Hello.  I have recently been laid off from my job of 27 years doing medical transcription in a hospital.  I have always wanted to become a nurse, as I really enjoy helping people.  I would like to know what you think, am I nuts to think at the age of 48 I can go back to school and become a nurse?  Thank you for your advice, suggestions, etc.

There are many replies to this topic already on this board. Typically everyone will tell you to "go for it" :follow your passion" etc etc, however you should seriously look at  several things before you decide to take the plunge. First there are very very few jobs for new grads, if you dont believe it check out: allnurses.com for a reality check, second hospital work is esp. demanding, and Im going to be blunt here, if you are not in good physical shape ie have a bad back of bad knees floor nursing will only exacerbate these conditions. The cost of schooling isnt cheap either I spent in excess of 32K to get my ASN and frankly, from a financial standpoint it wasn't worth it. In 2010 I worked full time at the hospital  ( 72 hrs/pay) and grossed 39,874. When you subtract my student loan payments right off the top of my GROSS income I made just a shade over 34K. I made almost 40K in 1996 so how did spending all that money help me at all? It didn't! Lastly the stress and pressure we work under is enormous. Every problem, that the patient or their family perceives is YOUR  problem. Not the DR's, not the food service worker, not the case manager, not your nurse manager but yours the floor nurse. Doesnt matter what it is, it's your baby to deal with. Lastly are you prepared to work nights , weekends, holidays, stay late after almost every shift, never get a lunch and count your blessing that you got to go to the bathroom twice during yourt shift? You better really really think long and hard before you get into this field because the "helping people" aspect of this job is so buried in the myriad of tasks that you perform, you rarely feel that you did some good today.  I know Im probably going to get fragged for this but thats the reality of it. Ask any floor nurse if they "love their job" and I'll bet you will find less than 10% that agree with that........

 Jerika12, if you didnt want ALL types of opinions then why did you ask? I'll leave it at this, when you are in school they tell you to NEVER ask about money and what you are going to make  because it's NEVER supposed to be about money. What other profession tells you that? Not DR's not Lawyers not any other job but as a nurse don't ever ask about money because that is something that has no place in this profession. Take off the rose colored glasses and analyze the job objectively then make your decision. and its a long way from coder to RN . Oh and by the way I won an award last year for my actions when I was pulled by a woman to ourtside the hosp. where I administered life saving CPR to an cardiac arrest victim until the paramedics got there, so you dont know me to judge me...........

Once again thank you for your response.  One last thing though...I am a professional medical transcriptionist NOT a coder.  Also, it seems the way you respond everybody in that hospital is dumping on you.  It sounds like you need to get your CNA to help you out, so that you are not so angry on this forum.  Remember Live, Love, and Laugh!!! 

All jpbs have their pro;s and cons..Just take a piece of paper and jot down some of the things you'd like to do..Now under neath that find out about the pro's and cons of each... Fom a crossing  guard-to a judge., there are many things to dicover. and learn.. Now that you have picked out a few, Look at them and tell your self which one do you really have a passion for.. Good luck to you and God Bless.. Teresa

And there you go...   Hugs,Teresa

The crowd of ^ age are also a pleasure to teach.. Teresa