Is 50 too old to start a career in nursing and how difficult is it to find a job

I just turned 50 and after raising children as a SAHM I want to become a CNA, and then enroll in nursing school while working as a CNA. I already have a B.A. degree (in English- aaarrgh, useless!) that I got years ago, and left school with a 3.50 GPA.) The funny thing is, while I was a candy-striper "way back when", and was interested in healthcare, I was always scared of the science classes so I never took any until my last semester in college and guess what? I LOVED 'em! My question is this: Is 50 too old to start a career in nursing, and how difficult is it to find a job out there at my age?
Quote from DWK1I just turned 50 and after raising children as a SAHM I want to become a CNA, and then enroll in nursing school while working as a CNA. I already have a B.A. degree (in English- aaarrgh, useless!) that I got years ago, and left school with a 3.50 GPA.) The funny thing is, while I was a candy-striper "way back when", and was interested in healthcare, I was always scared of the science classes so I never took any until my last semester in college and guess what? I LOVED 'em! My question is this: Is 50 too old to start a career in nursing, and how difficult is it to find a job out there at my age?
If you have a 3.5 grade point average in your previous major, you might be able to get admitted into an accelerated BSN-RN program that is specifically designed for people with previous non-nursing degrees.
Well, if this helps im a nursing student taking the pre-req courses and miore than half of the students are much older than I who have families they always joke at how i can be their child and saying they have children older than I , but I think its well worth it, Your cna job will be able to rule it out better for you if you're looking to see if this is the type of work u like or not, and with the nursing shortage a nursing degree adn experience within the field should be just what employers are looking for
You're not too old. I graduated from my RN program at age 51. Finding a job in my area wasn't at all difficult. My class was heavily recruited by several local facilities. I was hired by my first choice in February before graduation. It was a nice position to be in, especially in this economy.
Hi donsterRNWhat state are you in? - I'm 49 I just got accepted into the nursing program at my community college. I already have a BA in computer science. I've been wanting to be a nurse for the longest time - I finally decided to do it but now my biggest concern is that they will not hire me because of my age - I will be 51 when I finish with nursing school - I'm very worried.
Quote from BlessedRNToBeHi donsterRNWhat state are you in? - I'm 49 I just got accepted into the nursing program at my community college. I already have a BA in computer science. I've been wanting to be a nurse for the longest time - I finally decided to do it but now my biggest concern is that they will not hire me because of my age - I will be 51 when I finish with nursing school - I'm very worried.
Wow good for you Thank you for your reply; I'm in Florida, I will need all the luck in the world
Hi:Just read your post....don't worry, I'm also in Florida, and I am 59 and graduating from the BSN program in August! I have been received very well by all staff in my nursing rotation and by all my classmates! You are just a baby still......good luck. F
I'm 40 and have spent the last 18 yrs running DH's business. We sold it and now I get to do what I want. I am also a SAHM - ages 4, 3, and 6 months - I just finished CNA school and turned around and enrolled in lpn program. I want to be a RN, preferably CRNA but I am just taking it step by step because my kids are so little.I also volunteered in the hospital all through high school, took all the science classes, even got a perfect score on the science portion of my ACT then decided to study art history in college????? *sigh* I wish I could have a conversation with my 18 y.o. self!I am not worried about my age when it comes time to interview. I think my age and life experiences give me a certain calmness and confidence that a 20 y.o. just can't bring to the table. (no offense to any young ones out there) Besides, 50 is the new 40...right?!
Thank you
wifemom&lpn2be,thank you for your words of encouragement; there is no stopping me now .good luck to you too.
Here is my story sorry it long.I sold my insurance agency Dec of 03. After 4 months of settling the new owner in. I started looking at my options. If I didn’t have health insurance my profits would be eaten up to quickly. My Husband and I are older I was 45 and he was 50 it is really hard to find affordable Health insurance. I knew I wanted to go into nursing so I started at local nursing home in May of 2004 as a NA-R, I needed health benefits and they had a full time opening on the NOC shift with benefits. I do not sleep well at night so I thought it wouldn’t hurt to give it a try. NA-R is very hard work. I knew that my body would not tolerate this for long. I enjoyed the residents and liked this kind of work. Once I was on the health insurance we rolled the proceeds into a 401 K we cut back. To the bare bones and we sold the New Car, paid off all the credit cards and went to the Bare bones. My husband took a job as at a Groc store, and did every spare cash paying job he could. I started the LPN program in Aug of 2004. My hubby was not happy about me wanting to go to college. He thought it was too much for me to handle. I had signed up and promised I wouldn’t go if he said no… I missed the 1st week of school because he couldn’t make up his mind, Monday morning I told him that he better tell me if I could go or not and he wouldn’t say anything so I took that as a yes and went to college…. I went to my 1st class and it was Nursing 1 the instructor took attendance and afterwards she asked me to pick up my books and step out into the hall she said that I couldn’t start a week late that they have already taken a test and I missed the lecture. So I didn’t say a word and went to the councilors’ office and asked if there ANY of the programs in this college that the student guide didn’t applied to. He said no, so I turned right around and went back to the class. Sat down asked if I could have the power point. And she handed it to me. After the lecture she said I would need to take the test tomorrow. I said fine. I took the 1st test and the second test on the same day… I failed the first test because they take 10% off for taking it late. I got an 80% (a C ) on the second one. So I just plugged away… continued on.At Midterm my instructor pulled me aside and told me I was at a high D… I asked her if she was kicking me out. She said no because I had perfect attendance. I told her that it’s not over until the fat lady sings and this fat lady hasn’t sung yet!!! I paid for this and I was going to go to the end even if I failed it… I would just take it over if I had to. Our school has open enrollment and I took 18- 21 credits a semester I graduated with a 3.5 GPA in three semesters partly because when I was a student there 27 years ago I was a straight A’s at that time. I believe during the LPN I had a 3.0 I continued taking my Co required pre- req. classed so that my work load would be lighter later in the RN program. I worked 5 nights a week as the Charge nurse on the night shift. And 3 day shifts. I was accepted into the part time program. So my RN program was 3 semesters long. I only had the core classes left…. Thank God. Those classes were the hardest classes I have ever had. Organization was one of the keys to my success I bought a large day planner. Everything about school and personal life was in it. I knew when my tests were and when projects were due. If future papers were on the agenda I kept a list of ideas or things I would like to research. I always kept in mind what my future practice would entail. (geriatrics) It was the hardest thing I have ever done. I had many struggles though it I worked for local nursing home full time. I work 10 shifts per 2 week period. And usually work 1 to 2 - 12 hour shifts if someone called in. I graduated with a 3.12 I didn’t get any time off. With school and work it was 12 days straight until my weekend off. I told the “kids” the other students that this is just a short Blip in my life and I will get through it. I graduated in May of 2007. Took the Nclex the same day my 1st granddaughter was born…(I knew she was in labor but she and my husband did not want me to postpone it) well I took the test and made it back to my daughters side to have my hand in on the delivery. (Another story some day.) I found I had passed the NCLEX the next day. That’s my story.... Yes keep going don't stop... it is so easy to let life get in the way. And you know what… what other people think is unimportant. The rewards are great. I finally have job satisfaction!!