need to be involved in direct patient care if you find it too physically demanding. Some RNs work in case management, or utilization review because of the shift work that may be involved in regular nursing. You didn't mention if you were going for a 2 year or 4 year degree. It may take longer if you need to do the prerequisites. Regardless, I do not think you are too old and admire your determination.

But you need experience for those jobs - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
I would not count on getting a job in case management or utilization review without experience.

I Was Going to say That - see msg

[ In Reply To ..]
Fresh out of school, you don't necessarily get to choose, and you certainly do need nursing experience before going into any type of case management.

Also consider the hours. You may not get to choose (at first) your shift. Nursing in a hospital is a 24-hour type of job. If you don't want to do the hospital thing, no sense going for the RN. An LPN would do.

Perhaps - Just do it

[ In Reply To ..]
A person with an MT background and good analytical skills in addition to an RN might be a great fit for UR. Some RNs do clinical data abstracting, which would also be a good fit for an ex MT. It's an option and a person doesn't know unless that try.

Honest opinions please - Nell

[ In Reply To ..]
No, you are not too old. I know someone who went back to school to be a nurse and she was close to 50. you have nothing to lose if you can afford it.

Nursing - yesno

[ In Reply To ..]
You're never too old ... how about LPN for one year of training?

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