I am 35. Too old to become an RN?

[Anonymous]

Just became a (hospital) nurse at 50 after two other careers that have nothing to do with nursing. I love it. I chose this degree in mid-life because of the vast array of career options.

I agree with most the long post by the 20-year RN, with the caveat that you can make a lot more than $80k IF you move away from bedside nursing with merely an RN. I already know several neuro and cardiac NPs at D.C.-area hospitals (from attending seminars and conventions). Their salaries are well above 80k, but of course you need additional degree(s) and certification. And years on the job -- you can't go straight thru the education and come out immediately making $$. Except maybe as a psych MNNP.

Also.... I don't know where the experienced RN has worked for 20 years but there are definitely pockets of nursing where even the plain old RNs are not robotically implementing MD orders on autopilot. These areas tend to be the elite and competitive ones (like the higher level ICUs/trauma centers) but they exist. Actually I'm humbled and a little awed by the decision-making and critical thinking required on the spot for these nurses, due to rapidly changing conditions.

Lastly, I'd encourage you to get in excellent fitness before you start your program. You'll help yourself immensely.

[Anonymous]

20 year RN here.
I worked in the MICU at Hopkins and in Labor and Delivery--both places which are about as challenging as it gets for RNs in terms of critical thinking. I was in my 20's during both jobs and at that point in my life I wanted more autonomy and I simply wanted to "think" more.
I was an awesome ICU nurse and took care of some of the sickest patients there are (at Hopkins they were all transfers from ICUs across the state and region) but ultimately I was still following the orders of physicians. It's the nature of nursing. I struggled with it in my 20's. I wanted a job that would require me to really think. My first degree was not in nursing and was from an Ivy. My classmates were the ones making their decisions in their careers and I was following the orders of others.
Now that I'm 40 I don't the autonomy and stress that would come from being the decision maker when life and death are in the balance.
I did end up getting a master's degree and worked in an autonomous role as a nurse midwife for 5 years. I did home births and ran the show. It was crazy/sttressful and wonderful all at the same time.
Now I'm 40's and my main role in life is being a mother to 3 kids and partner to a a husband who is the main breadwinner and works long hours. I work full time doing case management from home and make around $95K. However, on occasion I look around for other jobs and I realize
that I would have a difficult time replicating my salary and that I may never make $100k. I've had 5 interviews in the past 6 months and all have ended when I said that I wanted $90K. Simply because they can find nurses to do that job (my job) for less. That's pretty significant for someone who has close to 20 years of experience in a career.

Also, to the nurse making $100K as a fed--yes, that is definitely an employer who pays nurses better than just about anyone. I have a few friends who also make $100K in the fed world. The fed pays doctors below market rate but tends to pay nurses well. Just like they pay attorneys below what many make in the private sector but pays many administrators more than they can get elsewhere. The fed is great for people in middle-level type jobs/professions.

[Anonymous]

OP - what scared you away from CNM? Curious because being a family NP or CNM appeals to me now.

Anonymous wrote:I went back to school in my late 20s to get a BSN and lamented how old I was back then (I’m 40 now). I was far from the oldest in my program.

I do agree in some ways with the long PP about going into it with an open mind and realistic expectations. I was an ICU RN for 6 years and for the last 3 was working while getting my MSN. I’ve been an NP for the past 5 years.

It’s not a perfect job/career but I love it. I make a little over $100k, have a great family-friendly schedule, lots of autonomy and love 75-90% of what I do which I think is about as good as it gets.

I had/have zero interest in being a CRNA but a lot of ICU nurses go on to do that. Agree w PP that the schooling is intense and you cannot work while in school. Also very competitive to get in.

When I first started nursing school I thought I wanted to be a midwife. It did not take more than one OB rotation to relieve me of that idea. I never thought 15 years ago when I started considering it that I’d have had the jobs ive had—it’s a profession that lends itself to figuring things out as you go.

[Anonymous]

OP - yes physically I look younger than 35 (not sure about my face, but my body at least). I am in good shape and work out a lot.

Anonymous wrote:Just became a (hospital) nurse at 50 after two other careers that have nothing to do with nursing. I love it. I chose this degree in mid-life because of the vast array of career options.

I agree with most the long post by the 20-year RN, with the caveat that you can make a lot more than $80k IF you move away from bedside nursing with merely an RN. I already know several neuro and cardiac NPs at D.C.-area hospitals (from attending seminars and conventions). Their salaries are well above 80k, but of course you need additional degree(s) and certification. And years on the job -- you can't go straight thru the education and come out immediately making $$. Except maybe as a psych MNNP.

Also.... I don't know where the experienced RN has worked for 20 years but there are definitely pockets of nursing where even the plain old RNs are not robotically implementing MD orders on autopilot. These areas tend to be the elite and competitive ones (like the higher level ICUs/trauma centers) but they exist. Actually I'm humbled and a little awed by the decision-making and critical thinking required on the spot for these nurses, due to rapidly changing conditions.

Lastly, I'd encourage you to get in excellent fitness before you start your program. You'll help yourself immensely.

[Anonymous]

OP I am 37 with two kids and wondering the same exact thing. I desperately want to be a nurse - but I'm so nervous to say it out loud. It would shock everyone around me, I think.

Will it take me forever to do? I have an undergrad degree with NO science courses. (I mean, I took Geology. But no physics, chem, bio, etc.)

[Anonymous]

Another advanced nursing option you don't hear about as much is to be a Clinical Nurse Specialist. That's what my sister does (I never heard of it until she pursued it). It's also a master's degree after the BSN +work experience. This is definitely more of a thinking/analysis job combined with teaching. She describes it as essentially being like a management consultant for the nursing practice in a hospital. She has to stay up to date on all the research on practices that support positive patient outcomes, advocate to implement those in her hospital, train staff, gather data on practices/outcomes in her hospital to identify areas for improvement. She also used to teach in a university RN program. She attends and presents at a lot of conferences.

[Anonymous]

Occupational Health Nursing is also a good field to look at and the pay is decent.

[Anonymous]

I quit practicing law and became an RN at 47. The youngest person in my graduating class was 20. The oldest person in my graduating class was 53. You are not too old!

[Anonymous]

Anyone have any DC program recommendations for a 38 year old attorney and mother that wants to transition to this? I though about quitting and becoming a nurse year 2 our of law school and still thinking about to 10+ years later. I kick myself for not moving when I first thought of this - now I have a family and a move is not as easy.

[Anonymous]

Anyone have any DC program recommendations for a 38 year old attorney and mother that wants to transition to this? I though about quitting and becoming a nurse year 2 our of law school and still thinking about to 10+ years later. I kick myself for not moving when I first thought of this - now I have a family and a move is not as easy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:50 with BSN. Got RN at 45. Never too late!

Did you have an easy time finding a job? I’m not so worried about myself, worried more about other people not wanting to hire an older entry level nurse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP I am 37 with two kids and wondering the same exact thing. I desperately want to be a nurse - but I'm so nervous to say it out loud. It would shock everyone around me, I think.

Will it take me forever to do? I have an undergrad degree with NO science courses. (I mean, I took Geology. But no physics, chem, bio, etc.)

I’m 36 with 2 kids and want to persue a new career in nursing too...so glad to see I’m not alone!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I quit practicing law and became an RN at 47. The youngest person in my graduating class was 20. The oldest person in my graduating class was 53. You are not too old!

Wow you are not he only attorney I know who has done this... so what’s the verdict?? Is nursing a better profession?

[Anonymous]

I finished nursing school at 36 after being in another career for more than a decade. Nursing was a second career for many who attended my accelerated BSN program. I love the flexibility of nursing.

[Anonymous]

I've now been a nurse for 20 years just this past june.

When I gradded in 97 I was one of 4 students direct from HS. Everyone else had kids my age and was an adult learner.

All these years later I meet nurses older than me all the time, assuming they have been practicing 10-20 years longer than me... only to find out they gradded 5 years ago.

It definitely is not too late. I make 140G as a contractor for the federal government and I enjoy my job- never the same day twice and they let me do what I want here.