Hi this is a nice site to run across, I am living in Mesa Arizona and posted elsewhere and wanted to post here on advice area. I am a male 53 today married 21 years burnt out on my computer field job. I have always thought of nursing but first let me tell you I am not stupid but I was stupid many years ago and only have a GED. I wanted to go to get LPN and wanted to know am I to old to be able to comprehend all I have to learn and pass a state exam or am I out of my class by trying to get into this field first being a male and second at my age and by only getting an LPN? The reason I thought LPN is faster time to get thru school and back to work then on part time go to get an RN if possible.

Please do not shy away from telling me the truth about what you think for that is what I am asking the truth so that if it is a good idea I will proceed to do this if not then I will shy away and figure another path for me to take.

Thank you all

Ron

Thank you for the words of encouragement I appreciate it and am looking into this seriously.

Ron

Thank you for encouraging words I dont feel ancient lol not yet anyhow. Thanks again

Ron

RON53:  Follow your heart and dream.  It is never to late to learn and if you want to be a nurse then you should be a nurse.  All it takes is the three D's:  Desire, Drive and Determination.  Never shy away from anything that you want and never let anyone tell you cant do it.  I went to school with a lady that turned 60 two days after we graduated.  Good luck in your journey and keep us posted on you progress. 

There were a few people in my nursing program who were well into their 40s, if not over 50, and one was male.  I don't see any reason why it couldn't be done--these people tended to be very good students, even.  If you have the drive and desire to do it, go for it! 

Before you decide for sure on LPN or RN, do some research on your area.  In some areas (both geographically and within certain specialties), LPNs are able to get more jobs on hosptial floors and so forth.  In other areas, hosptials don't hire many LPNs and so you would be working more in long-term care until you became an RN.  (This might be just fine with some people, and not so with others, so consider it first).

I worked in a physical rehabilitation hospital during and right after school, and there were more LPNs there than in other hosptial settings I've seen, as well as more male nurses.  About 1/3 of the nursing staff was male.

Let me first say that when I went to nursing school, I sought out "older" students to be my study buddies....they always seemed more serious about getting good grades and they tended to be paying for the school themselves...so they had more skin in the game.  Nursing is a great profession, will open many career options, and it is a job that can't be shipped overseas.  Now, if the only reason you are going to LPN school over RN is because RN schooling takes longer to get into the work force, let me share with you what I did.  I received my nursing degree from an associate degree program.  So, after my prereq's I was into the program.  After completing my first year of nursing school, I got a job in a local hospital as a Nurse Tech. The position title varies by region in the country, but basically I functioned as a nurse but I did not pass my own medications.  At that time, the pay was just a few dollars an hour less than the LPN's were making on the floor.  I worked here until I completed nursing school. Once I completed my nursing school, I worked as a GN and my pay went up past what the LPN's were making on the floor.  Then when I passed my nursing boards, my pay went up again and my career options opened tremendously.  In any case, best wishes for success.

There is a nursing shortage and most definitely a male nursing shortage.  I think you should go or it.  If anyone tells you different, ignore them.  If that's your dream, let no one destroy it.  Good luck!!!