Hi, I went back to school and just graduated (I'm 38).  I encourage you to go back.  I looked at all my options, I am originally from Texas but was living in Illinois when I made the decision to go back to school.  I looked at Illinois colleges and Texas colleges.  I had gone to college off an on, (I have my Associates Degree graduated in 1994) so I already had some college credit. For me, I looked at the prerequisites and costs.  I could graduate sooner and with less prereq's in Texas.  I made a plan to move back home, I worked for a year (so I wouldn't have to pay out-of-state rates) and took a few of the classes I was lacking - such as Nutrition, etc.  I was accepted at the university so I pursued my BSN, which I just received May, 2009. 

For me it was about determination - I made up my mind I was going to do it, put in the hours and work it took to complete, and it paid off.

Good luck to you.

I started nursing school at age 40 - the three oldest in our class graduated top three in our class.

Go right to RN, unless you need to make a reasonable salary quickly - then get your LPN in a year, go to work, and "bridge" over to RN while you are working as an LPN.