I am 35. Too old to become an RN?

[Anonymous]

I’m almost 34 and planning to become a nurse! Taking A&P 2 this spring. I was a microbiology grad but became a SAHM. I still I’ll have some prerequisites to finish so I’m hoping to get in the program by the time I’m 35.

[Anonymous]

I looked into it at one point and even if you take an accelerated BSN program the issue is there's still a ton of science prereqs you have to take so it could end up taking some time to get your BSN. The tough part about the pre-reqs is a lot of them have to be taken within a few years of applying for a BSN program so you have to time it right as well.

[Anonymous]

What is with American women thinking they are “too old” for everything if they are over 30? What an ageist culture! Please stop it! No, OP, you’re not too old! You only have one life, do what you want.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

What do you do?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is with American women thinking they are “too old” for everything if they are over 30? What an ageist culture! Please stop it! No, OP, you’re not too old! You only have one life, do what you want.

OP - I am concerned about spending $ and facing age discrimination, not that I feel or act old.

[Anonymous]

How old will you be if you don't do it? That is the only question. You need to ask.

[Anonymous]

I have been a nurse for 15 years and struggled with the decision to pursue an advanced practice degree in my mid 30s (switching specialties completely). Ultimately, my husband helped me make the decision to go back. He reminded me that I still had about 30 years of working ahead of me, so why not do what I love? I went back for my MSN and haven’t regretted it yet. I plan on transitioning to an office-only role at some point as I am tired of working rotating shifts/weekends/holidays for the last 15 years! I’m already sad that I will be working Christmas 2018!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

LOL 35 is not "older entry level nurse." I graduated nursing school in May with only an associates in nursing and had absolutely NO trouble finding a new grad nursing position and I'm 33 yrs old. Most of my classmates had the same experience. The DC job market for new grad nurses is really good- we are very lucky in this respect! There are also a ton of hospitals in DC/VA/MD.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is with American women thinking they are “too old” for everything if they are over 30? What an ageist culture! Please stop it! No, OP, you’re not too old! You only have one life, do what you want.

I personally don't agree with switching careers or going back to school. Even if op or anyone else was 22 I would think they are too old. Age has nothing to do with it.

[Anonymous]

Um, no. By the time you're 68 (what I think is going to be the new retirement age), you'll have almost 30 years of experience. Almost as long as the time you have been alive now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I feel like the clock is ticking. I have 3 kids.

Nope! I went back to school at 40 with 4 kids. I work in oncology as an infusion nurse--I mix and infuse chemo and I absolutely love it

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have been a nurse for 15 years and struggled with the decision to pursue an advanced practice degree in my mid 30s (switching specialties completely). Ultimately, my husband helped me make the decision to go back. He reminded me that I still had about 30 years of working ahead of me, so why not do what I love? I went back for my MSN and haven’t regretted it yet. I plan on transitioning to an office-only role at some point as I am tired of working rotating shifts/weekends/holidays for the last 15 years! I’m already sad that I will be working Christmas 2018!

Just want to add you don’t need an msn to have an office type job. I’m on year 24 of being an RN (bsn) and I have had office jobs for the past 8 years. I now work from home and make more money than if I worked in my local hospital as a staff nurse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel like the clock is ticking. I have 3 kids.

Nope! I went back to school at 40 with 4 kids. I work in oncology as an infusion nurse--I mix and infuse chemo and I absolutely love it

Oh, and I have an ADN. Don't let people tell you that you HAVE to have a BSN to work as a nurse. Even Magnet hospitals hire ADN nurses. The clinic where I work has a mix of BSN and ADN nurses. Want to know who is paid more? There is NO difference except in years of service to the facility.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is with American women thinking they are “too old” for everything if they are over 30? What an ageist culture! Please stop it! No, OP, you’re not too old! You only have one life, do what you want.

I personally don't agree with switching careers or going back to school. Even if op or anyone else was 22 I would think they are too old. Age has nothing to do with it.

That’s one of the most ignorant things I’ve read on DCUM and that’s saying a lot. So people should just stay in a career they find miserable?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel like the clock is ticking. I have 3 kids.

Nope! I went back to school at 40 with 4 kids. I work in oncology as an infusion nurse--I mix and infuse chemo and I absolutely love it

Oh, and I have an ADN. Don't let people tell you that you HAVE to have a BSN to work as a nurse. Even Magnet hospitals hire ADN nurses. The clinic where I work has a mix of BSN and ADN nurses. Want to know who is paid more? There is NO difference except in years of service to the facility.

This is true. I’m the pp that works from home with bsn, but plenty of non bsn RNs are hired. Major insurance company too.