You are too old to get into nursing when you can't do your own activities of daily living.

I think if you need a wallker, then it may not be the right time...Teresa

Forgot to mention iwill be 57 on my birthday in march 2011.

There is so much information on this 1 forum..If you are able and want to , then there is no age to not go for it...Teresa

Hello and congratulations to everyone who is pursing nursing or has recently graduated as a "non-traditional" student.

I am 48 and am in the process of finishing my pre-reqs.  I am taking the Tease test in several weeks (fingers crossed) for my admittance to the BSN nursing program.  My biggest issue is finances.  I will need to attend school full time for my last two years, currently I work full time.  I am hoping to find the resources to assist me so that I do not have to continue work once accepted into the program.  Although I get Stafford loans my school will only give me the amount needed to cover tuition.  I was hoping to be able to take advantage of the full allowable amount.   Any suggestions?

Thanks so much for any advice!

I googled 'is 56 too old to become a lvn/lpn" and found this site and this forum. 22 years ago I was working as a nursing assistant in an acute hospital after a few years as a CNA in convalescent hospitals and taking the science prerequisites to get into a RN program. I hurt my back really bad helping to lift a patient and my dream of becoming a nurse was over. I'd still think about trying again. But, besides my back situation, I have concerns/questions about things like: the waiting lists that I assume are really long at the local community colleges that offer LVN programs, my gender, my age, etc., etc.

I don't know, but lots of good food for thought in all of these posts.

Timby , put your name on the list.. You will be eventually called for clas. Bye then you hopefully will have decided...Best of luck to you andkeep us posted..Teresa

I am 56years old and have considered nursing in the past. My problem is the money, since I am my own supporter I need to have a job and go to school part time. Most of the City University schools require that you attend their school full time for at least a year. I already completed my pre-reqs at one colllege 2 years ago, but was not able to get into the night time program due to lack of seats.  I feel at this time with the market the way it is, the financial field is not the way to go. This is my last HURRAH at doing something that has been on mind for years and know that I would be great at.  Any suggestions?  

Thank you Theresa, I will keep you posted..........

How old is to old for Nursing , I"m going to get a few of my Sisters and Brother upset by my Statement., But hear it goes Nursing is  a Young Girl Game. Now I said it ( No Disrespect to my Brother in White ) I recived my RN when I was 25 years old .It was the hardest thing I ever did in my life . As an Nursing Instructor .I tell my Student 105 started with me an only 35 finished. I did not watch Tv go out dancing or Read the newspaper the enitre time ,I was in schoool. Standing for 12 hr shifts in the ICU ,pain legs and feet my daughter would rub my legs and feet after work. For those over 50+ get the ice packs, heating , an pain medication ready ,There will always be a Nursing Shortage.If you 50+ think you are ready for the physical and Mental hardships of Nursing GO FOR IT

 Hi, all!  I cannot believe how lucky I am to have found this forum.  I turned 60 in January - I've been an insurance biller for more years than I can count and I just do not feel fulfilled.  Have thought about going to school for many years now but always had some excuse....alot of them having to do with age.  Now at 60 I'm finally smart enough to know that I'm too young to waste the rest of my years going to a dead end, boring job every day.  I am so excited to say that today I signed up for a CNA course at my community college, as a prerequisite for the LPN course next year.  Who knows......maybe a bridge to RN after that???  Gosh, I feel younger and more enthusiastic than I have in  years.  Thank you all for your words of wisdom and encouragement!!!

TeresahRN - thank you for the kind words of encouragement!  YOU are awesome, my friend!

So I did a little searching on the average age of nurses today.. I went to several sites and these were all quotes, from 2010-2012. You can judge for yourself..

 The average age of registered nurses over the past 20 years has climbed from nearly 38 to over 42. By 2010, the average nurse will be over 45 years old, Buerhaus said. Many of the nurses will be in their 50s

In Queensland, Australia the average age for nurses at the moments is about 47.5 years

The average age of registered nurses over the past 20 years has climbed from nearly 38 to over 42.

 

By 2010, the average nurse will be over 45 years old, Buerhaus said. Many of the nurses will be in their 50s.

An upcoming report from the American Nurses Association found the average age of RNs is 44. In the West-South-Central region (Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas) sampled in the report, 65 percent of nurses are 30 to 49 years old and 20 percent are age 50 to 64.

Only 8.0% of all RNs are under the age of 30. The average age of the RN population in the United States is 46.8 years.

Average age of RNs climbed to 46.8 years, the highest average age .  Just over 41 percent of RNs were 50 years of age or older

   8 percent of RNs were under the age of 30

With the average age of RNs projected to 44.5 years by 2012, nurses in their 50s are expected to become the largest segment of the nursing workforce

The median age of nurses is 46. More than 50% of the nursing workforce is close to retirement age.

Hiya, It is difficult for anyone now-a-days to get a job, however, nurses are always going to be needed and I don't care what anyone says.I imagine that the classes you need for your Assoc. degree will probably help you out with your degree for nsg.. So take all of the information you can get and best of luck in making the decision that is best for you...Teresa

Rosanne, you said it all.. Thank you  Hugs, Teresa